Can someone explain Islamophobia to me?

[BaMamma]

I don't think I have an irrational fear of Muslims, but I think I have a reasonable concern about radical Islam, does that make me Islamophobic?

Yes, anyone expressing rational fear and concern about beliefs and behaviours of Muslim people should now be labelled as ‘Islamophobic’. This may be confusing to some as Muslim people often describe Islam as being a very tolerant religion and should pose no fear to women who don’t wish to cover their frightening, dangerous faces and bodies, gay people or anyone who questions Islam.

What is the issue with women covering themselves in public? Unless they are indeed oppressed and forced (that would make it an abusive relationship which a lot of women unfortunately are in) but then how can you differentiate that a woman is forced into covering? I guess much like you can't differentiate which women expose themselves because they are forced to believe they are not attractive enough unless they have skin on display?

Sorry, did you want more examples? This won’t take long… I was simply being brief

I don’t think it’s Islamophobic. If you saw an increase in people going around your area wearing masks or balaclavas, you might be concerned. If you learned they were members of a specific political group (eg antifa), you might start saying that you think antifa members going around in balaclavas was a bad thing and that it should be discouraged. You might not mention other people who sometimes cover their faces (bikers or Muslim women) because these other groups are not around to a significant degree in your area. The issue is the antifa guys. This doesn’t mean you are prejudiced against antifa, it just means they are the group who are mostly causing the issue at the moment.

The question is are people really objecting to the face coverings per se or is it a cover for the fact that they don’t like Islam? I think it’s fine to dislike Islam or any other religion so to me that’s a moot point.

I agree with a pp here - I don’t believe the OP to be posting in good faith. Muslims in this country don’t deserve this sort of faux confusion designed to bring down lava on their heads. Extremists in all religions are a serious problem. The average Muslim on the street, the men and women you work with (or maybe the OP doesn’t know any…) or that are wedding guests at the weddings of your friends, are no worse or better than the other wedding guests, your other colleagues - they just have a different perspective.

This thread is horrible. I would hate my friends to read it.

Not all humans. And women can enjoy equality no matter how we dress, why would you want to control how women dress? It literally is oppression of women and counter to equality.

”third world country” is an outdated and derogatory term.

As for corruption, the U.K. is already corrupt, we have had thousands of years of the upper class out for itself.

I am not supportive of any particular religion, I am supportive of true freedom of religion and equality and you can’t have that by persecuting Muslim women for how they choose to dress.

How about you ask a Muslim this? It might enlighten you.

So, we can't discuss the issue. Even discussing it is Islamophobic?

Unless she means what the Pope wears during the ceremony 😂 There is no such thing for people who aren't a Pope???

Go ahead and discuss, but accept that disagreement, including questioning your position, is part of discussion. It’s debating 101.

I think this is an attention seeking thread but as a Muslim happy to take your questions about my oppression and any other views you have of me as a Muslim female living in the UK.

I can similarly post photos of countries with half naked women that are horribly oppressed too. The point is there is no correlation between what women wear or don’t wear and level of oppression of women. The only correlation between higher oppression of women and clothes is when a regime dictates to women what they can or cannot wear.

Even regimes that dictated unisex clothing tended to be more oppressive of women..

I’m sorry I’ve read your post 4 times and still don’t understand it.

The number of Muslim women who dress in the burqa in Europe is tiny. I’m sure we are all against extremist governments like the Taliban.

I’m pro women being able to choose what they wear. If you are concerned about the human rights of women being forced to wear the burka by family members here in the UK, I think there are better ways to tackle it than being against the item of clothing itself.

So yes your concern seems to come from Islamophobia rather than from a concern for women’s rights.

Of course uk has some corruption, but it's one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Don't compare it to most of the world where you have to bribe your way through the day - from traffic police to exam results to buying and selling votes or elections. It's like saying living in Woolwich is just the same as living in Richmond - both have crime. Thick person's argument.

Given that the majority of people killed by radical Islamists are Muslims, most Muslims have a pretty significant concern about radical islam/jihadism as well.

Indeed

This thread is horrible. I would hate my friends to read it.

Same. Friends and work mates.

Good point!

What mysterious logic? Do you think women choose to cover their faces simply because they find it comfortable, or flattering, or whatever? Nothing to do with religious beliefs and modesty standards that result from these beliefs?

The burka is a symbol of oppression.

Are we all against extremist governments like the Taliban? Are you against the Islamic regime in Iran?

Why do so many Muslims move from majority Muslim countries to non majority Muslim countries?

Yep, I wish all these women who are so concerned about Muslim women, actually listened to them for once. But no, it's not going to happen. They'd rather talk about you or at you, and tell you how awful your life is- because clearly they know more about the lives of Muslim women than you do.

Do you have evidence for that? I’d be curious to see official statistics.

but yes you are right. There are numerous warnings to the west from Islamic figures about the dangers of Islam. And presumably a good reason why no Islamic countries will take refugees from Palestine

That men do the same. And no, sects in North Africa are not the point when discussing Islamophobia in the UK. Do try to keep relevant.