Elena Pouliasi: my journey to Islam
September 26, 2009 by Anna
The experiences of Greek student after her decision to accept Islam
Source: Kathimerini.gr
“Shall I write your name?” “Yes write it.” “And your parents?” “Eventually they will get to know the truth. I did not fall into drugs!”
Twenty-three year old today, Elena Pouliasi is young and beautiful girl – you can see that even under her hijab. It has been less than a year since her decision to accept Islam, decision that cost her enough friends and posed the risk of rupture with her family.” This is my truth though,” says to “K”.
For the past three years, Elena is in England for studies. In her neighbourhood and university, Muslim population outclass in number. “Like most Greeks, I had too grown with the mentality that the Muslims are strict and oppressed people. I saw women with headscarves and I thought that they do not have a life. But the people I met there were quite different.” Her two best friends in London were from Saudi Arabia – she describes them as “incredibly intelligent and talented.” They naturally wore the headscarf. Elena could not understand and neither wanted to challenge their religion. Herself from a little girl believed in God. “I began to read about Islam in order to convince them, to prove that in the subject of their religion they are misguided.”
She began to read the Quran in his Greek translation. “I began to realize that I had learned it… differently. I saw, as an example, love and respect for the women and mothers. Almost unconsciously I stopped drinking and eating pork. I did not know what the truth was and until I find it, I decided to remain open at all. This process lasted roughly eight months. “I lived as a Muslim. I was careful where I go out, I was more careful with the clothes I wore; I stopped swearing, and became more generous and polite.”
On May 15th she officially became a Muslim. The subject of hijab worried her. In the beginning, she wore it outside, but used to remove the scarf when she entered her office (alongside her studies in International Business and Management, she also runs a translation office). “I did not want the behaviour of my colleagues to change towards me. But now I wear hijab all the time. Why? Because it makes me feel better. I feel secure”.
Personal cost
Her decision did not come without personal cost. “It was something that affected my family too. Even though I have not announced it, my mother understands that I have changed. I lost also many friends. The only consolation is that they were not real friends, or if they were they would like to be with Elena as she really is, not only with Elena that used to go out on Friday night and get drunk.”
It is not that she does not understand them. “Most people have a tendency to believe that to become a Muslim you must have been brainwashed.
However, nobody put the Quran in my hands, it was my choice.
They say to me, “but you were born Greek!” I say to them, “but I am Greek.” Becoming Muslim does not mean that my life is over and that I should devote myself in reading Quran, bear children and become fanatical. On the contrary, I get angry with the Muslims who are extremists.” Before we close,” she points out, “They will ask you for sure, if I became Muslim because I fell in love. Answer them that I did not. Most women become Muslims before they meet their prince.”
Many are baptized Christian Orthodox
In www.greeksrethink.com, the global online community of Greek Muslims, you find enough testimonies of Greek Orthodox that at some point made the conscious decision of embracing Islam. Most are Greeks of abroad and, in their narrations, describe rather with gloomy colours the way that they were faced by their families. “This is an experiential, hard road to change your religion and which in any case should be treated with respect,” says in the “K” professor of Comparative Philosophy in University of Athens Mr. Marios Begzos. In Greece, however, we are open only in words; instead there is great difficulty in the assimilation of the ‘other’. Especially Muslims, who in our conscience are acknowledged as Turks therefore there are negative records in our subconscious.
The natural routes between the two religions have two directions. Many Muslims every year are baptized Christian Orthodox in a church of our country, although as emphasized in the “K” Chairman of the Board Movement Citizens’ Coexistence and Communication in the Aegean Mr. Stratis Potha, in most cases the reason is marriage.”For Muslims especially, that is something not easy to reveal to their family.
salam my sister, i too am from greek origin converted to islam hamdoulila and i am looking for greek sisters to talk to.
ime apo to canada montreal an thelis grapse mou.
salam aleikom
Salam Sister ,
That is great mashallah u know please go to our forum and introduce yourself and of course we can talk we are all here greeks and muslims
alslamualykom my sister
i’m muslime from egypt i have been her in greece for 3 years and i ‘m looking for muslim wife
you can contact me on this mail
Basemabdelraof@yahoo.com
Wa alaikum assalaam Br. Bassem. Wow, a little bit direct.
Well, welcome to our website! How about you tell us a little more about you then on the forums in the intro section?
http://www.greeksrethink.com/forum
Salam br Bassem,
I do not want to disappoint you but you have to say more about you, you cannot possibly expect a response by sending a simple e-mail address, there are sooo many single people around all Muslims, so stating that you are a Muslim is not enough. By now that you live in Greek society you must know that.
Please help yourself and let people know about you
Wow i would Agree with Iman, i would say its too direct and also thanks brother but im not interested. Inshallah may Allah help you find a nice wife.
ALSALAM ALYKOOM sisters and brothers
first of all i would like thank all of you for your comments and tell you that really you made me happy with your replies to me and i apologize for the way that i introduced my self .
i’m muslim borne in islamic country i like my religion very much . against the way that Muslims are leave now they are not following their religion correct as should be . i am working as engineer i have goo experience with greek mentality sorry dear Anna i am not agree with most of muslims behaviors her . every day i am doing all my pray every friday i go to the GAMEA i can communicate in greek but not as native speaker you can say as learner in the next month ensha allh i will complete 27 years .
best wishes
bassem
Assalum Alaykum, Yesu,,,with the love of Allah may you all be shining inside out as becons to lead the way home… I will be arriving in Athens tomoro, I am on a global peace mission,,, I would love to meet up with Islamic community in Athens… any advice?
Maasalama, Adio
Sarah
Walikum Salam Sarah
Thank you for the kind words, such a shame i just left Greece 2 days ago, i will not be able to meet you.
But i am sure that Anna Stamou will be more than happy to meet you and take you around as she knows all the Muslim Community in Athens.
I hope inshallah you have good time there and learn a lot.
Masalama
Salam Sarah, send me to my mail islamfriendsgr@yahoo.gr your phone and mail to meet en sha Allah.
Welcome to Greece!
Assalam-o-Alaikum Wr. Wb.
I’m muslim al-hamdo-lila asufi from Pakistan. living here in Greece for last 13 yrs, I.ve a small phone and internet shop here in kypseli, athens.I belong to the country where majority love islam from the core of their heart.Sufi is a very old term . I need a small help from any true muslim.An old greek man used to meet me here in my shop crying and complaing the bad luck of her daughterHe thinks i’m a good muslim,ican tell him something to change her luck.I tried to find any solution to change bad luck to good one,and it came to me that i may give her HOLY QURAN translation in greek language.So if anybody possess a copy of translation or cd or know from where i can get, please contact me. My email’s tariqmuhammadkhan@hotmail.com,sahankalan@yahoo.com or ph.no.2108817031.
May ALLAH bless all of muslims and help us unite ,follow the true path ,deepen our faith.
assalam.
بارك الله بك إيلينا
أدعوك إلى دمشق لزيارتها وتعلم اللغة العربية
هالة
دمشق
مدرسة لغة عربية للأجانب
Dear Elena,
I’m teacher female from Damascus. If you want, I would like to give you recitation lessons of Noble koran via Skype for free.
this invitation is available for all new Muslem.
Salam
السلام عليكم وبارك الله بك
Hala LOULOU
Hala321@gmail.com
Αγαπητέ Elena
Είμαι δασκάλα από τη Δαμασκό. Εάν θέλετε, θα ήθελα να σας δώσω μαθήματα απαγγελία του Κορανίου Noble μέσω Skype δωρεάν.
παρούσας πρόσκλησης είναι διαθέσιμο για όλα τα νέα μουσουλμάνοι.
Salam
السلام عليكم وبارك الله بك
Hala LOULOU
Hala321@gmail.com
السلام عليكم أختي
this is a very important and serious offer that you make, I wish that my brothers and sisters can take this opportunity and take those classes.
May Allah reward you for your efforts and you noble intentions!
Maa salama
Dear Sister,
Salam.
Nice to meet you, I give you a website name,’answering christianity.com’
Hope it would very very helpful for you and forward to other friends.
For further enquiry my e-mail add,asadul_a@yahoo.com
Allah Bless us.
Pragmatika ekplizomai pou vlepo tosi poli elines kai elinides mousoulmanoi. Eimai apo Albania kai kai ezisa sxedon efta xronia stin ellada alla pote den gnoriza ellines pou exoun aspasti sto islam. Mou kanei megali entiposi ala mou deini kai megali xara, alithia.
Sas xereto olous me to me to xeretismo ton katoikon tou paradisou “Es Selamu Alejkum ue Rahmetull-llahi ue Barakatuhu”……..