Bandar Seri Begawan - After living in the Sultanate as a tailor for three months with her converted Muslim sister, Amerah Azeyah binti Abdul Rahman, 43, a Filipino previously known as Rebecca Pereyra Capistrano, decided to embrace Islam as her new religion.
The conversion ceremony took place yesterday afternoon at the residence of Hj Saidin bin Hj Saban in Perumahan Kampong Rimba.
Nur Syafiqah bte Abd Rahman, 13, niece of Amerah Azeyah, also converted during yesterday's ceremony for the underage 'sharak'. Nur Syafiqah was previously known as Camille Pereyra Sabularse. "My feeling and heart told me that this is the right path. Islam is very good.
While living with my sister, she has taught me much about Islam," said Amerah Azeyah.
"I decided to convert in November and my brother-in law helped me with the process," she added.
"This year, as of November, there were 421 conversions, whereas in 2005 we had 496. We target around 500 annually. We give these newly converts welfare assistance in any way we can but we also encourage them to be independent in Islam," said Acting Director of Islamic Dakwah Centre, Awang Hj Mohamad bin Garing who also attended the ceremony.
Also witnessing the conversion was Hjh Siti Ara bte Hj Berudin, a conversion officer from Islamic Dakwah Centre, friends and family members.
Source