Is Islamophobia In Europe A Growing Concern?

I do wonder if people who perpetuate this myth of the suppressed Muslim woman have actually mixed with any lately.

They are running the show in many cases!

I think we can't treat any demographic as a homogeneous mass, they will be as varied as any other ethnicity, if you take Jews for example, the Orthodox live in a more closed environment than say Reformed Jews who don't adhere to some of the strictures of their religion. So is the case with Muslims, Christians, they may loosely describe themselves as such, it's their cultural identity but that's as far as it goes in many cases.

I think the problem is, when any group of people don't want to assimilate or fight against the way of life of the country they have chosen to settle in, even more so should their brand of religion be a proselytizing one where the overall objectives are in conflict with ideals that we in the west believe in. Equality between the sexes and respecting same sex partnerships are both fundamental core beliefs, we can't go back to a time when those didn't exist. There are some Muslim countries that have regimes that are absolutely abhorrent why would we want to import any of that here to the west. Someone mentioned up thread that firebrand Christians can also be threatening, well yes they can, but they are somewhat thin on the ground here and don't have the captive audience that they would in say some of the southern states of the US, I tend to think we are more secular than America. In any case, my opinion is that countries who have too much interference from theocracies whatever their persuasion tend to be backward and given most are patriarchal do nothing to further the cause of women, at the worst they seek to suppress them, indeed some Muslim countries and states are living the medieval life.

I do worry that we are becoming more intolerant as a society, for example the number of speakers that are no platformed at universities now is disquieting, are these not places where debate should take place. Into that mix we have so many Jewish students who now have to worry that their name or appearance will denote their Jewishness and make them a target of hate. For them it's not enough to just be neutral they have to affirm their political beliefs are in tune with the groundswell movement that seems to have taken over.

People confuse religion with politics, they are not the same. Most conflict is about power and politicians use religion to justify their actions. Just look at what Modi is doing in India, China is doing to Muslim minorities, the abuse of Muslims in Myanmar etc Lots of examples of religious minorities being abused but these are ignored. Why? Islamphobia pure and simple.

The thread is “Islamophobia” a growing concern in Europe.
Yes, that’s hardly surprising we have a constant stream of news features with Muslims involved in violence, of course it affects how we see Muslims in this country or any country in Europe.

Not one of the countries I mentioned up thread is democratic, they are mostly military dictatorships some religious dictatorships, they all use extreme violence to control their own terrorists.

As for integration, I said “most” dont and I would bet that more than half Muslims don’t socialize outside their own community - can any of you disprove that?.

Exactly! Muslims from, for example, the poorer areas of Bangladesh have a very different culture from Muslims from Cairo or Khartoum.

Precisely *growstuff^.

I have a Muslim FB friend, very young, who's just finished at university. He would love to come to the UK. When I asked him why (we PM each other over other interests in common) he said something along the lines of the UK being a country where you could, as an individual get a job according to your talents, and get on in life. And he has little interest in politics either other than voting out his own politicians who he believes are corrupt. He thinks the 'Western world' is an advanced world.

Muslims really do not all think alike - which is true of the rest of us.

I agree too, growstuff and Ilovecheese.

Callistemon21

Cossy

Katie590

Because few Muslim's integrate it’s bound to cause problems, nothing that is happening across the globe gives the impression that Muslims are not a threat.

For a religion that claims to be peaceful they are doing a pretty good job of doing the opposite.

You say that but I know at least two Muslims married to British people. I’ve worked with many, I’ve socialised with them. I don’t really understand what you mean?

I don't think that's true, Katie59.

It is more cultural and education than religious.
There are as many different types of people of Muslim faith as anyone else.

Exactly! Muslims from, for example, the poorer areas of Bangladesh have a very different culture from Muslims from Cairo or Khartoum.

growstuff

I think this thread is evidence that Islamophobia is alive and kicking on GN.

I agree.

Katie590

MaizieD

They are not trying to impose their world view on the world at large by violence and intimidation.

They are not trying to impose Islam on the world by violence and intimidation. They are protesting about a specific situation.

But, as there are already threads on here about what they are protesting (mostly non violently) about, let's not go down that rabbit hole here.

Come on Maisie the whole Middle East is a war zone, mostly different factions of Muslims fighting each other, internal terrorism and international is rife. Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi, plus most of Sub Saharan Africa.

Anyone who does not realize needs to take their blinkers off.

None of which is evidence that Muslims want to take over the world. The country with the largest number of Muslims is Indonesia.

Sorry, Katie590
I must have mixed you up with another poster with a similar name.

Apologies.

Cossy

Katie590

Because few Muslim's integrate it’s bound to cause problems, nothing that is happening across the globe gives the impression that Muslims are not a threat.

For a religion that claims to be peaceful they are doing a pretty good job of doing the opposite.

You say that but I know at least two Muslims married to British people. I’ve worked with many, I’ve socialised with them. I don’t really understand what you mean?

I don't think that's true, Katie59.

It is more cultural and education than religious.
There are as many different types of people of Muslim faith as anyone else.

MaizieD

^They are not trying to impose their world view on the world at large by violence and intimidation.^

They are not trying to impose Islam on the world by violence and intimidation. They are protesting about a specific situation.

But, as there are already threads on here about what they are protesting (mostly non violently) about, let's not go down that rabbit hole here.

Come on Maisie the whole Middle East is a war zone, mostly different factions of Muslims fighting each other, internal terrorism and international is rife. Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi, plus most of Sub Saharan Africa.

Anyone who does not realize needs to take their blinkers off.

Katie590

Because few Muslim's integrate it’s bound to cause problems, nothing that is happening across the globe gives the impression that Muslims are not a threat.

For a religion that claims to be peaceful they are doing a pretty good job of doing the opposite.

You say that but I know at least two Muslims married to British people. I’ve worked with many, I’ve socialised with them. I don’t really understand what you mean?

I think this thread is evidence that Islamophobia is alive and kicking on GN.

They are not trying to impose their world view on the world at large by violence and intimidation.

They are not trying to impose Islam on the world by violence and intimidation. They are protesting about a specific situation.

But, as there are already threads on here about what they are protesting (mostly non violently) about, let's not go down that rabbit hole here.

Katie590

Because few Muslim's integrate it’s bound to cause problems, nothing that is happening across the globe gives the impression that Muslims are not a threat.

For a religion that claims to be peaceful they are doing a pretty good job of doing the opposite.

That is absolutely not true! I know many Muslims who have "integrated".

zakouma66

I think some fundamental Christians are pretty scarey.

But they are not holding huge protests in cities and on univerity campuses in the UK and the USA. Their presence anywhere does not make Jewish or any other religious groups feel unsafe. They are not trying to impose their world view on the world at large by violence and intimidation.

Where is your evidence for this UK wise?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/12/mainstream-british-muslims-failed-by-toxic-representatives/

Because few Muslim's integrate it’s bound to cause problems, nothing that is happening across the globe gives the impression that Muslims are not a threat.

For a religion that claims to be peaceful they are doing a pretty good job of doing the opposite.

Well said Dickens.

nanna8

I think anti Semitism and anti Christianity is even more worrying. Very real and definitely increasing.

I believe anti Semitism is a separate matter from anti-Christianity. Considering how the Jewish people have been persecuted throughout the ages.

What do you mean by anti Christianity anyway? I'm an atheist, but I'm not 'anti Christian', far from it. Do you mean people turning-away-from-God?

What is the under lying cause of all sectarianism?

There are people from different faiths and creeds working together harmoniously- I mentioned one such the other day, a Muslim and a Jew jointly running a successful company (for many years). My Jewish half-brother has a best friend who is a Muslim. This is not really unusual, and they are not unique.

So what is it that divides people and makes them adopt an agenda of distrust, persecution and hate?

IMO, it is ignorance - and that is a contentious thing to say because someone will inevitably suggest that I'm accusing a group of people of being ignorant because they don't agree with me.

But I'm not - what I'm suggesting is that ignorance - in the wider sense of the word - of history, world events, facts - is the cause of much of the schisms. And in fact, I have also been guilty of such ignorance through pronouncing on matters of which I have insufficient knowledge to make an informed judgment.

... this might even be one of those matters. But, I do believe that poverty, lack of education, lack of opportunity, personal growth, affect people and help to inform their thinking.

Anyway, I'll stop now as I'm in danger of writing a flippin' thesis which I'm in no way qualified to do.

maddyone

zakouma66

I think some fundamental Christians are pretty scarey.

In America maybe, but not here in the UK.

I’m afraid I find this comment to be what aboutary and therefore unhelpful.

Absolutely agree .

Cossy

Btw your use of the word Islamophobia in your heading directly contradicts the content.

Yes, it is confusing.

My eldest son thinks there is something to be said for Sharia law, his brothers of course disagree with him

nanna8

I think anti Semitism and anti Christianity is even more worrying. Very real and definitely increasing.

This