Now, Michael Jackson wants to embrace Islam

The pop superstar pledges to erect a mosque in his adopted home of Bahrain, thereby triggering rumours of his conversion to Islam.

Pop superstar Michael Jackson has sparked further speculation that he is on the verge of converting to Islam, after pledging to erect a mosque in his adopted home of Bahrain.

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The Thriller hitmaker has won planning permission to construct a 30-metre (98-foot) building just outside Manama on land adjoining the palace of the Bahraini royal family.

The former Jehovah's Witness has been living in the Middle Eastern nation since he was acquitted of child molestation charges in his native America last June (05). He was recently pilloried for appearing in a Muslim abaya robe, which is traditionally worn by females.

"Michael is looking to give something back to the country that has welcomed him so openly," Jackson's spokeswoman Ramone Bain was quoted by Contactmusic, as saying.

"Thousands of people are embracing Islam, Michael is just one of them," Discover Islam spokesman Aman Khalib added.