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Thread: Europe hostile to muslim world?
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'Abd Al-Maajid

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I live in India and don't know much about European Union and muslims living there, but it makes me think 'Is EU acting hostilely towards muslim world?' as some news like banning of hijab in France and banning of Minarets in Switzerland and the popular slogans in EU 'Stop Islamification of Europe!' surface the internet.
Anyone, brothers or sisters from Europe tell me (I know many people here are from Europe) the situation of the muslims in EU.
Thank you.
 
Muslims in the EU are granted (for the most part) equal rights, and apart from the odd persecution, should be able to live their life like a non Muslim. On the whole, Muslims in Europe are treated far better than their counterparts in China, Russia and America. However, what we are seeing is a clash of cultures, the West and the Muslim world. Therefore, just as there are far right extremists groups that exist in the Middle East that try and prevent the Westernisation of the Middle East, such as Al Queda and others, so there are far right extremists in Europe trying to prevent the Islamification of European culture. Both are rational concerns; both the Islamic World and Europe fear the others culture in case that culture, in unlikely circumstances, 'takes over' that country. It's fear- the ban of minarets, the ban of burkhas- it's fear, not hatred, and it's fear of the unknown, fear of change, paranoia almost. It's like in India, when Islam first arrived; Muslims feared Hindu culture and Hindus were upset about being subjegated to Islamic rule. Both cultures feared each other, but as we are seeing today, there's no country on the Earth like India where religions co exist as they do. That's why I like India, and it's cultural diversity.

If this post makes no sense, that's because its midnight.
 
Supreme said:
..., there's no country on the Earth like India where religions co exist as they do. That's why I like India, and it's cultural diversity.
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Lets swap our nationalities then ;D;D;D:lol:
Sorrymg: if that was facetious.
 
I've been to UK only a couple of times. But I hear there are Niqaabis and men in their Sunnat Attire walking in the streets.

What a pleasant thought.

The other day I went to go to the copy machine store, and I saw a Muslim brother from the Masjid riding on his bicycle. He rode up and shook my hand, and went on riding again. What a beautiful experience that was. Made my day really.
 
Rashad said:
The other day I went to go to the copy machine store, and I saw a Muslim brother from the Masjid riding on his bicycle. He rode up and shook my hand, and went on riding again. What a beautiful experience that was. Made my day really.
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Yes, definitely that would make anyone's day.:statisfie
 
Yes. I live in Hyderabad, and it's one of the Muslim dominant cities in India. In my neighbourhood there is a mosque every 0.5 km. Can you believe that? I'm proud to live here, in fact 95% of the people I know are Muslims (i.e. friends, neighbours and colleagues).;D
 
abdulmajid said:
Yes. I live in Hyderabad, and it's one of the Muslim dominant cities in India. In my neighbourhood there is a mosque every 0.5 km. Can you believe that? I'm proud to live here, in fact 95% of the people I know are Muslims (i.e. friends, neighbours and colleagues).;D
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I envy you brother, Masha'Allah.

How's internet connection though? :X Do you get disconnected often?
 
abdulmajid said:
In my neighbourhood there is a mosque every 0.5 km. Can you believe that? ...in fact 95% of the people I know are Muslims (i.e. friends, neighbours and colleagues).;D
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Despite here being such a majority of muslims and many mosques some people dont even say their obligatory prayers imsad
 
Legally Muslims are fairly well protected against persecution in Europe. In general they may for example freely built mosques, openly preach their religion and perform dawah, and anyone may convert to Islam. Also keep in mind that France is not really representative for European countries. A bit like Saudi Arabia is not representative for Muslim countries.

The problem for Muslims in Europe is not so much legally, but rather public perception of Islam, which often is hostile. In part this is because Islam is simply an orthodox religion, which is often frowned upon in an increasingly secular Europe. The same hostility usually exists towards Christian cults or religions like Scientology. Religions that are perceived as less legalistic and more individualistic like Buddhism do not suffer from this image problem. Governments also fear Islamic terrorism, which also puts pressure on Muslims I suppose, as they feel targeted by law enforcement.

By and large concerns about Islam doctrine specifically among non-Muslims revolve around different views on gender equality, gay rights and freedom of speech. Non-muslims will generally disagree strongly with the idea behind the hijab, that women must cover up for men. Rightly or wrongly they see it as a symbol of a patriarchal society where women are subjugated by men. On top of that many secularists believe that in some jobs people should not openly show their religious affiliation. Because of this there are often debates in Europe whether women who wear hijab should be allowed to teach in public schools or whether public servants who work 'front office' can wear a hijab. In some European countries there is also debate about whether children in schools should be allowed to wear headscarf's or not. There is also the occasional agitation about Muslim men refusing to, for example, shake hands with women or an Imam preaching against homosexuality.

Next to these 'doctrinal' differences there is also increasing social tension. Rapid muslim immigration has really changed some neighborhoods. Where there used to be 'European' bakeries on street corners you now have kebab-shops. In some neighborhoods Arabic is almost a dominant language, which apparently causes unease or even resentment among those Europeans who stay behind and who feel increasingly alienated from their own neighborhoods. To make matters worse immigrants from Muslim countries are often overrepresented in crime statistics, making them an easy target for demagogues who rail against immigration. When huge mosques get built in an area some people also start getting very uncomfortable.

So IMHO there are four sources for this hostility towards Islam:
- general hostility towards any kind of 'orthodox' interpretation of religion
- unease about Islamic positions on gender equality, homosexuality and blasphemy
- unease about social change in neighborhoods because of Muslim immigration
- law enforcement concern about violent jihad at home and abroad

Keep in mind that these observations are generalizations. As a non-Muslim it is obviously hard for me to tell you how this hostility affects Muslims in their daily lives. I'm sure others can shed more light on that matter.
 
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Supreme said:
Muslims in the EU are granted (for the most part) equal rights, and apart from the odd persecution, should be able to live their life like a non Muslim. On the whole, Muslims in Europe are treated far better than their counterparts in China, Russia and America. However, what we are seeing is a clash of cultures, the West and the Muslim world. Therefore, just as there are far right extremists groups that exist in the Middle East that try and prevent the Westernisation of the Middle East, such as Al Queda and others, so there are far right extremists in Europe trying to prevent the Islamification of European culture. Both are rational concerns; both the Islamic World and Europe fear the others culture in case that culture, in unlikely circumstances, 'takes over' that country. It's fear- the ban of minarets, the ban of burkhas- it's fear, not hatred, and it's fear of the unknown, fear of change, paranoia almost.
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Good analysis. I agree. People everywhere try and protect their culture. Sure, in Europe political theorists and statesmen have at one point decided to embrace liberalism and built in all kinds of constitutional guarantees. But that does not mean that cultural and social change no longer upsets normal people. It can and probably will still lead to a backlash or cause unrest. Conservative Muslims rail against Western influences in the Islamic world, while conservatives in Europe rail against Islamic influences.

It's like in India, when Islam first arrived; Muslims feared Hindu culture and Hindus were upset about being subjegated to Islamic rule. Both cultures feared each other, but as we are seeing today, there's no country on the Earth like India where religions co exist as they do. That's why I like India, and it's cultural diversity.
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Not to turn this into a thread about India. But I thought that lots of people die each year in India in all kinds of religious unrest? Much can be said about religious strife in Europe, but at least it rarely turns violent.
 
KAding said:
So IMHO there are four sources for this hostility towards Islam:
- general hostility towards any kind of 'orthodox' interpretation of religion
- unease about Islamic positions on gender equality, homosexuality and blasphemy
- unease about social change in neighborhoods because of Muslim immigration
- law enforcement concern about violent jihad at home and abroad

Keep in mind that these observations are generalizations. As a non-Muslim it is obviously hard for me to tell you how this hostility affects Muslims in their daily lives. I'm sure others can shed more light on that matter.
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I'll agree with that. Islam is completely orthodox, I've noticed some groups have tried to to take away 'violent' verses and meanings away like they've done with christianity to make it compatible, all lovey dovey and pacifist.

The thing is those parts of islam are never gonna be taken away and I don't see why it matters because it will never effect anyone in europe.
 
asak friends....im new to this...plz mk me feel at home
i wanted 2 learn more abt the new islamophobia brewing in france.fining 750 euros for wearing burqas in public..thts so mean...wat will do wid all dat money?? buy 2 nokia N900??
 
they'll use it to campaign against Muslims in some other fashion.. maybe ban prayer or fast or something!

:w:
 
JoshuaD said:
The is a discussion about European hostility to Muslims, the constitution of the USA therefore has absolutely no relevance.
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My comment was supplementary to Aadil's post. Perhaps if you'd follow the entire thread you wouldn't be so confused?


all the best!
 
In China, last Ramadan, in some province government banned mulims from fasting, anyone knew about it? However this post is irrelevant to this thread as this thread is dealing with the EU.
 
We Asian Muslims are actually afraid to go to EU when we heard about this issue... it's not like what had been implied in a country who promotes human rights and civilization like France (Fraternite, Egalite, Liberte)... even Muslims had been assumed as the threat to EU community while most of them are trying to seek diplomatic help from EU or seeking refuge in EU in the understanding that they can practice their life freely there.

I guess, many problems arise due to misunderstanding of other's point of culture and too many conspiracy theories being made by human themselves. They become too paranoid of it.

We in Asia are actually more open toward difference despite of many accusations being casted to us by western imperial power. myself for example, I had been living in Buddhists surrondings without any problem and we're from Hadhrami Arab ancestries. I also have Orthodox Jew friends from Bnei Tmeinan (Yemeni Jews) and Ashkhenazim and we contacting each other although our country have no diplomatic treaties among each other. we try to find points of similarity among us without losing respect on each other.