AIBU to question praying and sleeping in the library kids area?

[sunshine240778474]

Yesterday I took the kids to the local library (Inverness, scotland). The local library has a kids area. The kids area has a nice artificial grass mat for the kids to sit and read their books on.

When I entered the library there was a man who had folded the kids mat over so he could kneel on the floor and pray to Allah.

Therefore this prevented the kids from sitting on the mat and reading their books.
The man was praying for a while.

I don't have a problem with someone praying if that's what they want to do.

Is it appropriate to be doing it in the kids area in a local library?

Also, there was a woman curled up in the corner of the library sleeping. This was also in the kids area.

I've seen people sleeping in the library on a few occasions now. I've never seen it in the kids' area.

Ofcourse, I feel sorry for her if she's tired, but again is it appropriate to be using the local library, especially the kids area, as a shelter?

I left the library, and told the staff politely, I didn't find it kid friendly.

Was I being unreasonable?

Personal reflection and thanks should be an intensely private matter unless you’re in church/ mosque/ synagogue. To assume it’s ok to just roll up a rug in the children’s area and pray is incredibly presumptuous.

Ah yes. The UK is uniquely tolerant/foolish (delete according to your political persuasion). Mark my works, this is how it starts, praying in public libraries. By 2030, the UK will be a majority Muslim country because 6.5% can become 100% in four years. It's all the fault of Starmer and the WEF.

No I'm struggling to understand why some people think they can hide behind racism.
I can't imagine the poster will be back with the same 'boycott our libraries' thread next month when libraries start holding Easter events.

What did the staff say about it?

This didn’t happen though did it OP. Nice try though!

You’re forgetting the sinister sleeping…

Singing classes have no place in libraries. People need peace and quiet to read and study, especially young people with no quiet place to study at home. Praying and sleeping are far preferable because they are usually silent, bar a bit of snoring and the clicking of prayer beads.

Again, you’re struggling with context. This wasn’t an organised religious event.

God the singalongs at my local library do my head in!! I really feel for the teenagers I see studying there.

Explain the context you say the poster is missing please

Yes. Sleeping is not always sleeping. It may really be dreaming up plans for the GREAT REPLACEMENT.

The very epitome of a sleeper spy…

You’re comparing celebrating Easter in what is essentially still a Christian country with a grown man taking over a children’s area and making women and children feel uncomfortable?

Not all religions worship in a church.

One woman.
And the take over was more of a borrowing for a few minutes before she had even entered the library.

Why would it make them feel uncomfortable though? I think that's the 'context' that we're all looking for someone to explain. Do you usually find people in prayer intimidating?

Ooh, good catch.

The children’s area of the library is the context

I live in an affluent area and I've seen homeless men sleeping in the library. It's too dangerous to sleep outside during the night and it's warm in the library.

The praying would annoy me. It's so intrusive and performative to do it in such a public spot. We wouldn't do yoga or dance practice or lie on the floor in the kids' section. Why should his praying be special?

When you went in were there any other children? If not then at least the space was being used. The man praying didn’t ask you to be quiet or go away did he? If not your children could have sat and read books whilst he prayed

I would find a grown man in a public library praying loudly intimidating. Moreso a Muslim in a Christian country. I would also find it uncomfortable watching a Christian praying openly in a Muslim country. People are allowed to be uncomfortable when men try to control our public spaces- and it always men.

I find it interesting that OP is so exercised by these stray adults in the children's section of the library that she has time to photograph the folded-over mat and post on MN, but not do the obvious thing and fetch a member of staff to move the praying man and the sleeping women to the adult part of the library.

Typo

I think this is a pretty sad and narrow minded view to be honest. Why is it a problem to observe your religion if you are in a country where that is not the primary religion?

I’m an atheist but definitely pro multi culturalism and can’t see the problem with a Muslim praying in a Christian country or vice versa.

Yanbu, but I’m not surprised, the amount of drug related anti social issues in Inverness at the minute is ridiculous. Children’s section of the library shouldn’t have people taking up space by praying or sleeping, just kids and parents/guardians doing appropriate things

Do you usually find people in prayer intimidating?

Would it help to use the word situation rather than context? Do you usually find naked people in the gym changing room intimidating? What about if they got on a bus with you?