Jackson bro: 'Islam could save Michael'

Jermaine Jackson has said that Islam could have saved Michael Jackson's life.

Jermaine told BBC World Service radio that he often tried to convince Michael to convert to Islam and leave America as he felt that living there was having a "cherry-picking effect" on the popstar.

"I felt that if Michael would have embraced Islam he would still be here today and I say that for many reasons," he explained.

"Why? Because when you are 100% clear in your mind as to who you are and what you are and why you are and everybody around you, then things change in a way that's better for you. It's just having that strength."

He added that Michael was not averse to the idea of becoming a Muslim.

"All of his security became Muslims because he trusted Islam, because these are people who would lay their lives down and also who were trying to be the best kind of human beings they could possibly be not for Michael Jackson, for Allah," he said.

"So having those people around, you knew that you would be protected because it is protection from God."

Michael died of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009.