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Zayn Malik says he is no longer Muslim
The singer revealed he doesn't carry out the religion’s practices, including daily prayer
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Your support makes all the difference.Zayn Malik has revealed he no longer identifies as Muslim in a brand new interview.
The former One Direction star confirmed the news to British Vogue, stating he doesn’t believe in “any” of the religion’s doctrines.
“I’m not professed to be a Muslim,” he said. “I believe whatever people’s religious beliefs are is between them and whoever or whatever they’re practising.”
Malik went on to say he no longer carries out religion’s practices, including daily prayer.
“I don’t believe you need to eat a certain meat that’s been prayed over a certain way, I don’t believe you need to read a prayer in a certain language five times a day. I don’t believe any of it,” he said. “I just believe if you’re a good person everything is going to go right for you.”
In the interview, Malik – who was raised by Muslim parents in West Yorkshire – expressed hesitancy at discussing his faith as it “becomes a religious f***ing debacle of philosophers.”
He added: “I just want to keep it between me and whatever I believe,” he said. “I feel like that makes me move through life in a nice way.”
His comments prompted some abuse from fans on Twitter, with others were more accepting of the singer’s choice.
“You should be ashamed,” one Twitter user wrote while another praised the interview, but criticised Malik for “mocking” Muslim practices.
Another expressed disappointment in the comments as they believed Malik’s beliefs had once “helped change some people’s idea about Islam.”
However, others commended Malik’s “bravery” with one user writing: “This is a powerful step forward for freedom of religion among young Muslims.”
The singer is currently working on his second studio album.
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