The former president and leader of the National Party, Mr. F.W. de Klerk former president and leader of the National Party, Mr. De Klerk revealed that he had converted to the Muslim faith. “I first became interested in Buddhism, but have now found my true tinges,” says De Klerk.
He will also personally donate R30 million to erect a mosque in Potchefstroom. The rest of the funds to build a large mosque on the town will come from Qatar. “I travelled to Doha specially for talks with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is just as passionate about the project as I am.”
The mosque will be erected near the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University so that it will also be accessible to students and young people.
“I grew up as a Reformed Christian and afterwards tested Buddhism. However, I feel that Islam should be the true faith of Africa and South Africa, but also Europe,” says the ex-president. “Christianity has caused too much damage to our continent.”
Mrs. Elita de Klerk, his spouse, relates to the change in her husband’s life and will henceforth wear a hydjab in public. “It’s no effort or embarrassment to me at all,” she says. “I’ve always believed that women ought to behave honorable and sincere.”
The De Klerks will soon depart on a pilgrimage to Mecca for Ramadan. “Ramadan stretches this year from April 13 to May 13 that we will spend us in the Holy Land, Saudi Arabia,” FW said. “One has to start fasting on 13 April, but as someone who has only recently adopted Muhammad, I have decided to start fasting from today, one April, and cleanse me of my sins.”
“This morning when the sun came up, I laid myself on a little mat facing in the direction of Mecca and humbled me before Alla. Only tonight after sunset will I take in any meals,” said the ex-president.
Mr. Wannie Carstens, a linguist from the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, welcomed the conversion. “Afrikaans is actually a Muslim language,” he says. “It developed via Arabic in 1860. Now that Afrikaans is being abolished everywhere at the universities, we might as well bring in Arabic next to English. This is how the true nature of Afrikaans will be preserved.”
Mr André Bartlett of the Centre for the Development of the Ministry at the University of Pretoria paid tribute to Mr. De Klerk. FW de Klerk. “Here at the center we fight for gay-rights in the Dutch Reformed Church, but also in the mosque. Many Dutch Reformed Church buildings already stand empty. If cathedrals in Europe can be converted into mosques, why not also NG Churches, Reformed Churches, Reformed Churches?”
Mr. Bartlett ranted against racists and Islamophobs who might criticize Mr De Klerk’s decision. “Islam is the religion of love. There is much more tolerance for homosexuality among Muslims than among traditional Dutch Reformed Church members. We can learn from them,” says André Bartlett.
