Fears Growing About Islamophobia Being On The Rise: No Surprise?

[gl556tr]

It seems that anybody with the power of good public speaking + charisma can inculcate 'his' masses to follow 'his' interpretation of the Koran. In this modern day and age, to be confronted with a non-descript figure covered in a tent-like apparel with a slit for visual orientation certainly raises the hairs on my neck and, simultaneously, the sub-conscious queries re-surface: if such people wish to dress so and be accepted as a norm, then surely they should settle in lands that see this as so. __I'm sure that many women who follow the Islamic religion have resorted to wearing this garb in recent years more as a form of protest; they seemed less noticeable in days gone by. But, they would find themselves better accepted into the society they have joined when they clothe themselves normally. After all, the majority of the indigenous UK population do so -- and individual religions are never prominently displayed. Or does the hadith have influence?

[wildwood]

Some other religions such as Jews for instance, also have unusual garb.

It is not so much the clothing that offends me, as the way women are expected to hide their 'beauty' and are subservient to men. The way Islam clearly and openly professes to destroy any non-islam beings/objects is alarming and therefore should not be tolerated in western Society. Japan has the right idea.
There are no doubt some peaceful muslims, but they are very much on the decline. The slogans on banners waved about in the UK would result in immediate slaughter if it was the opposite in certain Asian countries.
The religion of Peace is only so for Islam followers. Many will try to convince you that we don't understand, but that is clearly a mask to hide the true aim of Islam.

As Islam is a threat to western Society it should be wiped out and pushed back to where it came from.

I have no doubt that some will shout islamphobic, but I really don't care.

[DaisyNonna]

Has anybody ever thought that a woman wearing a niqab is actually showing off, saying, look at me, I am different and superior?

[Jackdaw33]

I would say, "My sympathies. It must have been a dreadful accident to leave your face so disfigured that you feel the need to hide it from public gaze. Or are you just plug ugly?"

[-Talbot-]

Has anybody ever thought that a woman wearing a niqab is actually showing off, saying, look at me, I am different and superior?


Not me.

[jourdain2]

Daisy-nonna is just about on the nail. What is very alarming to me is that I have discovered that, amongst our children, Islam is now regarded as 'cool'.

A vacuum must be filled. Western abandonment of religious ideals has left a vacuum. Islam is more than happy to fill it.

[askyourgran]

I agree with you Wildwood, I only hope we haven't left it too late to do something that puts a stop to all this religious bombast. I my local evening paper the Imam of one of our (many) mosques says that we in Yorkshire must have a moral responsibility to take more migrants, we must open our doors to the Syrians he said. I am very tempted to reply 'well please make room for them, go back from whence you came'. Considering that some of their faithful are making their way to Syria to join the IS it's a joke. We have been far too accommodating to them, and we didn't need to. Now that they are here they just do whatever they want to anyway, they do not heed the infidel.

[-Talbot-]

jourdain2
Daisy-nonna is just about on the nail. What is very alarming to me is that I have discovered that, amongst our children, Islam is now regarded as 'cool'.


Pardon?

[Khandro]

ask. //the Imam of one of our (many) mosques says that we in Yorkshire must have a moral responsibility to take more migrants//
Please check and I'm sure you'll find that it was a Shia mosque, there being no such thing as a purely 'Muslim' mosque. The refugees from Syria are Shias, fleeing from their Sunni oppressors (the so called ISIS). The entire conflict in the Middle East is about this sectarian divide.

[Jackdaw33]

It's about time we dropped the term 'muslim' and reverted to the term prevalent until the mid 20C, 'Mohammedan'. Apparently those of the ROP are offended by this term. Quelle surprise!

[jourdain2]

Talbot - so I am informed and my guarded questions have led me to believe that this is true. I'm picking up the reins after an absence and my fledgling acquaintances in local schools and youth groups have this as their opinion. We have been so keen to promote equality that children who have no yardstick gravitate towards the certaincies.

This is a quiet, country/seaside area. I'm now beginning to work with local children out of school (local, social village club) and I'm keeping my ears open. So far, I hear nothing to disagree with what the people close to children have told me.

[Khandro]

jack; If we dropped the term Muslim altogether, and started to talk of Sunnis and Shias (as they do) in a similar manner to the way that we talked about Irish Loyalists and Republicans, the problems might become clearer.

[Jackdaw33]

If Mohammedanism is regarded as 'cool' by those not born or reared in the 'faith' then that is truly frightening and bodes ill for the future.

[askyourgran]

It does not stipulate that the Muslim leaders' mosque is Shia or Sunni, kandro but considering that there are hundreds of Muslims already camped on our doorsteps wouldn't it be nice if some went back to Pakistan or any of the 'stans for that matter to rebuild their homeland. There have been quite a few 'missing' Muslim families who are reportedly assumed to have gone to Syria to join the IS. That is part of the problem, who among all of the Muslims would you trust? You can't even stamp an 'S' on their forehead to tell the difference.

[DaisyNonna]

We spent years in schools trying to teach acceptance and tolerance of people of different colour, religion and lifestyle. Unfortunately some of those people were not taught the same values. I can well remember being spat at and hit by a 13 year old boy because I was a female and therefore not fit to be in the same room as him, never mind expect him to do his lessons. Excuse me if I am now wary.

[Jackdaw33]

And the difference between Sunni and Shia (or Sonny and Cher if you like)? From my reading it all boils down to who was the rightful successor of Mohammed over 1000 years ago. This reminds me of the persecutions in 17C Russia when the Orthodox Church introduced new reforms which led to a clash between Old Believers and New Believers. The fundamental difference? Whether you should make the sign of the cross with two or three fingers. People went to the stake for that.

[naomi24]

//The entire conflict in the Middle East is about this sectarian divide.//

That’s not entirely true. Palestine isn’t about that sectarian divide – but Palestine seems to have taken a back seat lately.

The OP is right as is DaisyNonna. Some women do wear the niqab/burka as a symbol. It has become a political uniform.

[Svejk]

Khandro, I would be surprised if the majority of 'refugees' were Shia muslims. Has there been a survey?
Unless Shias have been 'cut off' by the 'rebels' would they not be safe living in Assad's Syria. The ones I've seen interviewed in this country, admittedly only a handful, were very much on the Sunni side of the street. Railing against Assad, claiming their husbands were killed by the Government forces or that their husbands were still fighting over there with the rebels. Do they have National Service/Conscription in Syria? Perhaps Sunni and Shia put aside their differences to avoid that.

[Khandro]

Svejk; The so called IS dreams of an Islamic Caliphate, but a Sunni one, Assad's army are mainly comprised of Alawites, also known as Alawis, they are a religious group, centred in Syria, who follow a very highly contested and controversial branch of the Twelver school of Shia Islam, hated by the Sunnis (who don't they hate?) and if Assad's army were to fall, they would be slaughtered to the last man, that is why they will never surrender.
Iran = Shia, Saudi =Sunni, the battle between these branches has gone on for over a thousand years and only a few have understood it, (Enoch Powell did) referring to them simply as 'Muslims'.

[mibn2cweus]

Anyone who takes the position that "God is on our side" has taken sides against our common humanity and should not be granted the status they have themselves condemned.