Muslim Board

[anotherlevel]

Hi @mnhq is it possible to please request a Muslim Board on here, a safe space for Muslims to have to speak freely about things that matter and should be discussed? Similar to that of the Jewish board.

Care to elaborate?

I'm not sure why it's weird?

It's a relatively new board, created as a safe space for a minority group at a time when that group is experiencing an increase in expressed prejudice and negativity and when a significant trauma has been experienced by that group. It seems like a lot of people find that board supportive.

A similar resource for Muslims would be nice. Muslims are also experiencing an increase in expressed prejudice and negativity, and many of us are deeply affected by what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank. Maybe a similar resource could be supportive in our case, too.

It's not criticising or trying to take anything away from one group to say that another group might benefit from a similar resource.

I was just thinking the same thing. Strange how mumsnet haven't even acknowledged this request but the one a bit further down about an etsy board got a same day reply from mumsnet.

Edited to add even a suggestion of a 'bumsnet' board got a response within 12 hours even though no one else had added to the thread but this one is seemingly not important enough for any kind of response

It seems to be the only thread on site stuff that has more than 100 posts and has not been responded to by @mnhq. All the other ones have had a reply pretty much straight away some within the hour.

MNHQ? Are you there?

I’ve reported your post again for you OP - maybe if there are a few reports MNHQ might wake up.
Best wishes and hope you get your board.

I assume there is a debate going on MNHQ re whether it will be a good idea to have a Muslim board

what risqué, controversial topics will the Muslims discuss? !!

angry debates about hmc v hfa, moon sighting and my personal favourite.... do potatoes belong in biryani?

I put potatoes in my biryani tonight. So maybe we can settle that one before we get the new board? 🤣

Seriously though, I've been checking this thread regularly and not a peep from MNHQ. Surely it's a simple request @MNHQ

@anotherlevel
Fully support a Muslim Board and agree it is needed as articulated so well by other posters.

What would you name it?

Come on @mnhq...your lack of response is embarrassing. Please can you acknowledge OPs request, even if it is just to say that it is being discussed.

Although a swift response would of course be better. Thank you.

Definitely no potatoes in our house!

(DC hates them)

Oh no, controversy already.

Is that what you’ve got to say about all the Nations that are South Asia? My argument is (and for some reason MNHQ) have deleted it?! Is those who are adopting Middle Eastern dress/culture making that cultural depiction of Islam in place of their South Asian heritage. Eastern European Muslims wear Western clothes, why have my friend’s kids decided to wear hijab, or the boys walk around in thawb?

On your point is the Middle East any better? Women aren’t even allowed to drive!

I imagine Mumsnet are wondering who will moderate a Muslim board. I mean do Muslim women conceive or have babies in a different way? The boards we have are fine.

Come on MNHQ, sort it out. The Jewish board is a lovely safe space. Our Muslim cousins deserve the same.

Meanwhile I can only assume some of the goadier posters are really undercover supporters of a Muslim MNers board, they're doing such a good job of highlighting the need for it!

Would love for @mnhq to explain why they've not created this board yet

There is far more to this site than just 'conceiving and making babies', though. It's a place where people share recipes, get style advice, discuss relationships, debate issues, etc.

Some issues discussed do have cultural and faith based elements. Sometimes it's nice to discuss with people who share some of those cultural and faith based aspects, not least because they're more likely to 'get' the core issues.

A few examples -

A pregnant woman might be worried about incorporating faith-based practices into her birth plan and want advice on how to do so.

A woman might want outfit suggestions for an occasion. (Without having to go in to a long discussion about explaining what the occasion is, etc, and without page upon page of lovely but inappropriate outfit suggestions mixed with criticism of her outfit criteria).

A woman might want to talk with other women about preparing for and surviving the stresses of holidays.

A woman might want to discuss a political or social event without it being at high risk of just becoming a thread criticising her faith or the thread just being loads of questions needing an explanation of the background. (Eg, "did anyone else watch Sheikh Ruzwan's lecture last night?" - on a general board, the discussion would likely be several pages of "who?", "what's that?", "why's that important?", etc. which can be fine but sometimes it's nice to talk with someone who already knows the background).

A woman might want to ask about choosing and balancing extra-curricular activities. Like many faiths, there are classes run by many religious centres. If you want advice on choosing a class, balancing its frequency with other commitments, helping with any practice/homework, etc then it can be useful to be able to discuss that with people with a shared background.

It seems like one of your concerns is about young people being drawn into particular cultural practices at the expense of their own background and heritage. That could also be something discussed - many Muslim parents may have similar challenges, as fashion and cultural practices travel around the world and get picked up by young people.

A safe(r) space for discussion wouldn't hurt anyone. It would just protect some women from online abuse and help women have a resource for connecting with and getting support from other women with shared experiences.

You’re making yourself look more and more ignorant with each post.

Your issue is with South Asians clearly. So maybe ask these questions on the space that has been created for South Asians, as it has nothing to do with Islam.

And women in the Middle East don’t drive? Or are you getting confused with just one country, Saudi Arabia, where women didn’t drive until a few years ago? That being said, women drivers aren’t exactly high in number in South Asia either due to various cultural, social, and economic factors, so why make such sweeping inaccurate statements when you’re comparing it with a region that has its own issues in how it treats women.

You clearly don’t like the Middle East, but that has nothing to do with the need for a safe space for Muslims on Mumsnet. You’re not going to be obliged to use it. If anything, your rants on this thread about how South Asians practice Islam (ignoring your stereotyping about Muslims on other threads) demonstrates exactly why such a space is needed.

Potatoes? In Biryani??? Noooo!

Anyway @MNHQ, what's the hold up??

I imagine Mumsnet are wondering who will moderate a Muslim board. I mean do Muslim women conceive or have babies in a different way? The boards we have are fine.

Your arguments are really bloody weird, and no, the boards are very far from being fine. The Jewish Mumsnetters board is a great space - we're all different, have conflicting opinions and many of us are not religious in the slightest. But we DO have collective experiences despite our differences that non-Jews don't share, most important being the increase in antisemitism which many of us are struggling with. Muslim women need a board for similar reasons we do, and there's absolutely no reason why there shouldn't be a Muslim Mumsnetters space under the same conditions as ours (i.e. that doesn't show in Active). It's not perfect, because we get interlopers following us over from the M.E. boards, but it's generally a safer space.

And if they do get a board, I hope you'll leave them in peace @LampShadeTaj

To the rest of you, I hope MN moves forward with this.

I think a Muslim board is an excellent idea. I also think a Christian one would be too - if it was a safe space.

Ooo this would be great! Hopefully they get on it soon
And also yes to potatoes in biryani, every time!

i take you don’t know many of the sections of mumsnet or you’re happy with them but it’s the Muslim section that annoys you only?

jusr found a section you might be keen on
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/south-asian-mumsnetters

I support the creation of a board for muslim mumsnetters.

I don't think it would be a problem to have such a board. Presumably the same moderation rules would apply, so why not?

What! I have never had biryani without potatoes. Surely it would just be a pilau type dish without it

Maybe they are worried about Muslim women getting together and discussing all their dangerous ideas 🙄
Perhaps they would prefer that you open a telegram channel, or perhaps they would be more comfortable with a moderated board on here, where the authorities can more easily access and misinterpret peoples comments.
I’m not Muslim by the way, I hope it’s OK to be angry on your behalf.

For my husband it would an absolute abomination to not have potatoes in briyani where as I would be happy without it in there!