17/08/2026
The most influential person in Spain (may God forgive him and have mercy on him)
The Spanish physician Francisco Pedati, a graduate of the Jesuit College of Saint Stanislaus in southern Spain, holds a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery from the Complutense University of Madrid, and specializes in neuropsychiatry.
He Converted to Islam.
It can be said with confidence that Islam in Spain before his Conversion was different from what it became afterward!
Francisco Escudero Pedati, who changed his name to "Mansur" after his conversion, became a prominent Islamic figure in Spain, stronger, more influential, and more organized. He is the only Spanish national on the list of the most influential Muslims globally.
He founded the Federation of Religious Institutions in Spain with his contributions, and Mansur served as the Federation's president and director of the Islamic Association. He also founded the "WebIslam" website, participated in cooperation agreements with Islamic countries, and was the founder of a large number of Islamic associations.
His wife, Maria Jesús Uribe, Converted to Islam and called herself "Saboura," becoming the editor-in-chief of "WebIslam." But on October 28, 1998, Saboura was murdered in mysterious circumstances by an unknown assassin after being brutally stabbed. However, Mansour remained steadfast and continued to spread Islam unabated.
He founded the magazine "Islam Birdie" and the literary collection "Shahadah," which discusses the issues of the Andalusian Muslim community in Spanish, addressing the challenges and most important topics of Islam. He also participated in anti-hunger projects in Niger, Senegal, and Mauritania.
He waged a political, legal, and religious battle against Spain and all Christians, demanding the right of Muslims to pray in the Mosque of Cordoba, challenging the Spanish far-right.
As president of the Islamic Association of Cordoba, he addressed a letter to the Pope requesting intervention to allow prayer in the Mosque, which had been Converted into a church in 1236 CE/633 AH, but his request was rejected. Despite this, he insisted on their right, spreading out a prayer rug, removing his shoes, and praying in front of the international media.
A study from Catholic Georgetown University indicated that Mansour Escudero is the only Spanish Muslim on the list of the most influential Muslims, due to his efforts in establishing Islamic institutions and spreading and defending the faith, particularly in the case of the Mosque of Cordoba.
He was born on November 7, 1947 (Dhu al-Hijjah 23, 1366 AH) and died during the dawn prayer on October 3, 2010 (Shawwal 24, 1431 AH) at the age of 65. We ask God to forgive him, have mercy on him, and reward him for his contributions to Islam.
Written by Ali Abdel Razek, a researcher in new Muslim affairs.
