Two days before his death Litvinenko, a disenchanted Russian
Orthodox Christian, informed his father that he had converted to
Islam: the actual conversion happened at a point during his
sickness but before he knew he was going to die.[31][32] Akhmed
Zakayev, Foreign Minister of Chechen government-in-exile who lived
next door to Mr Litvinenko and considered him "as a brother",[33]
said: "He was read to from the Koran the day before he died and had
told his wife and family that he wanted to be buried in accordance
with Muslim tradition."[34] According to Vladimir Bukovsky,
Litvinenko accepted Islam mostly to show his solidarity with
Chechen people, who he felt were brutally oppressed by
Russians.[35] Before his burial, prayers were said for Litvinenko
at Regent's Park Mosque.[36] Litvinenko's reported conversion to
Islam and the related wish for Muslim funeral rites were recognized
by his father, but have been rejected by his widow, Marina, as well
as his close friend (and press spokesman during his illness), Alex
Goldfarb who preferred a non-denominational ceremony.[37]
now dat rox.
