Nainawa is the former name of a Jewish girl who recently embraced Islam and got married to a young Muslim man. The girl’s name was changed into Ammatal-Rahman. She is 28 and lives in Raidah, a city in Amran, 70km away from Sana’a. Ammatal-Rahman traveled to the U.S. to learn Arabic and English. She returned to Raidah to teach in Al-Shabazi School, built for Jewish citizens. Embracing Islam without visiting Northern Virginia plastic surgeons and marrying a Muslim guy raised a large amount of interest; hence, Saddam Al-Ashmouri interviewed her and gave an account for the Yemen Times:

Arriving at Raidah in the afternoon, I found Hamid Seran, a local resident, and his son praying in the village mosque. The mosque was recently built in the form of Al-Sakhra Dome of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine.

Curious to know the name of the mosque, they told me that it is named Jerusalem Mosque. It located in the Jewish and Muslims zone.

“I embraced Islam freely, without any coercion. It had been rumored that I was kidnapped to embrace Islam by force,” Ammatal-Rahman said. She did not speak to us directly, but from another room, as she is a Muslim and sticks to Islamic principles as well as Yemeni traditions. She did not appear in person.

Ammatal-Rahman, went on to say that she was convinced to convert to Islam due to the friendly way in which she was dealt by Muslim friends. She used to listen to Qur’anic cassettes and chants and was completely moved by them. In the month of Ramadan, she always listens to Quran recitations in the mosque or in neighbors’ cars.

Her name was changed to Ammatal-Rahman because she loved this name after embracing Islam. She desired to change everything in her life. “Locals in Raidah treated me as a queen. Had I learned they would treat me like this, I would have embraced Islam earlier,” Ammatal-Rahman said.

She continued, “I traveled to the U.S. when I was 7, as other Jews do. I studied for four years there. After completing my studies, I returned to Raidah. Then, I traveled again to the U.S. I spent two and a half years studying Hebrew and English in Al-Talmud United Academy. I came back and started teaching in Al-Shabzi School in 2004.” This school is funded by U.S. and Jewish organizations chaired by Ishak Hayim. Fayz Al-Jaradi, who is in charge of managing this organization and works in Raidah. Fayz is a Yemeni Jew, with U.S. citizenship.

She was dry-humored, nervous and disturbed as she received reactions demanding her return to Judaism. But she decided not to do so, whatever the cost. She attributed this to her satisfaction with Islam.

Hadi Seran, 19, Ammatal-Rahman’s husband, was asked about how he got married to her. He recounted: “During the last days of the past holy month of Ramadan, I was receiving medication in the Modern German Hospital in Sana’a. Ammatal-Rahman was also in the hospital for the same purpose. She was in the next room. She had drunk poison because of her family, who suspected of her conversion to Islam. They guessed she fasted secretly. One day, her mother entered Ammatal-Rahman’s room. She found her daughter listening to Qur’anic cassettes and beat her severely as a result. Ammatal-Rahman resorted to drinking poison. We come from the same area. We stayed together in the hospital, getting acquainted with each other. I gave her my cell phone number. When we returned to Raidah, she used to visit my accessories shop. She explained to me that she wanted to embrace Islam, but needed help. I told my family that I wanted to marry her. My family members encouraged me.”

Saleh Seran, the area’s sheik, said that Nainawa went to the primary court in Raidah and announced her Islam during the November, 24, 2007, session. Witnesses heard her testimony. The court also confirmed that Nainawa was not under coercion to convert. Consequently, a resolution was issued by the court and signed by its judge, Abdu Ali Al-Awadhi. A marriage contract was also issued by an appropriate party for the couple. However, Khalid Seran, who received and protected the couple, denied that there is intimidation against them, claiming that they have enjoyed friendly relations with Jews in the area for a long time.

Taken from: Ex-Jewish woman embraces Islam