There are several possible reasons why these three — the German Arthur Wagner, and the two Dutchmen Arnaud van Doorn and Joram van Klaveren — decided to convert to Islam after having been well known as islamocritics. One is the reason Muslims favor: despite their “Islamophobic” backgrounds, these “reverters” had all been struck by the sheer wonderfulness of Islam once they had carefully looked into it. What was it that attracted them? That Islam provides a Complete Regulation of Life, which some lost souls find most appealing, a way to handle the chaos of modern life? That it so clearly separates every human activity into what is halal and what is haram? That in Islam, there is no need to think, but only to submit; thinking has already been done for the Believers and that they have a Community of Believers, members of the world-wide umma, ready to stand by them?
There are other conceivable explanations for these conversions. The Tagesspiegel reported that Wagner, who joined AfD shortly after it was founded in 2013, had in the past been active in a group assisting refugees. Could he have been persuaded by some fetching female “refugee” that Islam, because it shared Wagner’s deep dislike of homosexuality, was the faith for him?
It would not surprise you to discover that an attractive Muslimah, possibly a “refugee,” had set her net — or was pressed into service by Muslim males eager to “turn” some high-profile figures in the enemy camp to Islam — to ensnare the likes of Arnoud van Doorn, or Arthur Wagner, or Joram van Klaveren. As a female refugee, she would not need much prodding to proceed, for she might see such encouragement of “reverters” — the more unlikely in background the better — as her contribution to the Jihad. And should she be responsible for one such reverter, he could help sponsor her, ensure that could remain in the Netherlands or Germany.
What a coup for Islam these three reverts appear to be. One can just imagine how often Muslims will be bringing up their examples as proof of islam’s irresistible greatness, which can, as Wagner said, “overcome even the worst sort of islamophobia.” Of course, we are never told how many Muslims have been converting to Christianity, since most such apostates, for safety, do not identify themselves. But anecdotal evidence suggests that especially in Iran (where Christianity is the fastest-growing religion), in the Kabyle region of Algeria (where the Berbers live, resentful of Muslim Arab domination), and among the Kurds, hundreds of thousands have been leaving Islam each year. And there are a great many converts to Christianity among Muslims in Europe who, for obvious reasons, don’t share news of their conversion with others. Why risk death?
A third possible explanation for these “reverters” is of the filthy-lucre sort. We know that for high-profile “Islamophobes” who turn Turk, that is “revert” to Islam, there is money to be made. Think of all the speaking engagements now available to Joram van Klaveren, Arnoud van Doorn, and Arthur Wagner, throughout the deepest-pocketed Muslim lands — in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar — or even to audiences of Muslims throughout Europe. The talk each could give would be on the subject that every devout Muslim most wants to hear from an Unbeliever: “Why I Became A Muslim.” That triumphalist topic ought to be worth a great deal per speech. And these reverts might even be sponsored directly by rich Arabs, to go on speaking tours in Europe, addressing audiences of non-Muslims on “How I Saw The Light Of Islam.” And why shouldn’t they testify to the greatness of Islam? How dare anyone question their motives? Why shouldn’t they make some money from their embrace of the Faith? Are they any worse than so many of our past presidents, secretaries of state, national security advisors, big shots of every sort, who once out of office head out to the Gulf (Persian, Arabian, take your pick) to pocket most generous honoraria? These reverts have a story to proudly tell. Why shouldn’t they at the same time be able to earn from their telling their daily bread?
Eventually we’ll find out what different considerations led these men to the One True Faith. Arthur Wagner says it was his way to register his anger at the support for homosexual marriage. Arnoud van Doorn became a Muslim in April 2012, a few months after being asked to leave Geert Wilders’ PVV party for unspecified — possibly financial — reasons. Announcing his conversion, he expressed his regret for having been responsible for the distribution of the anti-Islam movie Fitna: “Right now I am still feeling regret for having distributed the film. I have a responsibility to correct the mistakes that I’ve done in the past.” He claimed that the violent reaction of Muslims around the world against the film made him interested to learn more about Islam, which led to his conversion. But what could he possibly have learned that he did not know before? That Muslims can become dangerously violent if they believe they or their faith are being attacked? What kind of person is impressed, rather than horrified, by such a reaction? Are we right to suspect that Van Doorn’ conversion was nothing more than a smart career move by a thoroughly amoral fellow?
Van Doorn has had various troubles with the law; he has been convicted of providing secret documents to the press, possession of an illegal flare gun, and selling soft drugs to minors. He was accused by a fellow member of the Hague city council of sending a group of Muslims to gang-rape her — a charge that she made in a video before committing suicide. Yet here he is, now earning a solid living as President of the European Da’wah Foundation, and Ambassador of Celebrity Relations for the Canadian Da’wah Association in Europe. For several years, he was a Member of the Board and Official Representative for the PvdE, a Muslim political party, in the city council of The Hague. He has made the Hajj to Mecca, where he was warmly welcomed by his Saudi hosts. Could they have given him a more telling token of their affection and esteem? Had he not reverted, none of that would have been possible. It would be fascinating to know how Arnoud van Doorn is doing now, financially, as a revert to Islam, as compared to how he was doing before he saw the light.
Ren says
It is not worth to be disconcerted by stupidity.
mortimer says
Response to ‘stupidity’. I believe they are highly intelligent. Thus, they have been bribed by Gulf money. They should be forensically audited.
FYI says
If so,then that makes it worse because they knowingly decided to become judas iscariots{judas knew what he was doing…}
It wouldn’t matter if they had become Buddhists:unlike islam,Buddhism does not have a subversive political ideology promoted through lying and terrorism.
They have betrayed their own people and their country.It would be a good idea to see who finances them….
gravenimage says
Not everyone would be swayed by money. I’m sure you would not convert for money, Mortimer–nor would I or most of us here.
Rufolino says
He was “angry at homosexual marriage”. So he joins a religion that kills homosexuals. Perfectly logical, if you are full of hate.
dan christensen says
A small update of a famous British politician’s speech:
“Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of Islam and all the odious apparatus of muslim rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in the EU, we shall fight on the Mediterranean Sea, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the internet, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the sailing migration landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated with dhimmi status, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in the Christian God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.
After our victory, the traitors to the civilized world shall surely be held accountable in court for their surrender to the islamic conquering migrants.”
Ashley says
A third possible explanation for these “reverters” is of the filthy-lucre sort. We know that for high-profile “Islamophobes” who turn Turk, that is “revert” to Islam, there is money to be made. Think of all the speaking engagements now available to Joram van Klaveren, Arnoud van Doorn, and Arthur Wagner, throughout the deepest-pocketed Muslim lands — in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar — or even to audiences of Muslims throughout Europe. The talk each could give would be on the subject that every devout Muslim most wants to hear from an Unbeliever: “Why I Became A Muslim.” That triumphalist topic ought to be worth a great deal per speech. And these reverts might even be sponsored directly by rich Arabs, to go on speaking tours in Europe, addressing audiences of non-Muslims on “How I Saw The Light Of Islam.” And why shouldn’t they testify to the greatness of Islam? How dare anyone question their motives? Why shouldn’t they make some money from their embrace of the Faith?
___________________
No pun intended but my money is on this possible explanation.
roberta says
Yeah, there’s gotta be a money trail.
eduardo odraude says
When the two Dutch realized that Wilders truly believes in human rights and democracy, whereas Islam uses terror and disinformation to gradually impose a totalitarian monoculture in place of Western multiculturalism and encourages marriage to prepubescent girls, they abandoned Wilders and moved to Islam.
FYI says
No,no need to be disconcerted at all.
Since allah’s GREATEST ENEMY is Jesus Christ{Malik Al Amlak}
Sahih muslim vol 5 hadith #5611……
By converting to islam these idiots have joined the religion of antiChrist:they are simply too thick to see it .But there are consequences…
For those who understand Biblical prophecy:the forces of antiChrist will not be surviving
The Apocalypse{2 Thessalonians 1 v 7-10}
By converting to islam,given that allah is the ENEMY of Jesus Christ,they have PROVED themselves unworthy of salvation.
2 Thessalonians 2 v 10-11
God’s winnowing mechanism…for those ex-christians who convert to islam..
Since “They did not welcome and LOVE the Truth to be saved”,”God sends the power of ERROR to work in them so that they believe what is FALSE” and so “they will perish”
Thus the ex-christian selects his own fate by PROVING he or she is not worthy of being christian in the first place.The convert to islam is now empowered by the spirit of error so he believes in the FALSE creed.Note that God permits this to separate the wheat from the chaff..
Think about that if you are a former Christian who converts to islam:
1)you have FAILED in your Christianity
2)you cannot expect salvation see 2 Peter 2 v 20-22
3)Since allah is the ENEMY of Jesus.you have joined the religion of antiChrist
4)In terms of Biblical Prophecy.. you are now on the wrong side of God!
5)Like judas iscariot ,you are a betrayer …of Jesus,your people,your heritage even…
6)allah does not even permit final penitence k4:18.By not being able to differentiate between God and allah “the best of deceivers” the convert to islam from christianity proves himself an imbecile.allah will not save you!
I have said that it is better and wiser to be an atheist than to convert to islam…
A Christian who converts to islam has condemned himself already and has PROVED himself unworthy to Jesus.
JM says
Agreed. I would add:
“Leave them. They are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Matthew 15:14
JM says
Agreed. I would add Matthew 15:14
“Leave them. They are blind guides.
Walter Sieruk says
Concerning the threats and dangerous behavior of the jihadists towards the people of the nations of Europe .This has been further explained and revealed by in the book , by Robert Spencer ,THE HISTORY OF THE JIHAD FROM MUHAMMAD TO ISIS .Which in page 367 informs the reader that “The early twenty- first century saw a sharp rise in jihad massacres perpetrated all over the West by individuals or small groups of Muslims: in London, Manchester, Paris, Toulouse, Nice ,Amsterdam, Madrid, Brussels, Berlin Munich ,Copenhagen…”
Those jihadists /Muslims with their insidious jihad-minded Muslims scheming for the subtle and not so subtle, Islamic conquest of Europe by every possible means, including the stealth and violent jihad which is, indeed, awful.
As explained by William Wagner in his book HOW ISLAM PLANS TO CHANGE THE WORLD .Which informs the reader n page 195 “Of all the continents of the world, Europe is probably the number one target by Muslim strategist who are seeking world dominance.”
Therefore, the Europeans would be wise to be on guard.
In addition, regarding many of those Muslim migrants who have entered the different nations of Europe and commit crimes of the most vile ,brutal and heinous sort countries, as seen in that hideous Muslim rape incident in Sweden and thus only contempt .dishonor and reproach towards the people of those Western nations who were kind yet foolish enough to allow them, those Muslim migrants to enter, invade, their home countries of Europe in the first place. This type of situation is reflected in the Bible .Which reads “When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; with dishonor comes reproach.” Proverbs 18:3. [N.K.J.V.]
Furthermore, those jihadist Muslims with their Islamic way of thinking by their well thought Islamic schemes for the action of involvement in their violent and sheath jihad for the advancement of Islam in the many different Western nations. Those sly scheming jihadists are, somewhat, of a reminder of the information reveled in the Bible in Proverbs 15:26. In which the reader is informed that even “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord…”
Geoffrey de Brito says
There’s another possible explanation; the old, “If you can’t beat them, join them…” Presumably these three traitors are more familiar with W. Europe’s surrender than most, seeing the ‘handwriting on the wall’ they’ve decided to be “proactive” and join the ‘winners’…
gravenimage says
Yes–this is also possible–and disgusting.
Tut bauer says
Its now becoming a trend that social ethical failures , join Islam
thebigW says
“Could he have been persuaded by some fetching female “refugee” that Islam, because it shared Wagner’s deep dislike of homosexuality, was the faith for him?”
That still don’t explain it. Like, would a decent Westerner join Hitler’s Nazis just because he fell in love with some Fraulein? Obviously if he did that, there must be another reason more important behind that. Like maybe he was a freaking self-hating Leftard all along.
tim gallagher says
I find cases like these baffling. We are used to people supporting Islam ( you know, the “Islam is peaceful” crap) who know absolutely nothing about Islam. There are also the leftist scum who support islam (despite knowing how vile it is) because, for some reason, they hate the western world even more than Islam. So they work together with Islam against western civilisation. But these turncoats we are dealing with here know plenty about how evil Islam is and yet they make a radical 180 degree turn and join Islam. There’s no excuse for them. They have zero integrity because they know how evil Islam is. Maybe they have early onset dementia or a brain tumour or a severe mental illness. It is such an extreme change in what they believe in. I could possibly ( extremely unlikely) decide that I’ve been a little bit too harsh in my opinion of Islam or something like that, but to actually go and join barbaric Islam. Not in a million years. Such extreme changes are truly bizarre.
thebigW says
“But these turncoats we are dealing with here know plenty about how evil Islam is and yet they make a radical 180 degree turn and join Islam. There’s no excuse for them.”
I don’t think they really changed much; they just came out of the self-hating Leftist closet. The other guy who’s anti-gay, well he seems to be a right-wing nutcase. Islam is equal opportunity for nutcases from both sides of the aisle. Point is, they’re already nutcases; the sex or money isn’t the explanation Hugh Fitzgerald thinks it is.
tim gallagher says
Thanks for your comment, thebigW and thanks also Ashley. I don’t know these characters who have gone off and joined Islam enough to figure them out. Maybe just nutcases. I was thinking that maybe they never had strong convictions when they got involved in the fight against islam. I thought maybe they were people who wanted attention. You know, the “Look at me, Look at me ” sort of mentality. In which case, this Dutch guy who has now turned around and joined Islam would get quite a bit of attention for going off and joining Islam. He’d be a bit of celebrity for a while and get plenty of publicity. Maybe that’s the main thing he craves.
thebigW says
tim, if they joined Islam knowing what it is, then they’re nutcases. If they didn’t know what it is, they’re just damn fools.
Ashley says
To cheer you, Tim.
Please don’t despair..
gravenimage says
“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”
― Friedrich W. Nietzsche
This usually means gradually adopting the same ugly tactics as the monsters that are being fought, bad enough–but, occasionally, for the morally weak, the monstrosity itself becomes appealing.
This is another possible motive here.
tim gallagher says
That’s an interesting quote from Nietzsche, gravenimage. Maybe it is relevant for these turncoats. I think Nietzsche went insane didn’t he because of infection with syphilis. Maybe these people who have taken such an extreme 180 degree turn and joined Islam have some kind of mental illness because it is such an extreme change of direction. Maybe this isn’t very original and maybe this witty comment is already well known to people. I’m not sure about that. But the reference to Nietzsche brought it to my mind and I couldn’t resist including it here despite the fact that it isn’t relevant to this report. I saw this piece of graffiti on the wall of a toilet at a university I was attending over 40 years ago and I thought it was a witty comment. it’s certainly the only bit of graffiti I remember. It went, “God is dead – Nietzsche “; Then just below it was written “Nietzsche is dead – God”. As I said, I don’t know whether people already know this witty comment or not, but I was impressed by it so I thought I’d mention it.
gravenimage says
Tim, I am not generally a fan of Nietzsche, but it seemed appropriate to cite him here.
And yes, I’ve heard that joke–a classic!
thebigW says
All people who defend Islam knowing what it is, or convert to it knowing what it is are sociopaths and psychopaths.
tim gallagher says
Thanks for your comments, gravenimage and thebigW. Like you, thebigW, I can’t comprehend how anyone, who knows even a little about Islam’s evil nature, can join the foul religion or totalitarian ideology. To my mind, apart from its revolting attitudes to women, its paedophilia, etc, the main thing that makes me loathe Islam is its revolting attitude towards all non-Muslims. Islam’s obsessive hatred of non-believers seems to be its main characteristic. gravenimage, as I said, I’ve never known whether that bit of graffiti was well known or not, but I know I was very impressed by it when I read it and have remembered it ever since. I still think it’s very clever. Whoever came up with it, kudos to that person.
gravenimage says
True, thebigW. I fear as Islam gains more power in Dar-al-Harb, that we will see more of these traitors. it has happened before as vile ideologies like Fascism or Communism have gained power in society, either by conquest or other forms of takeover.
And it has even happened before with Islam. Some have converted to Islam out of fear, sometimes for their own families–this is not laudable, but is more understandable.
But there have also been those who joined out of much less defensible reasons.
Osama bin Laden said that many would flock to Islam, recognizing it as the “strong horse”.
If we–like Geert Wilders–stand up for our civilized societies, few will see Islam as a rising star.
And on other matters, Tim, that graffiti is I think fairly well known, at least among philosophic wags:
http://i.imgur.com/2kVm2.jpg
No, it does not date to 1900, as the link says (that is the year Nietzsche died. Not quite sure how old it is–or who said it first–but it was around during my university days in the 1980s.
Yes–whoever said it first was quite brilliant.
tim gallagher says
Thanks for the info, gravenimage. It would have been around 1973 when I saw that witty graffiti about Nietzsche. I was going to one of the universities in Sydney at that time. On the issue of the fight against Islam, the fact that a movement seems like the “strong horse”, that it might win and take power certainly is a disgraceful reason for any person to join that movement ( such as joining Islam, with all its revolting beliefs and behaviours). People like that seem to have the mentality of bullies. They probably want to be with the side they think might win so they can stand over people and act like thugs rather than because they genuinely believe in the movement’s values. As you say up above, we have to fight for “our civilised societies”. I know I’d fight for the values I believe in even if I thought we were going to end up losing to barbaric islam. Hopefully, we’ll end up winning this war though. It’ll be a disaster if we lose.