As musicians, politicians and fans remember Sinead O’Connor, some Muslims are disappointed that the Irish singer and lifelong activist’s religious identity is not being highlighted in tributes.
UK police on Wednesday said the 56-year-old was found unresponsive in her London residence on Wednesday and that there her death was not being treated as suspicious.
Since the news of her death, Muslim fans of the 90s superstar have said her conversion to Islam, a cornerstone of her identity, was inspiring, but that some media reports have failed to note her religious beliefs in obituaries.
O’Connor, whose chart-topping hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” helped her reach global stardom, converted to Islam in 2018.
“This is to announce that I am proud to have become a Muslim. This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian‘s journey. All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant,” the songstress tweeted on October 19, 2018.
At that time, O’Connor tweeted selfies donning the Muslim headscarf, the hijab, and uploaded a video of her reciting the Islamic call to prayer, the azan.
She took on the Muslim name Shuhada’ Davitt – later changing it to Shuhada Sadaqat – but continued to use the name Sinead O’Connor professionally.
One social media user said imagery of the singer without the hijab points to the glaring lack of Muslim reporters in newsrooms.
Meanwhile, some said that O’Connor was an inspiration for queer Muslims globally.
In 2000, she came out as a lesbian during an interview. But the singer, who was married to multiple men throughout her life, later said that her sexuality was fluid and that she did not believe in labels.
Some found joy in O’Connor’s conversion growing up, seeing themselves represented, while others, just learning about her Muslim identity at the news of her death, also took inspiration.
O’Connor was no stranger to controversy.
A lifelong nonconformist, she was outspoken about religion, feminism, and war, as well as her own addiction and mental health issues.
In 2014, she refused to play in Israel.
“Let’s just say that, on a human level, nobody with any sanity, including myself, would have anything but sympathy for the Palestinian plight. There’s not a sane person on earth who in any way sanctions what the f*** the Israeli authorities are doing,” she told Hot Press, an Irish music magazine.
Her iconic shaved head and shapeless wardrobe defied early 90s popular culture’s notions of femininity and sexuality.
In 1992, she ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a television appearance on Saturday Night Live, vocal against the Catholic Church’s history of child abuse.
The late former star was also a firm supporter of a united Ireland, under which the United Kingdom would relinquish control of Northern Ireland.
Let me say it slowly.
She has the bloody fucking right to wear a hijab if she wants to. And it is incompatible with feminism.
Both statements can be true. And both statements are true. There are women being arrested right now for not wearing the hijab. Women are being killed for not wearing a hijab. I know those are extreme cases and "not all Muslims" but they're not RARE cases and they are state supported.
Knowing that - you think wearing a hijab is perfectly aligned with feminist ideology of equality of the sexes?
If she was a man and wore a hijab would that be a problem?
"Oh you got me - if she were a man I'd think it's okay" - is that how my reply went in your head?
All else being equal - yes of course.
If a man wore a Klan or Nazi uniform I would take issue with it as well. Women can do thing that are anti-feminist. Phyllis Schlafly spoke out against 'marital rape' ffs.
"Being a woman" does not isolate you from criticism. Nor should it be the source of criticism. Supporting a religion that even in moderate mosques doesn't allow men and women to worship together and wearing an article of clothing that is literally forced on women in some regions seems antithetical to the belief that women should have equality with men.
Muslim men must cover up down to the knee and are not allowed to shave their beards. There's "rules" for both sides. In that this is what they should do if they feel called to do so.