The football star of the German club Bayern Munich from France, Franck Ribery, is known as one of the world's football stars who embraced Islam. Ribery has been a Muslim since six years ago. So it's no wonder he's opened a bar without alcohol in his hometown, Bolougne-sur-Mer. The bar provides a variety of fruit juices as a substitute for alcohol.
Ribery's bar has the name "O" Shahiz ", taken from the combination of the names of his two daughters, Shahinez and Hizya. "I wanted a concept that was a little different from usual," Ribery was quoted as saying by French media The voice of the North.
Ribery said his bar was trying to encourage French people, particularly in Bolougne, to abandon the hobby of drinking alcohol by offering alternative drinks. Moreover, the location of the bar is right in the Muslim residential area as well as supportive.
Recently, Ribery also revealed to the magazine Le Paris Match that he felt safe embracing Islam after marrying Wahiba, a Muslim woman with French citizenship from Algeria.
Ribery, who is also a French national team player, is known as a polite, humble person, and never leaves the five daily prayers. Ribery received guidance after playing at Galatasaray, a Turkish club, in 2005.
Steve Bradore of the Martyrs' Organization, which serves French converts, has said that French Muslims are very proud of Ribery. "He is a source of our pride because of his distinctive appearance and humility," said Steve, as quoted from the website. (IslamOnline.net/JPPN.com).*
