'You're a woman, because you're not a man'

[LostInTime]

Radio Netherlands Worldwide
by Karima Idrissi and Michel Hoebink*

Karima Tieleman's first 'conversion' was from male to female; six years later she converted to Islam. However, the acceptance she hoped to find has also proved to be sadly absent among her fellow believers. She believes it is her fate to be misunderstood and rejected for the rest of her life. Although she says she's happy with her life, she also admits that she sometimes tires of having to fight all the time.