If you are Muslim.

[Masher]

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.

I think somewhere in there, Enormous Tiger is trying to make a valid point regarding the benefits of integration between diff ethnic and faith communities. Multiculturalism doesn't however mean groups should feel the need to abandon their identities in order to assimililate.

"The way some western women dress would appall a certain section of Muslim women" is a very different statement to As a matter of fact the way western women dress is seen as "whoreish" by many Muslim women.

Thank you Grommit

What you're actually saying then is, it is unimaginable for a Muslim to insult a westerner

I'm really not Hanna. Do you normally think in such extremes?

Dione - you might not be saying that, but one comment upthread really did come across like that, whether intentional or not.

I think we should all wear what we want, condemn the fool who committed this awful act, feel sympathy for the poor lass whose photo was plastered all over the media, and feel sympathy for Hanna's daughter being called a whore.

Let's us women not tear into each other. We need to stick together, even more at the moment

"Western' vs Muslim is a dubious way to phrase things too.

Let's us women not tear into each other. We need to stick together, even more at the moment
Hear, hear. It's so depressingly predictable that, after this horrible act of terrorism, it's a woman who's become the target of abuse for the likes of Britain First and its moronic followers.

I agree Grommit

Well said grommitt but it seems Dionne has been trawling back through the thread and trying to prolong the argument. We've done that, please move on and stop looking more into something than necessary.

I am an Indian Sikh lady and can of course vouch that integration is important, as we are often praised for doing it well.

However sadly, you will find that no matter how well you integrate, a racist just will not give a flying fuck. I've told this anecdote on another thread, but a few years ago I was called a paki in broad daylight while walking with my female friend, by some middle aged knob waiting for a bus. He also told me to "fuck off home" and flipped his middle finger at me. I wasn't in a head scarf, I wasn't in a salwar kameez, i wasn't talking a foreign language: I was dressed in a skirt, had my legs out, face of make up, hair flowing, laughing, having banter with my mate in English. On my way to a pub to drink wine and then to watch the cricket with my work mates. I'd say that's pretty integrated. So what was my crime? Still trying to figure it out

You only have to look at the style threads on here, or let's face it ANY THREAD on here, to see women judge other women
It's not a Muslim issue ffs
Women need to stick together imo. I'm appalled that women from ethnic minorities are the prime subject for abuse :( it's really not on.

That's disgusting worried. How awful for you.

Worried, it was your skin colour that was unacceptable to him. No matter how much you integrate, 'they' cannot hide their hatred or bigotry, nor do they want to.

Hanna, a muslim in a burka can also possibly be a westerner. Divisive language there. Dione is right to call you out on it.

, worried. Of course it's racism, plain and simple. And even if you had been wearing a salwaar kameez it would have still been racism. After all, no-one's ever had a go at a Scotsman in a kilt (I say that as a Scot). Ethnic dress only attracts attention from racists when they're being racist! It serves as the excuse, not the reason.

kitebite no she wasn't, and yes of course it could have been a westerner, but not probable, and who cares, an insult is an insult. I was recalling what what said to my daughter, that is all, if someone on here said someone wearing a huge crucifix or whatever denotes a particular religion, had insulted them i wouldn't expect everyone to rush on the defensive saying "no that can't be right" or you must be lying" . Why so defensive and adamant that that can't have happened. It's ridiculous. Talk about over sensitive.

Apart from that, we as "westerners" are rightly annoyed when we hear that insults have been made to muslims wearing the burka etc and never disbelieve what we are told. I personally wouldn't dream of saying "I don't believe you" I am entitled to expect the same courtesy when it's the other way round. Or is it all one sided.

What is all one sided hanna?

kite what i've just said that i should be given the courtesy of being believed as i do when i hear about insults to muslim women, hence "is it all one sided" ? surely you knew what i meant.

I am now confused. You keep mentioning the burka and not the niqab. So how did you know that muslim woman was not one of 'us' westerners?

What do you mean by westerners though? I'm really confused
Do you mean people who were not born here?
My friend was born in another country in the East. She's lived here since before I was born. Is she not as western as I am?
As I said, religion aside especially, I'm confused.

Oh dear you're like a dog with a bloody bone, i don't know, i wasn't there, it's an educated guess, my dd said it was a full covering. Why are you so damn determined it can't have been a muslim. Is it only "westerners" who can be insulting. Who gives a flying fuck what nationality she was, i was talking about what religion she was. Calm the fuck down.

Right, time out everyone, or I shall run naked around the thread with my fat bits wobbling, and no one wants that to happen

I look like a bag of ferrets having a fight in a space hopper, so you have been warned

Peace people

That seems a bit grommit

Harsh!!!!

Ffs