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.

Try telling the 3,400 victims of hate crimes committed against Muslims each year that Islamophobia is just a buzz word.

It’s a buzz word for you because it doesn’t affect you. For Muslims it’s very real.

There are definitely tiers of esteem in islam. Hence jizyah, right? And a lot of other things. No one asks me and I certainly don't tell them unbidden but I am scared of islam and what it means for me as a woman, yes.

Try telling the 3,400 victims of hate crimes committed against Muslims each year that Islamophobia is just a buzz word.

Oh here we go. So someone disagreeing with an aspect of your religion on a forum for mums (to and what this thread is about) is also comparable to actual hate crimes. Some perspective, please.

What are her experience? She has two best friends that are Muslims that she intends to leave all her money to.

So Muslims can’t be that bad surely?

When did you last pay jizyah?

@toomanyy

"So Muslims can’t be that bad surely"

Exactly, so @imnewhere2024 can't be that Islamaphobic despite being Indian?

Fortunately I don't live somewhere where Sharia applies. I would be very fearful if I did.

What do you think is the result of hatred of Muslims online and in the press? It leads to attacks on Muslims.

The two are linked, no matter how obtuse you want to be.

It's the one people are most familiar with. Thankfully its influence is waning.

So what’s the relevance of your posts?

I think there’s definitely a hidden agenda behind some of the posts which is to a) other an entire religion b) undermine the anti-war protests (which are attended by people of all sorts of backgrounds and religions). Religion and culture are not the same. For example Bosnian or Turkish Muslims have very different cultures and even ethnicities compared to Malaysia, Egypt or Pakistan.

It's not much different to how Christianity was a few hundred years back, the difference is Christianity is declining in most places and so the harm from it society wise is reducing, whereas Islam is still rampant in many places.

Her posts are Islamophobic despite having two best friends that are Muslim. I bet she keeps that side hidden from them.

The marriage post you are referring to is on the Relationships board; a woman intends to go to a country where she does not speak the language, and engage in a religious ceremony she doesn't understand, without an interpreter.
Her partner has asked her to do this to please his religious parents, he says he isn't religious himself.

People pointing out the various red flags and pitfalls in that situation are not being Islamophobic.

Iclaudine - look on the map and see a 15 minute walk from the museum!

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48146305

Christians are experiencing genocide in many parts of the world.

I think I am just Religionaphobic. In this day and age all this nonsense should be phased out. If there is an omnipotent being, creator of words or whatever why would he/she/it give a flying fig about whether you eat certain foods, have a beard or a circumsicion, what clothes you wear or the direction you face to worship said entity?

All religion is a control mechanism used to manipulate humanity (usually with women getting the short straw) and subsequently causes hatred, violence and conflict.

The more dubious behaviour is always from religions with lots of rules (white washed as culture or customs). I don’t care what colour or religion you are if you are kind, honest and tolerant. Unfortunately if you question anyone who believes all the religious twaddle they have been fed, you soon see hate and intolerance start to surface. Maybe only in small ways, but it’s there.

Those ‘nice’ Christians / Muslims we all know, very often fail to be QUITE so lovely when even lightly questioned about homophobia, misogyny and anything their beliefs have taken a dislike to. Eg a brilliantly intelligent female Muslim GP I know said if her son admitted to being gay she ‘couldn’t love him anymore’. And that, I think is why a lot of us have a problem with these religions that loudly proclaim they believe in peace and love - but only on their terms.

What do you think is the result of hatred of Muslims online and in the press? It leads to attacks on Muslims.

I don't support banning civil debate and news, personally, just because of a few abusive twats. No religion is extra special and only deserving of glowing representation

I think it's different. Islamophobia is highly likely to have strong elements of racism as well as being about the religion.

Christianity is engrained in our culture whether we believe in and follow it or not, mocking elements of your own culture is different. And Christianity does have it's own issues with treatment of women etc.

Who has suggested banning debate?

You’re arguing against yourself.

You said debate causes hate crime or something.

Did you miss the bold text quoted from you?

An muslim thread has gone down the same
route as any other thread, if this doesn’t prove your point OP i don’t know what does.

raise an issue with islamphobia and you get the constant ‘whataboutisms’

Many people have requested a separate Muslim board yet MN refuses to create one and just closes down threads because they inevitably get really nasty and horrible.

Islam is regressive, homophobic and misogynistic, and we have a right and a duty to speak out about it. The ‘ordinary people going about their lives’ are not condemning the extremist faction either. Reminds me of another issue where women were shut down for being ‘phobic’ if they spoke up.