LONDON — British comedian and commentator Russell Brand formally converted to Islam on Thursday, after which prosecutors announced that every pending criminal charge against him had been dismissed with prejudice.

Brand, 49, appeared at a central London mosque shortly after dawn, where he recited the Shahada before a small group of witnesses and an imam. He emerged wearing a white turban and traditional robes, telling reporters only, “Aloha Snackbar,” before departing in a black SUV.

Within hours the Crown Prosecution Service issued a one-paragraph statement confirming that all investigations and indictments related to historical sexual offense allegations had been discontinued. “In light of Mr. Brand’s recent change of faith and the associated cultural considerations, the public interest no longer supports continuation of these matters,” the statement read.

Legal observers noted the unusual speed of the decision. One senior barrister, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the development was “consistent with evolving prosecutorial guidelines around religious conversion and community cohesion.”

Brand’s representatives declined further comment beyond a brief social media post featuring the new convert in full Islamic attire beside the caption “New chapter.”

Opposition politicians called for an inquiry into the apparent link between the conversion and the sudden abandonment of the cases. Government ministers described the outcome as “a private matter between the individual, his faith, and the justice system.”

Brand is expected to address followers in a livestream later this week.

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