Please uncover your face-Matthew Parrish

[mrsruffallo]

Interesting article here
I have noticed that there are more women covering up in the last few years.
Any opinions?

It's a muslim country Moony, alcohol is always going to be illegal in Saudi at the very least.

As to the other points being persecuted for your religion I find shocking and wholeheartedly disagree with it, it's not islamic at all, the driving ban for women appears utterly pointless too, although I think they are re-thinking that part or have amended the law for that.

It's outrageous that women aren't allowed into (presumably some) mosques. And the men who promote this system think they have ANY right to pronounce on what is/isn't acceptable Islamic behaviour for women?

And surely not having disabled access is illegal? (Actually, isn't banning women illegal as well?)

Maybe if women were routinely able to go to the local Mosque, we'd have fewer oddbods like Abu Hamza and his criminal sons gaining credibility and impressing young lads.

and Riven were you raised within a muslim family or were you a westerner that converted because of marriage?

Sorry, asking a lot of questions but just trying to get a handle on your situation.

please tell me to mind my own if you'd rather not answer.

the driving ban has been challenged by some brave people but upheld every time although I can't find out what's happened since 2007.

Mind you didn't Abu Hamza's daughter become a pole dancer?

would be hard to argue that she was oppressed !

Well, at least she was making an honest living, unlike her brothers (who have just been found guilty of a major scheme involving selling on stolen cars).

Fuzzy, I can deal with this.
I don't like it but their place, their law.

My dh works in Bangladesh now and i am often there and wouldn't dream of doing anything (I hope) that would offend local sensitivities. It's a bummer as it has the longest loveliest beach in the wold, but throwing oneself about in a swimsuit is just Not On.

What rankles is people from other countries who impose their views and cultural habits on others irrespective of local sensitivities.

Whoever made the point that these women must like it or they would throw it off the minute their dhs weren't about is misled.If someone has been brought up in a culture where this is expected, it is incredibly difficult to throw off (literally and metaphorically) aspects of that culture.

I have been reading a lot recently about polygamist Mormons.The similarities are striking.

Newer mosques do have womens facilities, and childrens areas too, the older ones don't.

It's probably because a lot of mosques are little more than converted houses, it takes time and money (our money, we the 'mozlems' put money together so don't worry o ye tax payers of england), to set up a decent mosque.

I go to my local mosque, and there are gatherings on the weekend, whch I find a lovely way of getting to know my neighbours.

Like it or not, whatever we choose to wear makes a statement about ourselves. And the way people hear that statement isn't always the way it was intended IYSWIM?

Eg, I dress a bit goth/punk. I'm trying to say, 'Hey, I may be old but I can still rock!' But I suspect people sometimes hear 'I'm stuck in my teens and rather sad...'

So when a Muslim woman puts on a niqab/abaya, she may well be trying to say 'I'm deeply committed to my religion' and/or 'I don't want to be judged on my appearance'.
But unfortunately I read it as 'I think women are inferior to men and must totally suppress their sexuality to avoid tempting the poor innocent chaps into wicked thoughts' which is a message I don't agree with. So... it makes me uncomfortable. I don't think it should be banned though. That way madness lies.

And obviously there are people out there reading even more negative messages into it. Some of them posting on this thread in fact.

Yeah Abu Hamza's sons.
What a great example of what it is to be a good Muslim.

Moondog In the mosque here they do :

Courses of languages Urdu/English/Arabic for both men and women childen

Religious discussion for both men and women

Charity fundraising for local charities, not muslim charities in particular in the form of Family events which usually involves 2 genders as well.( BBQ, sports day...)

Swimming sessions for both men and women (different sessions though)

They started football clubs and cricket clubs as well.

There is also a Parent and toddler group in which ther is mostly women but so is the case in all the toddler groups i have ever been to.

Ther is somrething in what you say though , Men have a DUTY to attend the mosque, at least for the Friday prayer, women are welcome but do not HAVE to if family commitments prevent them to do so.

Fuzzy, why are you boasting about the fact than no taxes involved in building mosques? I'd take that as a given!!

Do you feel that this elevates you to a superiour position?

Sounds very good Gorio.
I can't be doing with separate sex activities though.

It is actualy quite nice and relaxing to just be amongst women and not have to check that anyone is looking too much at my beautiful DH

Actually Moony it was me who said the women would take off their hijabs/abayas/ bedroom curtains if they didnt want to wear them.

I say this, because I used to see girls do it all the time at uni, the ones who objected to wearing the headscarves would walk in in their headscarves, go into the toilets and emerge made up to within an inch of their lives, seriously you would not recognise the girl in the hijab from the girl walking out of the ladies at my old uni.

I don't agree with women being forced to dress in any way other than whatever makes them comfortable. I find it utterly abhorent being forced to dress or live your life according to the dictate of others. There is no compulsion in religion.

However I've taught my children not to point and make remarks about people and would hope most adults would be similar (at least within my hearing), altho I honestly didn't mind the little boy who pointed at me at the traffic lights this morning and said 'mummy that girls pretty isn't she?' (I like being a girl even more than pretty, this side of thirty, it doesnt happen very often)

What I love about this country, which is my home, is being allowed to practice my religion without hindrance, it's a very precious freedom for me, and not one I take lightly.

moony it was me being sarcastic, I've read threads in the past where every one gets hysterical because someone says mosques are being built with the taxpayers money, I thought I had better point out that mosques are always built with worshippers monies (at least the ones I know of anyway).

Riven, that's a lovely story about the men at your local mosque raising money for dd.

I like separate sex activities myself too (ooh er indeed Riven!) I don't want blokes around all the time and I treasure my girls' nights out.

I don't like these things set in stone though.One would hope most people have the sense to understand when their presence is not wanted.

When I live in Turkey (far East ,very conservative) it pissed me off no end at how men took over the obstetrician's office and waiting room (I was pg).Unthinkable that a woman should be examined by another man without her dh being presnet.

I actually thnk all of this veil/scarf stuff is dieeply insulting to men. Do we assume they are such animals that women need protecting from them? If indeed their primitive urges are so strong and uncontrolle,d should we not be working on that rather than pusing women into potato sacks.

I propose chemical neutering or failing that, a swift kick in the cock.