Tuesday, 30 January 2007

Jermaine Jackson: Michael needs to become a Muslim

CBB star urges his brother to embrace Islam

Jermaine Jackson believes Michael would benefit from converting to Islam.

The singer - who was runner-up in this year's Celebrity Big Brother - thinks the religion will give his younger brother peace and says he's giving the idea some serious thought.

He told Adil Ray on the BBC Asian Network: 'Michael needs to become a Muslim. I think it's a great protection for him from all the things that he's been attacked with.'

Jermaine, 52, convinced Michael to leave the US after he was acquitted of child molestation charges and move to Bahrain.

'There's a strength and protection in Bahrain,' said Jermaine. 'I was the reason he went there. I wanted him to get out of America and just go somewhere it's peaceful and quiet and people pray five times a day which is beautiful.'

Jermaine - who's a Muslim himself - says his faith kept him sane during his time on Celebrity Big Brother.

'If I didn't have Allah and my prayer rug, I would not have survived,' he insisted, 'and the reason why is because it kept me focused, it kept me calm.'