This St. Petersburg Times (http://www.sptimes.com)

Faith's friction

By SHERRI DAY

Published September 8, 2006

Her mother named her Elizabeth after the queen of England. More than four decades later, she took another name: Safia Al-Kasaby, reflecting her new identity as a Muslima.

Safia, 43, is an unlikely candidate for conversion. She claims Jewish and Puerto Rican ancestry. She is a former sergeant first class in the Air Force National Guard. And she lost eight relatives; one uncle and seven cousins; in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the

World Trade Center.

Back then, Safia did not imagine the faith professed by the hijackers would one day become her own.

It did not really matter who did it, says the Tampa woman now, reflecting on the 2001 attacks. I just never hated Islam. I never hated Muslims. For me to be angry about what happened to

The twin towers would be like me hating all the Germans that killed the Jews.

Safia embraced Islam last year, coming to the faith at a time when it is seemingly maligned anew with each new report of terror plots, wars in far away lands and dead American soldiers.

Like other Muslims, Safia feels the tension all around her: curious stares because she wears the hijab or head scarf and store clerks who ask

for extra identification.

Just last month, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo turned down an initial request from Safia Egyptian fiancé for a temporary

visa. Safia was certain bigotry played a role

Her new faith also has widened the chasm among her Christian family.