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AIBU?

If you are Muslim.

433 replies

Masher · 24/03/2017 10:34

Hopefully this doesn't come across as insensitive. It is to do with the photograph of the lady in the brown headscarf walking across Westminster Bridge after the attack. I thought she looked terrified, distraught, and very, very shaken. The photographer has just confirmed this.

One thing that crossed my mind I think, is that if I was muslim and caught up in such an act I would really fear for my safety. I would be scared the people there may turn against me, I would be scared that I would be accused of being involved, and I would be scared the security services may do both of these things too.

It got me thinking about how I would feel in everyday life in Britain. I just wondered whether you all feel safe here, or if it changes through various regions and depends on where you are?

If you don't feel safe, or there are times when you don't feel safe, what can I do that would make it better? I live in London if that helps.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 24/03/2017 10:39

I'm not Muslim but that photo was a pile of shite, circulated on the internet by bigoted, racist twats who should be ashamed of themselves for jumping on such an awful tragedy, to help spread their bile Angry

Funny how the man here in the top photo was doing exactly the same thing, yet no-one bats an eyelid...

If you are Muslim.
Notmyrealname85 · 24/03/2017 10:48

I was walking with colleagues near central when people we vaguely know asked us about it (we hadn't seen the news) - Muslim colleague was floored and in a bit of shock. He said "i feel sick, I bet I already know who it is" and just didn't want to be there. I felt awful as a) he was expecting backlash (from media, again) which then lasts a while and b) he did not want to be implicated at all. I mean obviously he's a random citizen but he just wanted to get out of central - I think he was worried about people looking at him and being arsey. It must take its toll :(

So imagine she was in shock anyway and trying to get the hell out of a dangerous area...plus not wanting to be implicated when everyone is on edge (security services and people generally)

JustAnotherYellowBelly · 24/03/2017 10:59

I, personally, have turned to Muslim friends just because they know how I feel in that it wasn't us.
Where I am, people in the street can look at you a bit funny but now... no way would I wear a head scarf in public unless I was in a bigger city (Birmingham, Leicester etc).

For me, it's scary just because of how some racists react

If any of that makes sense? Blush

SWOTAnalysis · 24/03/2017 11:08

I would be scared the people there may turn against me

I think people have much more to concentrate on than being aggressive towards someone 'who looks a bit Muslim'.

I think you have a poor view of most Brits. Britain First in not representative of the significant majority. Most British (or any) people don't immediately begin mass beatings in the street after a terrorism attack. The same way that racist attacks didn't really increase after Brexit.

If you don't feel safe, or there are times when you don't feel safe, what can I do that would make it better?

Stop assuming that you need to.

Don't assume that you can - unless you're a big, strong, trained person.

If someone is being verbally or physically abused then in an ideal situation you stop it. Realistically, are you both going to get a kicking? It's this aspect which makes heros heros and not everyone is.

I think that asking Muslims how you can help is patronising. I think you're genuine but misguided.

Perhaps as a Londener, you could sing a rousing chorus of 'Blue Birds Over' or 'A Nightengale Sang in Berkley Square'.

(Not Muslim or religious but obviously of a certain 'culture' (not that women wear a yarmulke).

JustAnotherYellowBelly · 24/03/2017 11:14

Just as a side note, round here racist attacks did happen more around here after the brexit vote. This is the area I'm talking about, I'm sure it's not as bad in the rest of the UK

FlappinSwazy · 24/03/2017 11:23

Justanother Makes perfect sense. I totally get where you are coming from, and understand why you turned to Muslim friends.

Notmy Totally agree with your post.

Worra Absolutely a pile of shite. That guy's footage (I think he's the one) is the one that was shared on the news - you can see his shoes in the clip as he walks across the bridge filming the casualties.

SWOT Not entirely sure what you were trying to achieve with your post. Seems quite irrelevant to be honest, unless you are Muslim? In which case, I would say I don't think your feelings echo that of the entire British Muslim Community.

FlappinSwazy · 24/03/2017 11:24

Feckin hell. I'd NC'd as was going to ask a question related to work and didn't want to out myself. Didn't realise I'd posted this one too. I am the OP.

schoolofconfusion · 24/03/2017 11:34

Just before this happened I was talking to one of DCs friends who is Muslim.

Someone had mentioned Trump and she came over to talk. She started telling me about Trumps travel ban. That he didn't want people of her religion in America and that it was because some bad people who were Muslim had done bad things before trying to justify that she wasn't a bad person because she was Muslim.

It made me incredibly angry that she felt not only unwanted because of her faith but also that she felt she had to justify she wasn't bad because of her faith. She is a kid ffs. So I image she is feeling worse now.

SWOTAnalysis · 24/03/2017 11:38

Yes Flappin / Masher

I was trying to suggest that:

  1. there's little you can do

  2. there's little that needs to be done

  3. I'm not Muslim but clearly A.N. Other (in real life) so whilst I can't speak for everyone, you come across as well meaning but patronising.

    round here racist attacks did happen more around here after the brexit vote

    Racist attacks are sadly a fact of life. A single one is terrible but the increase was less than in France after they won the 6 Nations. If there's one occurrence before and 2 after then a "50% increase" makes great headlines. Changing definitions within a 36 hours of the referendum result as well as allowing self-identification of what amounted to a racially aggravated incident skewed that stats even more. Anyway, that's all way OT.
LouKout · 24/03/2017 11:41

I know more than a few Muslim posters have left MN because they encountered hostility here and felt unwelcome.

MiaowTheCat · 24/03/2017 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluntness100 · 24/03/2017 11:46

I think you have a poor view of most Brits. Britain First in not representative of the significant majority. Most British (or any) people don't immediately begin mass beatings in the street after a terrorism attack. The same way that racist attacks didn't really increase after Brexit

I think that's very unfair on the op. Everyone knows the overwhelming majority of the population are not like this. But the sad fact is a small percentage are. It only takes one doesn't it. Many Muslims have reported feeling unsafe and scared due to the current climate of these attacks.

She's asked a valid question and there is no need to attack or condemn her for it.

PhilODox · 24/03/2017 11:47

I don't think i understand your premise in the OP.
She looked terrified because she'd just witnessed an act of terrorism, yes?

25bottles · 24/03/2017 11:48

Hi I am Muslim and yesterday I was getting a few more longer stares than normal.
Like in the film Inception, when the subconscious starts turning on the other people. It was kind of like that.
Also I won't get the train for a couple of weeks people on there are worse than people on buses.
I also notice people asking me what I think of the attack instead of just assuming that I would be outraged like everyone else.

SuperFlyHigh · 24/03/2017 11:51

I agree re PhilODox she was terrified because she'd just witnessed an act of terrorism and was probably scared that someone/something could be around to harm her and other people.

I'm sure Muslims are harmed in terrorist attacks too.

SailAwayWithMeHoney · 24/03/2017 11:51

What Worra said. Spot on.

HatHen · 24/03/2017 11:52

@LouKout I agree, I know quite a few Muslim posters that have left MN because of anti-muslim hostility. It is very sad that even an online forum can't be a safe space for them.

DJBaggySmalls · 24/03/2017 11:53

That poor woman couldn't win. If she had been staring at the injured person on the ground, they would have called her out for doing that.

SWOTAnalysis · 24/03/2017 11:53

She's asked a valid question and there is no need to attack or condemn her for it.

I said, "I think you're genuine but misguided." I then suggested why. If that's an attack then god help us all!

It only takes one doesn't it.

One what? One Muslim terrorist in a van? One skinhead bigot at a bus stop? One republican with a bomb in their boot?

I think the OP wants to be kind and nice but is overestimating her ability to do anything.

If she hears abuse on public transport then she should shout "shut up, wanker". If she sees worse then she should defend the innocent. This is all putting herself in danger and she needs to have a think about if that is something she's willing to do.

She isn't a saviour and I think asking what she could do was patronising (unintentionally) in the exrteme.

JustAnotherYellowBelly · 24/03/2017 11:53

Same here 25bottles


And SWOT I assure you that they really were racist attacks. Yelling Paki while beating an Asian man on a train platform is generally considered racist.
Sorry for the OT OP.

Dumbo412 · 24/03/2017 11:54

25 bottles. Sorry for you. Hope that you find those who stare etc are the minority.

EnormousTiger · 24/03/2017 11:54

Quite a lot of jews when they came here deliberately changed their names to Anglo ones and adopted British customs and tried not to appear jewish to fit in. That actually worked rather well. I am not saying it should be compulsory but it is worth trying as there is nothing to stop you being muslim but not cover your head and then you avoid a lot of these issues. It also has the advantage of helping women's rights too so it's a win win for other women too if women don't kow tow to sexist cultures that keep women covered up and differentiated from men.

user1484578224 · 24/03/2017 11:56

As I have no medical training and therefore nothing to contribute I would have left quickly.

If I had been alone with a casualty I would have tried to help.

LordRothermereBlackshirtCunt · 24/03/2017 11:56

I'm not Muslim but that photo was a pile of shite, circulated on the internet by bigoted, racist twats who should be ashamed of themselves for jumping on such an awful tragedy, to help spread their bile angry
Completely agree. The far right have a lot in common with Islamic fundamentalists (angry, intolerant, violent, and easily brainwashed via the internet) and have the same ultimate aims (the division of society along religious or racial lines). They're two sides of the same coin. I'm surprised they haven't considered working together to achieve their aims.

25bottles · 24/03/2017 11:58

My name is already an English name as I'm a convert, makes no difference.
I can wear what I please on my head without expecting to be attacked, are you saying that the woman should be treated differently based on what they dress?

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