Ms DD Posted February 6, 2007 US Mayor Reverts to Islam IslamOnline.net & News Agencies "I went back to my roots I guess you could say," said Ellis. MACON, Georgia — The mayor of Macon in the American state of Georgia, a practicing Christian, has reverted to Islam, saying he went back to his roots after years of soul-searching. "Why does one become a Christian? You do it because it feels right. . . . To me, it’s no big deal. But people like to know what you believe in," Jack Ellis, who changed his name to Hakim Mansour Ellis, was quoted as saying Saturday, February 3, by the American Boston Herald newspaper. Ellis noted that he studied the Noble Qur'an for years and found his destination in Islam following a trip to the African country of Senegal, saying that his new religion was practiced by his ancestors before they were brought to North America as slaves. "I did revert to Islam in December of this past year in the country of Senegal," he said in statements carried Saturday by WMAZ-TV, a local television in the City of Columbia, South Carolina. The father-of-five said he started praying five times a day and regularly frequents the Islamic Center on Bloomfield Road, proud of religious freedom in the United States. He said although he reverted to Islam, he does not rank religions. "I'm not saying that one is better than the other," Ellis said. "We do believe that the prophet Muhammad was the last prophet as well as we believe Moses was a prophet," Ellis added. Born on January 6, 1946 in Macon, Ellis holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Leo College in Florida. According to his website, Ellis served two years of combat duty in Vietnam as a paratrooper platoon sergeant with the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded three Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and Heroism, and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. Ellis will complete his second consecutive four-year term, as a mayor of Macon, in December and isn't eligible for re-election. But he said he might run for Georgia's 8th District congressional seat in 2008. Ellis was first sworn in as Mayor of Macon on December 14, 1999 becoming the first black Mayor in the city’s 176-year history. He is the 40th mayor of Macon and currently serving his second term. Back to Roots Ellis has made Macon one of the most viable cities across the United States. Ellis said felt home when he accepted Islam. "I went back to my roots I guess you could say," he said. He said that although his reversion is a personnel affair, it is the right of voters, as long as he is a public figure, to know his decision. "It's a personal decision, a private decision as to how one worships. But I do understand that I'm not a private person," Ellis said. "But being the mayor of the city, I think people have a right to know what I believe in, that I am a man of faith, and the faith I'm now a part of is the faith of Islam," he added. Voters reelected Ellis as he made Macon one of the most livable cities in America. He used his Federal and State grants to assist the youth in job training, mentoring, tutoring, after-school programs and crime reduction programs. He built over forty affordable houses marketed to first time homebuyers. Ellish is presently constructing hundreds of affordable and market-rate houses in the Beall’s Hill area, according to his website. "Now, I'm sharing with my broader family, the Macon community who supported me when I was a Christian and trust that they will now," Ellis said. "I'm the same person even though I'll be changing my name," he added. http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1170514785077&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nuune Posted February 6, 2007 Maashaa Allaah, Ilaah baa waafijiyey xaqa, Alxamdulillaah. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
STOIC Posted February 6, 2007 I hope they do trust him still because Macon is not a fun place to be in the South.It is a bout an hour drive from Atlanta.This is a land with great history of segregation and suspicion of anything but white.We currently don't live in Jim Crow era, but a more covert subtle form of racism do exist .The effect of this racism towards anything foreign is humiliting.I think now comes the hard part of convincing the bible belt of America how a Muslim would lead their city. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aaliyyah Posted February 6, 2007 Masha Allah ......Allahu Akbar. wa salaam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Som@li Posted February 6, 2007 Allaahu Akbar! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xudeedi Posted February 7, 2007 Very lucky person. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Intel Posted February 8, 2007 masha'allah happy for him Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
