Experts and observers limit the reaction to converting to Islam among parents, schools, and society, including government authorities as well.
While some parents deal with their children’s conversion to Islam in a positive way, specifically if the children’s lives change for the better, others reject this radical change in their children’s lives, which prompts some not to openly embrace Islam, and this also applies to how schools and society deal with the phenomenon.
“The issue is not related to the rejection of religion itself, but rather the stereotypes transmitted by the media that link Islam with isolation and extremism,” according to Dogan.
It is true that Dogan considers these fears to be understandable, but they are often unjustified because, he adds, most young people who convert to Islam do so for conscious and peaceful motives.
Dogan advises parents to resort to open dialogue with their children because this reduces tension with them and turns the discussion about faith into an opportunity for rapprochement. Dogan points out the importance of creating spaces for discussion about religion without prejudice.
Corner also advises parents not to go in an escalatory direction with their children, and at the same time warns against ignoring signs of isolation in them, saying, “If reaching the child becomes difficult, it may be necessary to seek professional help. This is not a shame, but rather a correct step to protect the individual and the family.”
Women or men?
Some studies in this regard indicate that women embrace Islam more than men, but providing reliable numbers about their numbers is not possible.
This also applies to the total number of new Muslims in Germany. Because the German government does not provide statistics on numbers, it remains to resort to some studies and media outlets that estimate the number of converts to Islam in Germany between 10,000 and 100,000, noting that some sources talk about 2,000 to 4,000 converts to Islam per year.
Dr. Mustafa Dogan says in this regard that in terms of numbers, “It seems that the number of women converting to Islam is greater than the number of men, but I see this as less important compared to the stories and motivations behind the decision itself. Whether the person is a man or a woman, both often search in Islam for the meaning of life and its values.”
In his experience, “women tend to narrate their spiritual and personal experiences, while men mostly focus on rational approaches, but this is not a fixed rule.”
The most important thing is that embracing Islam is rarely a spontaneous decision, but rather a long process and a constant struggle with questions. In a society where religion is often viewed as a private matter, this is a very brave step, especially because women cannot hide it.