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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

is there anything wrong with being islamaphobic?

73 replies

Wintersnow · 07/11/2010 13:08

In the sense someone is predjudice against the religion itself ( e.g. the second class citizen treatment of women in general and terrible human rights records in most muslim countries) and not that they hate the muslim people? Just curious...

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 07/11/2010 13:10

Erm, not sure. Probably. Prejudice is normally just ignorance and I'm sure I have read somewhere that most Islam women don't feel that they are treat as 2nd class citizens.

taintedpaint · 07/11/2010 13:10

I don't know that that comes under Islamaphobia though, it's disliking aspects of it, where as the phobia would be a blanket fear or dislike.

Wintersnow · 07/11/2010 13:13

Just googled the definition and "Islamophobia (ie. Islam+phobia, "fear") is prejudice against, or an irrational fear of Islam or Muslims"

OP posts:
PinkieMinx · 07/11/2010 13:16

Exactly - phobia irrational fear. Nothing wrong with a religion not sitting right with your mind set but wouldn't describe as Islamaphobia. As with all religion, it's the way people interpret and use it I dislike.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 07/11/2010 13:16

But the oppression of women isn't actually islam, is it? It is more the mysogynistic culture of some countries. I am fairly sure that Islam itself preaches good treatment of all. I hope Riven sees this, she can confirm (or tell me I've got it wrong, if I have) Certain parts of the koran have been twisted to make it fit the mistreatment of women.

hmmmm, a religious text twisted to fit what you want it to fit... sounds familiar. Bible anyone?

lollypoplady · 07/11/2010 13:20

Correct me if I'm wrong but apparently it says nowhere in the koran that a woman should be covered, just that she should dress modestly, as should men. Why is it predominately muslim countries which have interpreted their religious texts to oppress women?

LittleMissHissingFirecracker · 07/11/2010 14:01

Oppression of women in predominantly muslim /Middle Eastern countries is nothing to do with islam persay as both christian and muslim women in egypt for example, have very similar lives.

Religion on both these 'sides' is used as the big stick to keep the female in her place.

Islamaphobia is a made up word which nothing short of prejudice and racism.

People who admit to this are not 'afraid' of muslims. They hate them. Their reaction to seen a muslim is not the same as a persons suffering from a different phobia. They are not like an agoraphobic, afraid, shaking and prone to panic attacks when they see or find themselves in the midst of of groups of people or at being outside.

My mum has a phobia of bats, it means she literally shrieks and runs for the hills whenever she she sees one, be it on the telly, flying about, in a magazine or in any other form. My dad is scared to death of Snakes.

So in answer to the question, is there anything wrong with being Islamaphobic?

Yes, there is. Plenty.

Because this phobia doesn't exist. It's simple prejudice.

Hedgeblunder · 07/11/2010 14:05

Covering up was enforced by the ayatollah in iran.

I really don't like the tone of this, I'm fucking fed up of Muslim bashing.

MmeLindt · 07/11/2010 14:07

Agree with LittleMiss.

It is not an irrational fear but an excuse to dislike, hate and/or discriminate against members of a particular religion.

scoobytoo · 07/11/2010 14:08

But even in the christian world woman are not treated equally...the whole priest row etc!

Lovesdogsandcats · 07/11/2010 14:10

Nothing wrong whatsoever in voicing your disagreement with aspect of a country/culture's ways. But to stste a blanket 'phobia' is a little short sighted.

I am totally against the niquab and stoning, could not give a toss WHO does it, its wrong.

Hedgeblunder · 07/11/2010 14:11

Nobody targets Jewish people for this though do they? Or it that not alright?
My best friend is orthodox and has to cover up, sits away from men in synagogue, and has the duty of raising her children and taking care of the house while her husband works. Is she oppressed?
Your question is offensive, ignorant, racist and your post is ill informed.

redflag · 07/11/2010 14:13

I have to agree on the "oppression" not being a Muslim thing.

Islam is actually a very fair and just religion, preaching nothing but love and respect for others.

My family are from the Greek side of Cyprus, they are orthodox, and the oppression of women is very prominent there too.

Its not the religion, its the people. And saying Muslim women don't feel repressed what a load of tosh!(no offence) They happen to live in countries where women are second class citizens, they just don't know any different.
Some are killed for educating themselves, by the Taliban that is.

redflag · 07/11/2010 14:15

Hedgeblunder Islam is not a race, so she can not possibly be seen as racist for asking this question!

Hedgeblunder · 07/11/2010 14:16

Sorry redflag- a bigot then?

redflag · 07/11/2010 14:17

thats fine! Grin

sarah293 · 07/11/2010 14:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

redflag · 07/11/2010 14:22

Riven, it has always been that way the Christians battered the pagans into submission and made their god, a woman, A whore!

Its something that has happened a lot in the last few hundred years.

MadamDeathstare · 07/11/2010 14:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sarah293 · 07/11/2010 14:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

redflag · 07/11/2010 14:27

MadamDeathstare, I can understand why it seems to be more acceptable to be anti islam. We are constantly bombarded with news and stories about how they want to kill us and hate us(non-Muslims) And you can see why some people find it hard to disassociate radicals from real Muslims, partly because of the mass segregation of them in this country, by themselves and us.

And partly because they seem to not overly disapprove of the atrocities, At least not the ones we are told about that is.

Rocketbird · 07/11/2010 14:27

A healthy suspicion of all things unfamiliar is natural as long as you are open minded enough to want to learn about it and do not let it affect the way you treat people.

redflag · 07/11/2010 14:28

Riven that is what i meant to put ha ha its been a long day

Hedgeblunder · 07/11/2010 14:28

I do wish that people could educate themselves on the difference between religion and country

Iran/Iraq/Afghanistan - not a great place to be a woman at the moment

Islam- a loving peaceful religion

MmeLindt · 07/11/2010 14:33

"And partly because they seem to not overly disapprove of the atrocities, At least not the ones we are told about that is."

Redflag
I assume there are plenty of Muslims who strongly disapprove of the atrocities, but a photo of Palestinian youths celebrating a bombing is newsworthier than a picture of Muslims weeping with their Christian neighbours.