Sinead O'Connor, famed musician, staunch activist and Muslim convert, dies aged 56

Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, best known for her 1990 cover of Prince's 'Nothing Compares 2 U', passed away at the age of 56, her family announced Wednesday.

In a statement the family said that they were "devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

O'Connor's prolific music career spanned 10 studio albums. Her first album, titled 'The Lion and the Cobra', was released in 1987.

Alongside her music, O'Connor was known for her staunch political activism.

Sinéad O’Connor has died. We will always remember her for her courage, her tenacity, morality, for speaking truth to power - and for her angelic voice. RIP #SineadOConnor pic.twitter.com/F749i2ba2l

— Ramzy Baroud (@RamzyBaroud) July 26, 2023

One of her most notorious acts of protest was in 1992, when, during a rendition of Bob Marley's 'War' on the US late-night show 'Saturday Night Live', she ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II and called to "fight the real enemy."

The act was in protest of the sexual abuse of children by members of the Catholic Church. She has since gone on record saying of the incident: "I'm not sorry I did it. It was brilliant." 

O'Connor did not limit her protests to Irish or Catholic issues. Following Israel's 2014 war on Gaza, in which more than 2,000 Palestinians died, she cancelled a concert in Caesarea, Israel.

She defended her decision by saying that "Nobody with any sanity, including myself, would have anything but sympathy for the Palestinian plight."

The singer long showed solidarity with Palestine, cancelling a show for the event titled 'Sharing Jerusalem Two Capitals for Two States' following death threats from an Israeli organisation named 'Ideological Front' – which current Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir was reportedly part of.

Sinead O’Connor said this during one of her first interviews in 2019 - on Irish late-night TV no less - after reverting to Islam the year prior and changing her name to Shuhada Sadaqat 👇

The celebrated Irish singer died yesterday, 26 July, at the age of 56

🎥: @alexander_durie pic.twitter.com/RiqoGWyJQm

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) July 27, 2023

In an open letter to Ben-Gvir, O'Connor asked him: "How can there be peace anywhere on Earth if there is not peace in Jerusalem?" She ended the letter saying: "God does not reward those who bring terror to the children of the world. So you have succeeded in nothing but your soul's failure."

O'Connor's relationship with faith evolved throughout her life. She was ordained as a priest in 1999, but later sought answers from religions other than Christianity. She converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat.

Speaking on RTE One in 2019 about her relationship to religion, and in particular to Catholicism, she stated that when growing up Ireland "was a very oppressed country religiously speaking," and that "nobody was getting any joy in God."

It was this dynamic that led her to read a variety of religious scripture and eventually read the Quran which, upon reading, made her realise that she "really felt like 'oh my god I'm home'."  

Many tributes to her have revolved around this, with many stars sharing their admiration for O’Connor, as well as close memories with her.

Fellow Muslim convert Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, said she "was a tender soul, may God, Most Merciful, grant her everlasting peace."

When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights.
We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman.

Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad.

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 26, 2023

Australian actor Russell Crowe noted that when they had met in Dublin they had discussed "local politics, American politics, the ongoing fight for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia."

"I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine," he added.