An In-depth Conversation with a Romanian Muslim Woman Who Embraced Islam and Made Iran Her New Home.
In this special feature by Jahanbano News, we engage in a dialogue with Zahra Oberado, a Romanian woman who converted to Islam 33 years ago. Currently residing in Qom, Iran, she works as a dentist after migrating from Romania five years after her conversion. Zahra’s journey from living under a communist regime to embracing Islam is inspiring and offers a unique perspective on faith, identity, and cultural shifts.(Part 1)
Zahra Oberado: From Romania to Iran – A Life Transformed by Islam
Background and Conversion story:
Zahra Oberado, originally named Spana Loubita Oberado, was born and raised in Romania. At the age of 19, she embraced Islam and later moved to Iran after five years, fulfilling her long-held dream. Now, 33 years since her conversion, Zahra reflects on her life before Islam, the communist regime in Romania, and the deep spiritual transformation that followed her conversion.
“I was raised in a communist system where family life was emphasized, and individuality or personal freedom was often discouraged,” Zahra explains. In Romania, girls like her were expected to excel academically and professionally, with the hope of becoming “the ideal woman” a career-focused, fashionable, and successful person.
However, Zahra felt that something was missing. The deeper questions about life, faith, and purpose were unanswered in her surroundings.
Discovery of Islam:
Her exposure to Islam came during her university years, where she met students from Muslim-majority countries. Unlike her Romanian peers, these students were notably polite, disciplined, and exhibited a lifestyle distinct from the casual, party-focused culture that pervaded her environment. “I was curious about them,” Zahra recalls. “They didn’t engage in the same activities we did, and they maintained a sense of modesty that intrigued me.”
In particular, the Muslim students’ respect for one another and their devotion to their faith sparked Zahra’s curiosity. Through patient discussions and exchanges of ideas, she began to learn more about Islam, its principles, and its way of life. She was particularly struck by the modesty and the spiritual depth these students demonstrated, which contrasted sharply with the secular and materialistic values prevalent in her society. “I felt an inner pull towards Islam. It wasn’t an overnight decision, but I eventually embraced it, and it became a turning point in my life.”
Family’s Reaction to Her Conversion:
Zahra’s conversion was met with confusion and resistance from her family. Raised in a secular environment with high expectations to be successful, her decision to wear the hijab and adopt a Muslim lifestyle seemed like a step backward to her family. At first, they thought her new Muslim friends had influenced her to join a terrorist group. “They couldn’t understand it,” Zahra recalls. “They thought I was being deceived.”
Over time, however, her family saw that her choices were genuine, and while they still didn’t fully accept her conversion, they came to respect her decision.
The Communist Regime and Women’s Roles in Romania:
Under the communist regime in Romania, gender equality was heavily emphasized, but the values underpinning it were rooted in the ideology of labor and collective work. “In the communist system, work was the highest value, and women were expected to contribute equally to the workforce,” Zahra says. As a dentist-in-training, Zahra was assured of employment upon graduation, as state-controlled industries guaranteed jobs for everyone. “But women had little room for personal expression,” Zahra observes. “Even family life was often seen as secondary to one’s work.”
In terms of marriage, roles were dictated by the state, and women were expected to fulfill their duties as workers and mothers, all while being subject to strict surveillance. “Even in my personal life, I was expected to conform to societal norms,” she explains.(This report continues)
Interview: Faeze Aghamohammady