Reborn Engineer “Ahmad Taha”, a Jordanian convert (Mustabser)

I used to be a Sunni, and through reading several historical books, my understanding of the Shia sect increased.

Engineer Ahmad Taha, a member of the Shia community in Jordan, says:
“I live a double life. No one except my family accepts that I am Shia, and I cannot publicly declare my religious affiliation. Therefore, I only feel safe in my home—outside of it, I have to be someone else.”

Ahmad Taha comes from a family that converted to Shiism in the 1970s and follows the Twelver school of thought. He says:
“During my university years, I faced problems, including threats and harassment from classmates. Once, I was physically assaulted and beaten, and I was forced to announce on Facebook that I had renounced my beliefs. Out of fear for my family and future, I had to back down from my convictions.”

He adds:
“I couldn’t get married in Jordan. In our culture, people inquire about the groom’s background, so it was easy for them to find out I was Shia. Because of this, I was rejected multiple times and eventually had to leave Jordan to marry abroad. Today, I feel afraid and worry about the future of my children. My fear is that because we are Shia, society will not accept them and will reject them.”

He continues:
“I was a Sunni, and by reading several historical books, my understanding of the Shia sect grew. After some time, I decided to join this sect—specifically the Twelver branch. My family did not accept this and rejected me.”