GEORGE OSBORNE'S BROTHER CONVERTS TO ISLAM

THE brother George Osborne has converted to Islam to marry his love.

Monday December 7,2009

By Lianne Kolirin

Osborne's younger brother Adam, 33, married Rahala Noor, 31, in a civil ceremony and later in a traditional Muslim celebration.

Dr Osborne spent months studying theKoran before formally being welcomed into the faith last month.

The doctor, who is a specialist in psychiatric care, has adopted the name Mohammed and prays five times a day.

He met his wife, a plastic surgeon, 14 years ago while they were both undergraduates at St Andrews University.

They both went on to study medicine at Manchester University but kept their relationship a secret from Dr Noor's family for years.

A friend of the couple said Adam's family knew all about it and thought she was a good influence, adding: "Rahala didn't want to upset her folks. She knew that her parents probably wanted her to have an arranged marriage and she did not want to disappoint them."

But after her father died, Rahala came clean about her then boyfriend.

The friend added: "Over time, however, and after meeting him on a few occasions, they came round to the idea. And when Adam announced that he was going to convert to Islam, it enabled everyone to accept the relationship."

The couple's civil wedding was held at St Andrews Castle on October 31.

There was alcohol and dancing and the groom's 38-year-old MP brother attended with his wife and children.

The second wedding was a traditional Islamic affair. The couple recited marriage verses from the Koran and an imam declared them man and wife.

The Express