Well-known singer who converted to Islam buried in Ireland

DUBLIN, Ireland – Ireland bid goodbye to singer Sinead O’Connor, who was also known as Shuhada Sadaqat after her conversion to Islam.

Her funeral took place in her hometown of Bray, Ireland.

The private funeral procession was led by the country’s leading imam, Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, and accompanied by dignitaries including the President Michael Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.

Thousands of supporters paid their last respects at her home.

The procession passed through the city, where hundreds of people lined the route.

Sinead O’Connor was known for her Grammy-winning song “Nothing Compares 2 U” and her powerful voice. She passed away in London at the age of 56.

The funeral was a mixture of mourning and tribute to her influence on Irish culture and her willingness to speak out against injustice.

The funeral was described as moving and private, reflecting her Irish and Muslim identity.

The singing star O’Connor, was known for her courageous actions.

She became famous when she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II in 1992 to protest the Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse by priests.

Author Anna Piela said the action affected her career, but she never regretted the moment.

That moment shaped her public image for the rest of her 56 years.

Piela said the media overshadowed O’Connor’s spiritual journey.

O’Connor had taken Shuhada Sadaqat as her name and found solace in Islam.

The mainstream media, however, often downplayed the story or treated it as a mere footnote.

In Religion News Service, Piela wrote that the media was insensitive which was glaring in obituaries that overlooked her Muslim faith.

She emphasizes that the media missed an opportunity to combat Islamophobia and celebrate O’Connor’s life. She urged the media to respect the singer’s religious choices while honoring her legacy.

She said O’Connor’s life is a testament to the complexity of faith, identity and personal growth.