altmuslim
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A model Muslim?
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On the surface, it seemed like just another trip to Brokedown Palace, where young westerners find themselves at the mercy of the strict drug laws of many Southeast Asian nations. In this case, a 24-year old Australian model, Michelle Leslie, was arrested in Bali, Indonesia (along with the children of several powerful Indonesian public figures) for posessing two ecstasy tablets at a beach party. At her trial three months later, Leslie stated that she was a Muslim, arriving in court wearing hijabs and, in one case, an Afghan-style burqa.
As the trial found in her favour and Leslie left Indonesia, her wardrobe then reverted to tank tops and jeans, provoking accusations among Australians (Muslim and non-Muslim) that Islam was used to sway Indonesian authorities. Leslie later admitted lying about a Singaporean model friend putting the ecstasy in her bag to save herself and sought her apology.
The grilling continued once she arrived in Australia, with more observers casting doubt on her sincerity and accusing her of bribery (more than AU$130,000 provided by supporters has gone missing), which both Leslie and Indonesian officials deny.
But as for her new found religion, Leslie maintains that her conversion to Islam is real. “It was never my intention to offend anyone in the Muslim community. I am a Muslim and I do understand the significance of wearing the burqa,” she said at a Sydney press conference. “I should have thought more carefully about wearing it in that situation and I apologise for any offence I have caused. It was an extreme situation.”
As for the story of the arrest itself, Leslie has found her options limited. She was chastised by politicians – including Prime Minister John Howard – who said that speaking about her arrest could put other Australians held at risk. One of her fellow inmates, Schapelle Corby, recently began a 20-year sentence, and her mother has offered the same advice (Leslie soon agreed).
As for her modelling career, Leslie immediately resigned from the agency which had represented her for four years, amidst her growing unpopularity with the Australian public. But in clarifying the Muslim objections, Leslie’s purported faith came to light in a drugs trial where her appearance raised too many questions to answer conveniently. Constrasted with the religion of fellow Muslim model Hammasa Kohistani (voted Miss England this year with not one personal hate mail sent to her), this issue appears to be more about her conduct in the trial rather than her former profession.
Regardless, some Australian Muslims are taking a more open-minded view. “You can’t see what is in someone’s heart,” said Waleed Aly, spokesman for the Islamic Council of Victoria. “Muslims regularly do things that are contrary to the requirements of Islam. Islam is not a fashion parade. I think it’s a bit tragic there’s so much focus on that. If she is using [Islam] – it’s between her and God.”
Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com. He is based in London, England.
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