Rabat – Brazilian soccer legend Roberto Carlos has denied stories claiming that he just lately transformed to Islam following his marriage to Moroccan businesswoman Souheila Tahiri.
Speaking completely to Saudi newspaper Okaz on Wednesday, the previous Actual Madrid defender addressed the rumors surrounding his faith and mentioned the stories have been unfaithful.
“I’ve the utmost respect for Islam, and it’s fantastic to see my spouse praying, however the rumors circulating about my conversion to Islam are usually not true,” Carlos mentioned.
The clarification got here after stories circulated on social media and in a number of media shops claiming that the 53-year-old had embraced Islam round 4 weeks in the past.
Some stories alleged that Carlos had recited the Shahada throughout a gathering with Sheikh Jihad Hamada, a outstanding determine in Brazil’s Muslim neighborhood. Pictures additionally circulated on-line purporting to point out the couple holding an Islamic marriage ceremony ceremony within the presence of a spiritual official.
Carlos, nonetheless, rejected these claims and defined that the couple’s marriage ceremony celebrations included completely different ceremonies to respect the beliefs of their households and associates.
A Muslim marriage ceremony?
The previous Brazil worldwide defined that the marriage was held in a couple of format.
Carlos mentioned the couple needed to accommodate members of his household, who’re Catholic, whereas additionally holding ceremonies that mirrored the background of his Moroccan spouse and her Muslim associates.
The completely different components of the celebrations seem to have contributed to hypothesis about Carlos’ non secular beliefs and fueled stories that he had transformed to Islam.
His feedback, nonetheless, clarify that collaborating in or attending ceremonies related to his spouse’s religion didn’t symbolize a change in his personal non secular beliefs.
How did he meet his Moroccan spouse?
Carlos additionally revealed particulars concerning the starting of his relationship with Tahiri.
In response to the Brazilian legend, the couple first met throughout a enterprise assembly associated to soccer. He described Tahiri as a profitable businesswoman and mentioned their relationship has continued for round two years.
Their relationship has developed each personally and professionally, in keeping with Carlos.
The wedding has attracted consideration in Morocco and Brazil, significantly due to Tahiri’s Moroccan background and Carlos’ standing as one of the crucial recognizable figures in world soccer.
Carlos, who loved a legendary profession with Actual Madrid and Brazil, is broadly considered one of many best attacking left-backs in soccer historical past.
His newest feedback put an finish to the hypothesis surrounding his faith whereas highlighting the couple’s efforts to respect the completely different cultural and spiritual traditions inside their households.
