Torquato Cardelli, First Ambassador of European origin Being new convert

Several years ago the Italian society, including the terrace Roman rule, were struck by pengurnurnan an embassy staff in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their boss, the Ambassador Torquato Cardelli, who for several weeks before showing signs of suspicious in terms of religious beliefs, proclaimed himself a Muslim.

This is the first time performed a Western ambassador. There are two ambassadors of Western countries had also converted to Islam. Namely, Harald Hofmaan, German Ambassador to Morocco, and Osman Siddique, U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu. But they are converting to Islam before becoming ambassador.

Torquato Cardelli Ambassador to Islam precisely on 15 November 2001, the day before the coming of the holy month of Ramadan, or shortly after attending the "Close reading of the Holy Qur'an" and "Study of Islamic Culture". Nouh Said bin Nasser, director of the Batha center, told the French news agency AFP.

He came to the Batha Centrer, agencies that had long been dealing with prospective converts. There he read two sentences fluently creed as it was already known since a long time.

In the 34-year political career, Cardelli who is fluent in Arabic had been assigned as a diplomat for several Middle Eastern countries, including Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Tanzania, and even Albania, he became ambassador to Saudi Arabia based in Riyadh since 2000.

Cardelli, aged 62 years and have two children were not yet willing to be questioned, except when leaving Riyadh to Rome. In his statement, he expressed his happiness after becoming Muslim, religious transition, he said, he decided with confidence and without pressure from anyone. he felt the sanctity of the content of the Qur'an.


Reportedly in Rome, he explained to the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, why he decided to convert to Islam. Some parties in Italy expect the ambassador's decision not to give wind to the terrorists. While others expect the Italian community can appreciate and do not relate it to the WTC tragedy.

The spotlight is not just a movement of religious beliefs, but also his decision close to the events of 11 September 2001 attacks in New York, while in Italy itself up sentiments against Muslims. Then there are those who consider it only natural to Islam because of the influence of the tragedy.

A month before that was in Milan there is an anti-Muslim movement, roll mats mosques and damage some other equipment commonly used pilgrims to worship activities.

Maybe in the three countries that a significant number of Muslims, such as Germany, Britain, and France, public figures who converted to Islam more and more common. But Italy has its own sensitivity value, especially because there are countries Vatican, the Catholic center of the world, so it is natural when a priest would be worried about a bad precedent.

Of the 58 million inhabitants now, Italy has one percent of Muslim citizens, about 60 thousand people of whom settled in Rome.

The inauguration of the Islamic Center in 1973 is an important peritiwa foster dialogue with Muslims of Italians, who then continues with the formation of Islamic Councils in 1999.

Not less than four thousand mosques have stood there, including former church building. The largest mosque of course Rome where azannya not nonsense, but really rnengandung coolness, beauty, and tenderness. The speakers were carefully calculated, so avoid the discordant tones.