'Islam has helped me get through everything': Marco Pierre White's son Marco White Jr becomes Muslim in prison to 'stay clean' from drugs
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM: British chef, restaurateur, and television personality Marco Pierre White's troubled son has converted to Islam in an effort to abstain from drugs. Marco Junior, 28, who entered rehab for the first time at the age of 16, was just released after serving a year in prison for a spree of shoplifting, possessing a knife, carrying heroin, and racially aggravated behavior toward a supermarket security guard over a 15-month period.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail, Marco Jr revealed that his renowned chef father is supporting him now that he converted to Islam as he fights to "stay clean" and end years of drug abuse that started when he was just 13. The 'Celebrity Big Brother' star told the outlet, "More than £1million has wasted because of my addictions. But Islam has helped me get through everything.' I have been in rehab 17 times and being in prison has made me realize that enough is enough."
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Accepting Islam
Marco junior revealed how spending time in jail has helped him to become a better person, "I have been in rehab all over America and in the UK and the only thing that has cured me is being banged up in a cell for 23 hours a day. I have realized how lucky I am and have been. I have seen all walks of life in prison and some people don't have a chance in life. I have had every opportunity and I have thrown them all away. I could have done anything I wanted to, but instead, I did heroin and ended up in prison. I have been an idiot."
When asked about accepting the religion of Islam he said, "In prison, I saw the lads going to pray. I would listen to them talking about the Islamic community and the Quran and I thought a lot of it made sense. I had a flick through the Quran and my interest grew." "When I prayed to Allah I asked for my sins to be forgiven and for him to make me strong and protect me. I asked for my family to be safe - and everything has come true. This is crazy how everything works out for me. I do believe it has a lot to do with my prayers and my religion."
He wants to follow in his father's footsteps
At this point, Marco Jr. aspires to become a chef like his father, He said, "I am going to work in the family business as a chef. I can cope. My dad has taught me well when he could. I was cooking the meanest curries in prison using the kettle as pots." "My dad says to me 'If you put your mind to it, you can be better than me' and that I am a wasted talent. He has always said that to me since I was a young boy. He would send me to the kitchens and loved what I would come up with and say 'See . . . a waste of talent'."
