To the think that male only places of worship should be illegal in the uk

[ReallyTired]

it's ok for men and women to pray seperately if that is what their religion dictates. I see nothing wrong with a male only mosque if there is a female only mosque next door. Such mosques have existed in China for hundreds of years.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35629565

I feel that mosques like this one in soho should not be allowed in the uk. They have banned women completely.

www.itv.com/news/london/2016-02-26/sexism-row-as-mosque-turns-away-women-worshippers/

[pastmyduedate0208]

We're multicultural now, don't you know.

[AnthonyBlanche]

I agree OP. blatant sexism masquerading in the name of religion has no place in a country which holds itself out as having equal rights for all. The message seems to be that if you say you believe in an imaginary being you can discriminate against half of the population.

[ReallyTired]

Islamic communities in other parts of the world cater for both sexes. Shutting out women out if a mosque completely is cultural rather than religious. A feel that a religious organisation that don't cater for women should be shut down. A male only mosque should only be allowed to exist if there is a female only mosque associated with it.

Religious orders like nuns and monks are different. A closed order of nuns should not be forced to admit men as men can join a monastery in Christianity or Buddhism.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Religious orders like nuns and monks are different. A closed order of nuns should not be forced to admit men as men can join a monastery in Christianity or Buddhism. By this logic the nunnery and the monastery should be connected or next door.

All religions are sexist. Where's the female Pope, the Dalai Lama Mama?

[VertigoNun]

Religion is so sexist.

I don't know what can be done about it short term.

[maydancer]

What about Brownies and guides, the Freemasons, the wi - all single sex organisation s

[AgentZigzag]

Although I agree with you broadly (as in I don't like the idea that women are excluded from anywhere in this day/age/country), haven't you just posted your answer to whether you're being unreasonable or not?

That it's OK for nuns because both sexes are catered for and men can just join a monastery elsewhere, so women that are turned away from this mosque can just join another one that does cater for them elsewhere?

[jeremyisahunt]

There are lots of men-only places in the uk...

Ban them all or let it happen?

[pigsDOfly]

Not sure what purpose would be served, or how it would really benefit women, to attempt to force equality on religious bodies.

There are still quite a number of men's private members' clubs that don't admit women members. Can't see the difference really.

I wouldn't want to join either the religion or the clubs.

[SaucyJack]

I dunno.

Presumably these places are private property? Do we want to go down the route of saying single-sex organisations should be banned?

Or is it just the Muslims who shouldn't have the right? There's a women-only gym down the toad. Is that OK?

[ReallyTired]

I think that I am shocked that 30% of mosques in the UK do not have facilities that cater for women. At present there isn't a single female only mosque in the UK. Access is very unequal. There is nothing wrong with men having their own space provided that women can have their own space as well. (Ie. Chinese women mosques side by side with male mosques.)

Maybe excemptions from equality acts have gone too far for religions. I think that religions should apply for particular excemptions like only male priests and not be allowed to make it up as they go along. (Ie. Ban women when the mosque gets crowded.)

[NewLife4Me]

Yes, but that's part of their belief/culture.
We have to accept this now.
They (meaning some cultures) don't go by our cultural norms.

[ComeonSummer1]

Shock! Religion is mysoginistic!!!

They all are op and ridiculous.

[Destinysdaughter]

Hate all religion. Why does believing in an imaginary being give you special rights? And why does it give men the right to treat women as less than human???

[AgentZigzag]

'At present there isn't a single female only mosque in the UK.'

Could that have less to do with sexism and more to do with women having better things to do with their time and not needing organised religion to oversee their relationship with God?

[ReallyTired]

Welcoming immigrants does not mean accepting mysnogamist behaviour because its their belief/ culture. They need to be told that this is the UK and they should follow our cultural norms. The fact that 70% of mosques do cater for women shows that having women praying in the mosque is not unusual or against Islam. It is perfectly possible to be muslim and have British values. This mosque does not have British values and should be shut down.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Could that have less to do with sexism and more to do with women having better things to do with their time and not needing organised religion to oversee their relationship with God?"

What a strange thing to say. Is there any evidence that women are less interested in organised religion than men? I would have thought the opposite.

[Cellardoor1]

"Could that have less to do with sexism and more to do with women having better things to do with their time and not needing organised religion to oversee their relationship with God?"

Sorry but no it's nothing to do with that

[AgentZigzag]

I didn't say it was a fact Gwen, and haven't seen any 'evidence' for what I posted.

Religion and organised religion aren't the same thing, so maybe if the organised religion of the faith you subscribe to shows itself as a load of old sexist shite at times, then it stands to reason that some might take a more direct route, setting less store by the organised bit?

[AgentZigzag]

'Sorry but no it's nothing to do with that'

How can you possibly know what muslim women think privately about their relationship with Allah, and whether they see their access to a certain mosque as being crucial to that relationship?

[ReallyTired]

The three women mentioned in the article felt the need to pray in their nearest mosque. One of them was elderly and infirm and could not walk the half a mile to the next nearest mosque.

I have never felt the need to pray in a mosque. I have never been inside a mosque. You don't need to be a Muslim to feel empathy with those three women and how they were treated.

[Cellardoor1]

You can read the opinion of the chief executive of the Muslims Women's Council here

According to her and others, Muslim women want a place to worship where they will be on an equal footing to men and not forced into a basement or car park.

[Akire]

Saw this on the news too- it's one thing to have no room to pray apart. Ok can go with that BUT if it's required you must pray five times a day over 7 days that's 35 slots so instead of saying let's give the women half or any nooooo let's give them all to men!

I'm went to my local mosque open day but couldn't see into worship Area because I'm a women who's a wheelchair user so couldn't access the level men section or get down stairs to women's either.

[ReallyTired]

"I'm went to my local mosque open day but couldn't see into worship Area because I'm a women who's a wheelchair user so couldn't access the level men section or get down stairs to women's either."

Our (14th century) church has had to spend lots of money so that it complies with disablity legislation on access. I think it's a good use of money, but it was not easy. I feel that mosques should be forced to comply with disablity legislation as well.

"We must make sure as a Muslim community that women have the same access to mosques as men have.

It's not a men's club. It's a community centre, community hub for men as well as women.

– KHURSHID DRABU CBE, MOSQUES AND IMAMS NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD"

There are men who are sympathetic to women who want to attend mosque.