I am surprised at the level of Islamophobia on Mumsnet

[Cyclebabble]

I have seen a number of threads on Mumsnet over the last couple of days that question relationships with Muslim men, Muslim Marriages and suggest that Islam is an extreme religion looking to take over the world. I am a Hindu (nominally at least), but come from a country where inter faith marriages are common and where I am friends with and related to a number of Muslims.

Guess what. They are all normal people just looking to get on with their lives, doing the best for their family and friends. They are good citizens and they harm no-one.

There is a building view on Mumsnet that Islam is dangerous, repressive and looking to take over the world. It is now different to any other religion, as are the people.

Obviously there is Islamophobia out there. No one is denying it. Just as if there is poor sentiment about EVERY religion.

it’s just people only ever want to talk about how victimised Muslims are

Thats awful but again it was more likely to be cultural than religious.
The least safe country in the world for women is, I believe, India which is not a majority Muslim religion

"based on excruciatingly detailed analysis of more than 48,000 print articles and 5,500 TV clips that mentioned Muslims or Islam. Sixty per cent of the articles and almost half of all clips analysed associated negative aspects and behaviour with Muslims or Islam, with terrorism or extremism being the most common theme. Little wonder Islamophobia is so common in society."

Islamophobia in the press must be tackled head-on. Silence is not an option | Miqdaad Versi | The Guardian

As PPs have accurately said a great deal of the perceived issues are purely cultural and nothing to do with the religion, but Islam is a common denominator so gets the blame among those who don't really understand it

Trouble is, blaming culture is equally unwelcome to some, so rather than Islamophobic you'll be called racist instead because another common area is that many who adhere to this culture just happen to be brown

Personally I'd rather focus on the issues rather than what race or religion's involved, but that's not always a popular approachh on here

I think all phobias are bad and nobody should be persecuted for belonging to a religion.

However, my observation is that there is a lot of very casual anti-Christian bigotry in the UK (not just on Mumsnet) and it is getting worse and normalised. I don't think any group should experience bigotry in this day and age. Am I allowed to post my opinion or is that verboten?

Well on a Thread discussing the rise of Islamaphobia I would expect people to be talking about Muslims.
Perhaps you could start one about the oppression of Christians?

You should have called the police on them.

Unfortunately misogynistic abuse is not limited to Muslims. Nearly all (or possibly 100%) of the men who have shouted abuse at me were white and most unlikely to be part of any minority religion. A friend's sister used to live in a part of London associated with a different religious minority much admired by right wingers, and was verbally abused as you describe. It's a man problem, not an exclusively Muslim problem.

If you're thinking about the religious marriage abroad thread people were concerned because going by other threads by the same OP she's in an abusive relationship. So YABU.

Maybe to do with Islamic terrorism of recent years. It’s given Islam a negative image.

What are you classing as Islamophobic?

im classed as transphobic because i believe you can't change sex - so forgive me if I take "phobic" with a massive pinch of salt

Agree, Christian's are fair game for ridicule

I'm also kind of sick of any mild criticism of Islam being called Islamophobia. I try and stay out of these debates but I'm so sick of these buzzwords to shame and shut people up, usually said by people who don't even belong to that group.

I would never usually check or even read most threads on subjects such as these but saw a young woman on a post yesterday asking about an Islamic ceremony saying her dh to be wasn’t even interested in it but they were doing it for his family. It’s nothing to do with religion or country, if she was a young woman saying her dh wanted her to come away from her family and without them there to marry anywhere and as people said she had been on another thread saying things weren’t great, of course you’ll say ‘hang on, are you sure?’ Are you financially prepared? Are your family supportive of this guy?

@DrJoanAllenby I also had the same experience when starting a new job in a certain area of Birmingham. I was called all sorts, I was spat at, told I didn't belong there and threatened with sexual violence. I was 18 years old and stuck it out for 2 weeks.

What is Islamic terrorism exactly?
Do you consider what happened in Ireland in the 70's and 80's (and here too) to be Christian Terrorism?
Religion gives some people an excuse, thats all.
As for a negative image pop down to your local foodbank or street kitchen, I know which communities are there every week handing out food and I know which people are questioning how genuine the people using them are.

I think there is a fair amount of negativity to all of the big religions on here and elsewhere.

Personally I think organised religion has done a huge amount of harm in the world and has been particularly detrimental to women.

I can't say I've noticed any.

I've seen antisemitism though.

I agree it’s worth looking at the impact of religions on women and girls, rather than clamp down on discussion.

I’d prefer threads to stand. If there’s a particular post people can get that deleted.

People who are bigoted against one minority tend to not just hate that one single group. It bleeds over into a hatred of most other groups to a greater or lesser extent as the core belief tends to be that otherness is wrong

Wise words right there, @Energypanic
As a very wise professor of Arabic once explained it to me, the hatred always come first and the rest is a casting around for "justification" - and that applies to all cultures, though admittedly some seem to consider themselves freer to express their hatred without contradiction than others

I think all religions come under fire on MN. All for different reasons. And I think, to some degree, all of them should.

I think where religion and culture are mixed it’s more difficult. But I think people don’t realise that religion and culture are mixed for all religions to varying degrees.

I think social media highlights the extreme ends of religion. Which makes it people even more concerned about the impact it has on people’s thoughts around it.

I grew up Catholic though don’t consider myself Catholic or even Christian. Seeing Christian extremists online makes me feel sick. I recently saw videos from Muslim women talking about the behaviour of a lot of Muslim men on TikTok and Twitter that made me feel similar. Those women said those views weren’t extremist views, just that in SM the men were more vocal. But for the sake of this discussion I would call them that. However, in real life, I don’t come across either of these stereotypes, often. That’s worth remembering.

Extremist are often given more air time, because they are extremist. It attracts more views, more attention.

a story about Muslims just going about their day and not giving a shit about how other people live their lives isn’t going to attract any attention.

I think people are harsher on Christianity than any other religion in today's world.

I think I am right in saying that islam would hold me in poor regard for a variety of reasons. It's impossible to unpick religion from culture and personality but I think Islam raises some specific worries for me and my future. Everyone must be free to practice their faith of choice but I don't think they have any right to expect that others will be keen on that choice.

(I think the main thing is not to dehumanise someone by reducing them to their identity characteristics)

I find it just as oppressive (towards women especially) as any other religion. Is that allowed?! I don’t have any respect for any religion, but I do respect peoples right to believe, that doesn’t make my phobic.

Everyone must be free to practice their faith of choice but I don't think they have any right to expect that others will be keen on that choice.

What does this even mean?

When was the last time a Muslim approached you to ask you if you’re keen on them?

I think I am right in saying that islam would hold me in poor regard for a variety of reasons.

’Islam’ is not a person. And the Quran is clear there is no compulsion in religion. It says ‘To you your faith, and to me mine.’

That means it really doesn’t care if you have faith or not!

@SallyWD

"I'm sad to say this but the most islamaphobic people I know are Indian"

So the counter to the post and experiences described by by @imnewhere2024 is that Indians are "the most Islamophobic people " you know ?