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 find the idea that Muslim women should change the way we dress to seem more approachable almost laughable. I think if someone is intimidated by some fabric I probably have nothing in common with them anyway.

Unless the woman was a paramedic or trained in first aid she did right ot keep walking.

She was not the only one walking away either, she just happened to be wearing a head scarf. So is being demonised.

She was not looking cheerful and carefree, the woman looked terrified and tearful!

Furthermore the injured person was being given medical assistance by professionals according to that picture and her stopping to have a good gawp would not have helped matters in any way.

Why aren't the numerous other people who walked past not being pointed out? And their motives questioned?

You can't judge what is happening from one photo. It's just a snapshot of one split second. Her expression could have changed completely the second after the photo has been taken.
Not to mention, a lot of people seem to think they are experts on reading body language nowadays, when in fact they are only seeing what they want to see and build up an entire narrative from that.

Poor woman.

As others have said she was likely terrified as well, there were plenty attending the injured person, no mention of the white man walking by. Disgraceful spreading it all over.

It's not that a piece of fabric is intimidating, it's that it signifies something quite profound. It goes without saying that any decent person respects this, and respects the right of anyone to wear what they want, but it is as i said before disingenuous to pretend it isn't something that contributes to a them and us mindset. Many people fundamentally disagree with much about the Islamic faith, and a very visible sign like the full veil is a signal that the way of life can be very different. Which is fine, we should be tolerant and welcoming of all cultures and faiths and generally the UK is one of best countries on earth for that, but when this is combined with real division and lack of integration in actual communities, this does set people apart. I don't pretend to have a solution but it just cannot be denied that this an issue, that integration, or lack of, is an issue.

This is what a female Muslim terrorist looks like. Just so you know

Sally Jones

Well, she looks pretty distressed here:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/24/woman-hijab-westminster-bridge-attack-victim-photo-misappropriated

Perhaps Muslims are human after all, eh, user1489179512 ?

People are refusing to address the fact that if you wear a headscarf in this country and that is the only thing setting you apart ( attend mainstream schools , work in the public sector , ) you are still treated like the 'other'.
I'm white and Caucasian looking. I wear skinny jeans from top shop and mac lipstick . I wear a headscarf . I get treated like shit .

Sherazade yes that's despicable.

EnormousTiger you speak perfect sense, particularly where you said about a religion not requiring a head covering. I have been told quite a few times (by Muslims) that there is nothing in Islamic law or in the Koran that says a woman MUST cover her head. So it would make sense not to if you feel it attracts negative attention.

nowhere in the quran does it mention the hijab yet lots of women wear it yet i notice men can do what they like weird!

The majority of Muslim women believe that the Qur'an does ask women to cover their hair. I have enough respect for Muslim women to appreciate that they are more than capable of reading and interpreting their own scripture.

Muslims do plenty to try and integrate and welcome the wider community.

There are regular open days at mosques, faith schools jave open days and exhibitions and they get stuck in during community volunteering days. We made up the highest number of volutneers during a tree planting day we are the only ones who have monthly clean ups in our area with men, women and children going around picking litter in our area.

We do plenty. We don't get the same rights tho I'm supposed to wear some unspecified British uniform for women which only applies to Muslim women all other women are allowed to make their own sartorial choices?

I'm glad I have friendly, kind neighbours and workmates who don't bat an eyelid at my choice of head wear.
It's only a hindrance if you decide it is due to your own prejudice. I'm no less approachable than the next woman walking down the street, altho in London people don't normally talk to strangers minding their own business anyway.

Yellow6, whether the Qur'an says it or not is irrelevant (although I can tell you it does). You need to learn to respect Muslim women's decisions, instead of attempting to force your opinion down them. Muslim women are not stupid. They are intelligent intellectual women who are capable of making their own decisions on whether to wear hijab or not.

And to be honest if I feel it is my God given right to cover my hair. Anyone who feels it's not a correct interpretation can mind their own business I don't really care what anyone believes I should do.

It's my choice, my relationship with my God.

My wearing a headscarf is not harming anyone.

If some people think that we can't be integrated and wear hijab/niqab at the same time then they have a very narrow minded idea of what integration is. I'm not interested in trying to please those people. To me it's that mindset that hinders integration and creates the ''them'' and ''us'' divide- not our clothes.

hathen which verse? nowhere does it mention it in the quran or hadith

I think not recognising that certain types of dress make you less approachable is concerning. I recognise that if I was to wear a balaclava I might not been seen as approachable, because of what it stands for. Full on biker garb might not open as many doors as a suit in certain industries.
It's not a piece of cloth, but what it represents I think.
The expectation that people should be tolerant and accepting is quite an ask if there is no recognition that for some people it could be unsettling.

This picture was a very shitty thing to do, whoever stared it. She looks visibly upset to the point of pressing her forehead with anxious eyes.
I came across a medical emergency recently and we were told to leave the place very quickly so we don't hinder the medical support being given to them.
Police tells you to absolutely stay out of and away from any such situation so they could take control quickly.
Some people are just plain sick.

yellow6 That's a very ignorant and incorrect statement.

The expectation that people should be tolerant and accepting is quite an ask if there is no recognition that for some people it could be unsettling.

That's very entitled of those "some people" to feel about the dressing of women, isn't it?
There are bigger issues to tackle. And this is what we keep discussing.

HeadofHive, I remove my veil to communicate with people who need to see my lips otherwise how can they hear what I am saying. Several times I have needed to do this and the person genuinely needed to see me to hear, on another occasion the person turned out to be a poor of hearing racist who didn't in fact need to see my lips but wanted to make their (racist) point.

yellow6 That's a very ignorant and incorrect statement.if so tell me which verse it says that in?

Aaand here we go. It always starts off with I don't mind headscarves it's the face covering, then it degenerates to headscarves make you the other and I disagree with it and its not in the 'koran'.

Whatever.

If it helps, in Islam it would be very bad manners and inappropriate to stop to look or stare at someone in a personal situation of any kind (eg accident, injury, meltdown etc) if there was no need (eg people are already attending) as peoples privacy and dignity is of very great importance and must be protected. For muslims, all the voyeuristic photos of the injured are a really really awful breach of privacy.