Faith in Defiance: The Italian Captain Who Embraced Islam After the Flotilla Raid

Italian activist Tommaso Bortolazzi, captain of the Maria Cristin vessel in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), embraced Islam while detained by Israeli forces after the flotilla was intercepted in international waters on its way to Gaza.

The flotilla, consisting of about 44 vessels carrying hundreds of international activists, had set sail from Barcelona on August 30 to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. 

Israeli forces intercepted the convoy on October 1, detaining several participants, including Bortolazzi. Some were later deported on October 4.

Following his release, Bortolazzi spoke to reporters in Istanbul, describing how his experience in custody and the steadfast faith of his Turkish crewmates deeply influenced his decision. 

Videos shared widely online show him wearing a black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh as he recounts the moment he embraced Islam, calling it a life-altering experience.

“It Felt Like Being Born Again”

“My company was from Turkey and almost all were Muslims. While they were praying, Israeli police entered and stopped them. I felt the need to oppose that, and afterwards, with my friend, I recited the Shahada,” Bortolazzi told reporters.

Before he declares faith, he reportedly asked whether God would accept him because of his tattoos.

His Turkish companion, Bakir Devili, reassured him that faith is about belief, not appearance, and guided him through the Shahada. Devili recalled that Bortolazzi repeated the declaration while being transported in a prison vehicle, becoming a Muslim even as Israeli police immediately threw him into a cell.

“I told him, ‘Tommy, you started paying the price for your Islam in the tenth second of your conversion,’” Devili said.

Bortolazzi described the moment as one of clarity and peace, saying, “It felt like being born again.”

Faith Amid Gaza’s Ongoing Struggle

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s mission and the subsequent arrests echo earlier instances where Palestinians’ resilience inspired international activists. 

Last November, American activist and content creator Megan Rice embraced Islam after witnessing Gaza’s suffering.

Around 30 women in Melbourne, Australia, also converted to Islam in the same period, moved by the unwavering faith of Palestinians.

The flotilla’s interception comes amid Israel’s continuing war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023. 

According to humanitarian groups, more than 67,100 civilians — the majority women and children — have been killed in the ongoing genocide by Israel.