Freedom of Religion; the American Myth
The US officials consider themselves supporters of democracy and freedom, but the way we see they treat Muslims does not really support such ideologies.
You are a government employee, who converted to Islam, and they are not comfortable with that, and there is a fear to this. I served for the country, and I should have the freedom to choose the religion I want, and yet I’m being prevented from getting job.
This is according to Monica Witt, an American scholar and a recent convert to Shia Islam.
Following are excerpts from Ms Witt's answers to our questions:
IQNA: As a woman who served many years in the U.S. military, it must have been a tough decision you made. Could you share with us what such experience was like? What made you investigate about Islam?
Monica Witt: Well, it was that I didn’t know anything about it. I was never a religious person. I was Christian, but I never went to church. I used to be the U.S. sergeant for ten years. At that time, my job made me to deal with the issue of terrorism, and for me, I found it interesting, because we were supposed to be fighting terrorism in Iraq, while I knew nothing about Islam. So I thought I don’t wanna be ignorant, I need to know about Islam. I thought if I understood that religion and that ideology, I could therefore understand the insurgents, to see why they are doing what they’re doing. So I bought a Quran, I went home and I started reading it. Unfortunately I didn’t know any Muslim and I did it all by myself.
IQNA: And how was that experience different from what you had in mind about Islam?
Monica Witt: Getting acquainted with Islam was really amazing, because it took me totally in a different direction. Reading the Quran touched me in a way that I never thought it could happen. I was graciously reading it every night, and the more I read it, the more I was thinking this is not a violent religion that I thought it was and I was taught in the military.
IQNA: How did it lead you to a “different direction”?
Monica Witt: It was totally a spiritual awakening. Through reading Quran, every anger that I had against God melted away, because I realized how great God is. I realized that the true path is there for everyone who wants, and I was lucky enough to find it. It is so hard to explain; because the feeling is not something I can put into words. If I’ve been asked five years ago that “would you ever convert to Islam and wear Hijab”, I would have laughed. But this really touched me, and the more I investigated, the more I said I wanna become a Muslim.
IQNA: How about your friends and workmates? Did they respect your?
Monica Witt: Well, at that time, I was given the tough situation in my life. I was working in the government, and I was afraid to tell people how I was feeling. On occasion, I quoted some Quran verses that I read and thought they were interesting, and people around me started questioning me, that why I am doing this. People in the government looked at me and they laughed and said “It is a terrorist religion, and you should quit reading that” or they said “Monica! How could you do this? You’re such a strong woman, and now you’re covering yourself!” I had seen other Muslims in the military and the government who had been treated very badly, and it was so hard for me to come out and say that I want to be a Muslim. So I ended up getting out of the military and studying Middle East Studies, Which was great, because I got to explore things even more. The more I read, the more I knew that this is what I want.
IQNA: What were the people around you afraid of?
Monica Witt: They were afraid of propaganda. Because they were told by the government how they should feel about Iran, as a terrorist regime. So they expected me not to be in contact with the Iranians. But from my perspective, I thought how wonderful it was to be in Iran, and get helped. I always pushed my friends and coworkers that we need to see them as people, and that we should stop demonizing Iran. I really wanted to convert to Islam. But I thought I don’t know how to be a Muslim, and I don’t know anybody how can help me.
IQNA: And when did the “right moment” come?
Monica Witt: One day out of nowhere I got an invitation to country Iran. It was totally amazing, and I thought it could be a great opportunity for me to get that kind of education and say my Shahadah and become a Muslim, and Alhamdolellah I had that opportunity last year in Qazvin. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
IQNA: What do you think about how US officials treat Muslims?
Monica Witt: It is a kind of weird, because the U.S. officials consider themselves supporters of democracy and freedom, but the way we see they treat Muslims does not really support such ideologies. You are a government employee, who converted to Islam, and they are not comfortable with that, and there is a fear to this. I served for the country, and I should have the freedom to choose the religion I want, and yet I’m being prevented from getting job, especially when it comes to Middle East Studies which is my major. You go to interviews, of course nobody tells you that “we do not hire you, because you’re Muslim and you’re wearing Hijab”, but you know that’s it. But thank goodness, you can see today that more and more people are coming to Shia Islam.
Monica served ten years in the US Air Force. She is a recent graduate of George Washington University where she obtained Master of Arts in Middle East Studies. She was among the attendees at the Third International Conference of Hollywoodism in Tehran.
This is according to Monica Witt, an American scholar and a recent convert to Shia Islam.
Following are excerpts from Ms Witt's answers to our questions:
IQNA: As a woman who served many years in the U.S. military, it must have been a tough decision you made. Could you share with us what such experience was like? What made you investigate about Islam?
Monica Witt: Well, it was that I didn’t know anything about it. I was never a religious person. I was Christian, but I never went to church. I used to be the U.S. sergeant for ten years. At that time, my job made me to deal with the issue of terrorism, and for me, I found it interesting, because we were supposed to be fighting terrorism in Iraq, while I knew nothing about Islam. So I thought I don’t wanna be ignorant, I need to know about Islam. I thought if I understood that religion and that ideology, I could therefore understand the insurgents, to see why they are doing what they’re doing. So I bought a Quran, I went home and I started reading it. Unfortunately I didn’t know any Muslim and I did it all by myself.
IQNA: And how was that experience different from what you had in mind about Islam?
Monica Witt: Getting acquainted with Islam was really amazing, because it took me totally in a different direction. Reading the Quran touched me in a way that I never thought it could happen. I was graciously reading it every night, and the more I read it, the more I was thinking this is not a violent religion that I thought it was and I was taught in the military.
IQNA: How did it lead you to a “different direction”?
Monica Witt: It was totally a spiritual awakening. Through reading Quran, every anger that I had against God melted away, because I realized how great God is. I realized that the true path is there for everyone who wants, and I was lucky enough to find it. It is so hard to explain; because the feeling is not something I can put into words. If I’ve been asked five years ago that “would you ever convert to Islam and wear Hijab”, I would have laughed. But this really touched me, and the more I investigated, the more I said I wanna become a Muslim.
IQNA: How about your friends and workmates? Did they respect your?
Monica Witt: Well, at that time, I was given the tough situation in my life. I was working in the government, and I was afraid to tell people how I was feeling. On occasion, I quoted some Quran verses that I read and thought they were interesting, and people around me started questioning me, that why I am doing this. People in the government looked at me and they laughed and said “It is a terrorist religion, and you should quit reading that” or they said “Monica! How could you do this? You’re such a strong woman, and now you’re covering yourself!” I had seen other Muslims in the military and the government who had been treated very badly, and it was so hard for me to come out and say that I want to be a Muslim. So I ended up getting out of the military and studying Middle East Studies, Which was great, because I got to explore things even more. The more I read, the more I knew that this is what I want.
IQNA: What were the people around you afraid of?
Monica Witt: They were afraid of propaganda. Because they were told by the government how they should feel about Iran, as a terrorist regime. So they expected me not to be in contact with the Iranians. But from my perspective, I thought how wonderful it was to be in Iran, and get helped. I always pushed my friends and coworkers that we need to see them as people, and that we should stop demonizing Iran. I really wanted to convert to Islam. But I thought I don’t know how to be a Muslim, and I don’t know anybody how can help me.
IQNA: And when did the “right moment” come?
Monica Witt: One day out of nowhere I got an invitation to country Iran. It was totally amazing, and I thought it could be a great opportunity for me to get that kind of education and say my Shahadah and become a Muslim, and Alhamdolellah I had that opportunity last year in Qazvin. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
IQNA: What do you think about how US officials treat Muslims?
Monica Witt: It is a kind of weird, because the U.S. officials consider themselves supporters of democracy and freedom, but the way we see they treat Muslims does not really support such ideologies. You are a government employee, who converted to Islam, and they are not comfortable with that, and there is a fear to this. I served for the country, and I should have the freedom to choose the religion I want, and yet I’m being prevented from getting job, especially when it comes to Middle East Studies which is my major. You go to interviews, of course nobody tells you that “we do not hire you, because you’re Muslim and you’re wearing Hijab”, but you know that’s it. But thank goodness, you can see today that more and more people are coming to Shia Islam.
Monica served ten years in the US Air Force. She is a recent graduate of George Washington University where she obtained Master of Arts in Middle East Studies. She was among the attendees at the Third International Conference of Hollywoodism in Tehran.
