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.

The point is that you only target the Muslim community with this patronising guff.

Muslims have to be whiter than white.

And Muslim women who are spat at and have their hijab torn off them is never a concern for people like you.

Where does she say that she is Hindu?
There are many religions in India

Effect is the noun and affect is the verb, but most people I've told that to say that doesn't help them! 😂

I do not respect or approve of any religion that treats women abysmally - removal of rights in Afghanistan, murder through beating for inappropriate dress in Iran etc.
I do not respect or approve of any religion that has no issue with throwing homosexuals to their deaths from buildings.
I do not respect or approve of any religion that has no issue with using rape and terror as weapons of war.
I do not respect of approve of a religion that marches through the streets chanting anti semitic slogans and applauding rape and terror.

If a religion, any religion, is the architect or belief system behind those behaviours, then it should not be considered a "phobia" to reject or or question it.

I know! I have been told that before, and it's perfectly logical. But it just won't stick!

And Muslim women who are spat at and have their hijab torn off them is never a concern for people like you.

That's quite a leap you made there. I don't know @Whingebob, but I'm willing to bet she would be concerned about that...

You’ve just described a lot of governments. Your own government has likely committed a lot of these.

@exomoon I'm sorry but I don't understand what you're talking about. What is whiter than white go to do with anything, what?

Nobody's been 'targeted' by a posting something you disagree with, get over yourself.

I doubt it. Someone posted about thousands of attacks on Muslims each year (many of which are hijab ripping and spitting) and Whingebob responsed ‘oh here we go’.

OP literally says shes Hindu

So if a Muslim were to tell you an anecdotal/second-hand experience about prejudice they or someone they know experienced, you would dismiss it too presumably?

For all those who have experienced or witnessed the negative aspects of Islam, here is a little positive anecdote:
My DD is currently at uni in Birmingham.

Naturally there is a high % of Muslim students on her course...
She gets on well with nost people on her course and has some lovely Muslim friends. One of these friends invited her and a few others to celebrate Eid with her family... after having done other fun stuff with sad friend !

That's quite a leap you made there. I don't know @Whingebob, but I'm willing to bet she would be concerned about that...

Oh yeah. It's a massive leap. I have Muslims friends both male and female from India, Pakistan, Kurdistan and Somalia. Of course I don't support hate crimes to random Muslims just because I dare to have a different opinion to Exomoon, and think that there are valid concerns about some sects/teachings.

If a Muslim was to tell me about something that happened to someone they knew some years ago instigated by a person who was probably not a Muslim then I wouldnt sagely nod and say "yeah, all non Muslims are like that"

Are you sure that India is the most unsafe. Or are we not privy to what happens in other countries because of how little comes out.

It was once expressed to me by a scholar like this:

A faith relates to someone's belief in their deity, whereas culture's influenced by the practices of people in the community who share that faith

UN seems to think so
10 Most Dangerous Countries for Women | Stacker

Thank you. That makes sense to me actually. My mum is a Catholic, but has been burned by the church. She stopped going to mass, but afaik she still has her faith. And she didn't let Catholicism stop her from embracing her (two!) gay sons sexualities. She is a good woman, with 'christian' values, but she won't take any of their shite anymore.

Your mum is exactly the kind of person I was talking about when I said the lovely members of the Abrahamic religions are the ones who ignore some of the teachings. You can't believe everything written in the Bible/Torah/Qu'ran and be a lovely person.

Well tbh I don't think anyone actually believes all of that. It's pick n mix to a large extent. I'm a complete non believer, but I totally respect anyone else's beliefs as long as they don't get in my way. Live and let live etc.

In saying all that though, mum was quite conservative until the gay son made her really face up to her beliefs. It was transformative for her. It could have gone either way. But she was brilliant. And even better again when my husband accidentally outed my younger brother to her 🫣

Oh no 😬 I imagine your husband was in quite a lot of trouble over that...

It was like a slow motion car crash! My poor H was devastated, mum was so shocked and I was in the middle. It really should have been a sit com tbh 😂

Yes the two are intertwined definitely, but if I met someone who was from a Muslim background I wouldn't assume that they were strictly following the religion or that they believed everything that their parents/grandparents believed in. So I guess that's how I understood the difference between culture and religion.

When I was growing up, it was quite the opposite. Muslims (or any non Catholics) would have been seen as alien altogether. And I was in a city, not in a backwater. I find it much better/more tolerant now.