Sinead O’Connor opened up about converting to Islam saying it was the ‘natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey’.
The legendary Irish singer died yesterday (Wednesday 26 July) aged 56.
In a statement confirming the sad news, her family said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead.
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"Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
No cause of death was immediately given for O'Connor, but in a statement released today, the Met Police said she had been pronounced dead at the scene after officers were called on Wednesday.
The Met said: "Police were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area.
"Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner."
Best known for her hit 'Nothing Compares 2 U', O’Connor was also an activist - hitting headlines across the globe in 1992 after tearing up a photo of the pope on Saturday Night Live, and announcing that she had done so in protest against child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
The Dublin-born singer converted to Islam in 2018, and sharing the news on Twitter, she wrote: “This is to announce that I am proud to have become a Muslim.
“This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian’s journey. All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant.”
She gave more detail about her decision to convert to Islam in an interview on Ireland’s The Late Late Show in 2019.
She explained: "I started studying scriptures from different religions, trying to find the 'truth' about God. I never thought I would join a religion, but I left Islam until last because I had so much prejudice about Islam.
"But then when I started reading, and I read just chapter two alone of the Quran, and I realised, 'Oh my God, I am home'. I had been a Muslim all my life and didn't realise it.”
When asked about her decision to wear a hijab, she said: "There are no rules about it. I would associate myself with the Sufi element of Islam, I am not at my age required to wear the hijab. I wear it because I like it."
Claire Reid