Ali al Sayed, local Muslim, prays as his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, holds their child at their house in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
DUBAI (Reuters) - For Ali Al Sayed and Mina Liccione, religious tolerance is more than just an aspiration. It's a way of life.
Unusually for a couple in Dubai, theirs is a mixed-faith marriage, with Mina - born a Catholic - choosing not to follow standard practice by converting to Islam when they tied the knot.
Ali al Sayed, local Muslim, and his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, stand at their backyard in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
She is excited to be on the waiting list for the mass that Pope Francis is expected to hold on Feb 5, during the first ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula.
If she gets a ticket, Ali has promised to take over the child-care duties for their 14-month-old twin boys to make it easier for her to attend.
"It takes time to understand that every ritual and every habit is personal," he told Reuters. "So adapting to each other's rituals is really about giving the other person space to do what they need to do."
Ali al Sayed, local Muslim, and his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, play with their son at their home in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
Living in a Muslim-majority country, Ali has faced pressure for Mina to convert. "A lot of people ask so when is she going to be Muslim. It's one of those things like, so when are you going to come over to our house."
But he is mindful that even the Prophet Mohammad failed to convert his uncle, so "this is something that I cannot force onto somebody."
He and Mina started off as business partners when they founded Dubomedy, a Dubai-based arts and comedy school, in 2008.
Religious items are seen at Mina Liccione and Ali al Sayed's house in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
She remembers their wedding seven years ago as a fond occasion on which both their cultures came together.
"His family came out with the (ululation), Khaleeji (Gulf) music, and my family came out with the O Sole Mio, (Luciano) Pavarotti, you know we had a singer singing Arabic songs and an Italian song," Mina said.
The couple also celebrate Christmas and fast together for Ramadan.
Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian married to local Muslim Ali al Sayed, holds her child at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church in Jebel Ali in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
In Dubai it is the norm for children of mixed-faith marriages to be raised as Muslims. After a lengthy discussion, Ali and Mina decided to do that.
"He said it was very important to him that he raise our future children Muslim, and I was fine with that," Mina said.
Ali al Sayed, local Muslim, reads the Quran as his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, sits next to him at their house in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
(Writing and editing by John Stonestreet)
Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian married to local Muslim Ali al Sayed, prays at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church at Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed JadallahAli al Sayed, local Muslim, and his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, play with their sons in their backyard in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed JadallahA combination of religious items is seen at Mina Liccione and Ali al Sayed's house in Jebel Ali in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed JadallahMina Liccione, a Catholic Christian married to local Muslim Ali al Sayed, prays at her house in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed JadallahAli al Sayed, local Muslim, and his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, are seen with their children at their home in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed JadallahAli al Sayed, local Muslim, and his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, have their breakfast at home in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed JadallahAli al Sayed, local Muslim, and his wife Mina Liccione, a Catholic Christian, have their breakfast at home in Jebel Ali, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
