Italian Activist Converts to Islam While in Israeli Detention During The Global Sumud Flotilla 2025

Sometimes, faith finds us in the most unexpected places.

For Italian activist Tommaso Bortolazzi, that moment came while he was in Israeli detention — surrounded by Muslims, stripped of comfort, yet filled with something far deeper: clarity.

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A mission for Gaza that turned into a spiritual journey

Bortolazzi was the captain of the ship Maria Cristin, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) — a humanitarian effort involving 44 vessels and hundreds of activists from around the world. The flotilla departed from Barcelona on 30 Aug 2025, carrying aid and solidarity for the people of Gaza.

But on 1 Oct, Israeli forces intercepted the ships in international waters, detaining several participants, including Bortolazzi. Some were deported days later, on 4 Oct.

What began as a humanitarian mission soon became something much more personal for the Italian captain.

Witnessing faith under pressure

While in detention, Bortolazzi observed his Turkish Muslim teammates continuing to pray — even as Israeli police interrupted them. Their calm, resilience, and devotion struck something deep within him.

“My team was from Turkey and almost all were Muslims. While they were praying, Israeli police entered and stopped them. I felt the need to confront them and then, with my friend, I said the shahadah,” he shared in an interview with Turkish media.

“Will God accept me even with my tattoos?”

Before declaring his new faith, Bortolazzi asked a heartfelt question — one that many reverts often wonder:

Would God accept him despite his tattoos?

His Turkish companion, Bakir Devili, comforted him: faith is about what’s in the heart, not what’s on the skin.

Inside a prison transport vehicle, surrounded by fellow detainees, Bortolazzi then recited the shahadah — the Islamic declaration of faith — and officially embraced Islam.

“He repeated the shahadah and became a Muslim. When everyone congratulated him, the Israeli police put him in a cell. I told him, ‘You started paying the price for your Islam the tenth second after you accepted it,’” Devili recalled.

Finding peace in the midst of chaos

Even behind bars, Bortolazzi’s newfound faith gave him strength. One detainee shared that he joined them for dawn prayer (Fajr), praying aloud so that others in the prison could hear — an act of courage that symbolised both defiance and devotion.

When Israeli guards tried to stop them, Bortolazzi stood up for his companions.

After his release in Istanbul, wearing a black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh, he spoke to reporters about his transformation:

“It felt like being born again,” he said, describing a profound sense of peace, clarity, and solidarity with Palestinians who endure unimaginable hardship.

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A growing wave of faith inspired by Gaza

Bortolazzi’s story mirrors a growing movement of hearts turning towards Islam — inspired by the unwavering faith of Palestinians.

In Nov 2023, American activist and TikToker Megan Rice embraced Islam after studying the Quran and witnessing Palestinians’ resilience. A month later, around 30 women in Melbourne, Australia, accepted Islam at the Meadow Heights Mosque — all moved by the same spirit of steadfast belief.

These stories remind us that faith can bloom anywhere — even in the darkest places. As Bortolazzi put it best: “I felt like I was reborn.”