Gransnet forums

News & politics

Is Islamophobia In Europe A Growing Concern?

(400 Posts)
Anniel Fri 10-May-24 22:53:56

I have noted that those people who are worried about the influence of the Muslim faith in Western Democracies are often referred to as Racist and ignorant people who should be sneered at or ignored.
Recently we had the thread about Katherine Birblsingh’s court case about the right of Muslims to pray at schoool. Denmark and Sweden are now worried about Muslim influence. Today I read an article in the Spectator, which is generally on the right as the New Statesman is on the left.
This article is about France politics but I found it interesting.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/france-is-waking-up-to-the-threat-of-the-muslim-brotherhood-is-britain/.

If this does not work and is behind a paywall I will try again. Responses will be interesting.

foxie48 Thu 16-May-24 17:52:16

We had a man who did a lot of work for a club my daughter belonged to. I knew him well, his wife often helped too, they didn't have children and he had a very respectable job. He was sent to prison for quite a long time for paedophilia and his crimes were really very serious. We none of us know what is going on in other people's heads do we?

Wyllow3 Thu 16-May-24 18:17:45

Perhaps neighbours/community did suspect, perhaps they didn't- we don't have any information on that.

(The charge was she failed to disclose information on her son after having failed to persuade him to back off).

news.sky.com/story/mother-facing-jail-for-failing-to-tell-police-about-sons-involvement-in-plot-to-bomb-london-13135831

It could have been reported in as suspicious by those knowing the family.

"The truth is appearances can be deceptive". Indeed, of a whole number of crimes.

Wyllow3 Thu 16-May-24 21:53:51

Actually if you read the second half of the Sky news report it shows a pattern of isolation except for the appalling terror ideas on social media so easily accessed, combined with some inadequate and isolated mother and son.

It's good that that anti terror forces caught the London man behind the radicalisation of the young man before he escaped.

But far from being "integrated" and not part of a "community".

maddyone Thu 16-May-24 22:48:26

Another post deleted!
Wow, there seems to be a lot of intolerance of the views of the others.

Dickens Fri 17-May-24 00:33:05

GrannyRose15

Dickens

Any fundamentalist of any creed or religion is a concern - those that hijack the doctrine for their own agenda.

Are there peaceful Muslims living in Europe who don't want or plan to 'take it over'? Of course there are. We have one such family in our street, integrated into our way of life and active in the local community like other families with children.

I think what concerns people is the frequent reports in the media after an 'incident' or a knife attack, that the perpetrator is known to the police. Which implies that there's individuals roaming around with radical ideas just being left to get on with it.

I don't know what the answer is - tarring all Muslims with the same brush certainly isn't one of them, but neither is ignoring the fact that there are those who hate the 'West' and our 'infidel' way of life.

I know they exist because I came up against one years ago on a social media site who made no bones about it - it was a deeply unpleasant experience. Especially as his comments - subtle though they were, got a huge amount of "likes".

Perhaps the people living next door to the Muslim mother this week convicted of terrorist offences thought they were a peaceful family fully integrated into the community. The truth is appearances can be deceptive.

Perhaps the people living next door to the Muslim mother this week convicted of terrorist offences thought they were a peaceful family fully integrated into the community.

Quite possible.

The truth is appearances can be deceptive.

That has always been so. About a lot of people.

... but I'm not sure what point you are making - other than the obvious one.

Do you think then that all Muslim mothers / families are suspect, incapable of integrating?

nanna8 Fri 17-May-24 05:44:06

That mob who are harassing uni students and shoving them around, flying Palestinian flags have lost me. They should be evicted and punished. They have totally disrupted the whole uni and the Jewish students are afraid to walk around because of the abuse. If they want support they are going the wrong way about it.

Vintagewhine Fri 17-May-24 07:18:08

maddyone

Another post deleted!
Wow, there seems to be a lot of intolerance of the views of the others.

I've never asked for a post to be deleted but I assume they only delete if they think it's offended the guidelines not just because it's been reported.

Katie590 Fri 17-May-24 07:37:44

Vintagewhine

maddyone

Another post deleted!
Wow, there seems to be a lot of intolerance of the views of the others.

I've never asked for a post to be deleted but I assume they only delete if they think it's offended the guidelines not just because it's been reported.

Any criticism of Islam gets a post deleted it seems that has been extended to criticism of Hamas.

My opinions on Gaza are close to UK, US and most other western governments, I want Israel to reduce the civilian deaths in Gaza. Palestinians elected Hamas who attacked and deliberately provoked Israel, death of civilians was inevitable so its Hamas that should be accused of genocide.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 17-May-24 08:19:48

Hamas definitely instigated this episode of violence by their actions on 7/10/23. If they hadn’t carried out the heinous crimes that day, Israel would not be targeting the cowardly Hamas now (cowards hide behind innocent civilians).

Before posters come back with but do you know the history, blah blah blah yes I do!

zakouma66 Fri 17-May-24 08:50:41

I have never asked for posts to be deleted. I prefer it them to be seen in all their glory.

I daresay the situation in Gaza/ Israel is a lot more complex than we realise.

If Hamas is totally embedded, how are ordinary people supposed to exist away from it?

Its just so desperately sad all round.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 17-May-24 08:59:38

It’s just so desperately sad all round

Zakouma66 totally agree.

zakouma66 Fri 17-May-24 09:08:15

Honestly, I can feel the tears coming. How have we ended up like this hating each other, killing babies and families?

Anyway, better move along with my day somehow.

fancythat Fri 17-May-24 09:31:29

I have never asked for posts to be deleted. I prefer it them to be seen in all their glory.

I am pretty sure I have never asked for a post to be deleted either.

I dont report anyone for hate speech either.

maddyone Fri 17-May-24 10:16:11

Somebody is asking for posts to be deleted. It’s not me. It stifles discussion.

Wyllow3 Fri 17-May-24 10:36:57

nanna8

That mob who are harassing uni students and shoving them around, flying Palestinian flags have lost me. They should be evicted and punished. They have totally disrupted the whole uni and the Jewish students are afraid to walk around because of the abuse. If they want support they are going the wrong way about it.

About the nature of demonstrations (well, in this case).

Locally we have a more or less weekly silent vigil which has home made posters and flags not allowed
Huge crowds that have aggressive/offensive parts don't imo win hearts and minds.

The trouble is that is what often gets the publicity. You dont see lots of footage of the quiet bits of a large march often.

I think the tents should be evicted but not the punishment - you just make "martyrs".

Dickens Fri 17-May-24 11:25:02

maddyone

Somebody is asking for posts to be deleted. It’s not me. It stifles discussion.

... maybe there's more than one poster?

Just guesswork, could be wrong. I've absolutely no idea who might be demanding deletions.

I assume if a post breaks GNHQ rules-of-engagement then it might be deleted via someone (that elusive 'someone') reporting it. But I think GN allows pretty robust debate, so what one person might believe is 'reportable', another won't.

I have only once reported a post (and later discovered others had, too) during the however-many-years I've been on GN. It was a post personally attacking another member - totally unrelated to the issue under discussion - just personally abusive.

What I believe happened is that a legitimate member allowed one of their friends to make a comment via their account in 'support' of said member's POV.

... I agree with you - deleting posts stifles discussion. I think most of us are long-in-the-tooth and able to handle disagreement - even if it is 'robust'. This is a matter that heightens emotions and it would be surprising if it didn't cause disagreement.

nanna8 Fri 17-May-24 12:28:16

I thought they only removed posts for personal attacks or if it was that dreadful spam stuff we’ve been getting. Not just for an opinion. Maybe also for obscenities.

Oreo Fri 17-May-24 12:29:02

zakouma66

Honestly, I can feel the tears coming. How have we ended up like this hating each other, killing babies and families?

Anyway, better move along with my day somehow.

It’s terrible but happens in any war or conflict.If Hamas were not so hate filled about Jews and hadn’t invaded and horribly murdered babies and families then all this wouldn’t have happened would it?
The hating and killing has always gone on, is going on and will go on in the future.

Glorianny Fri 17-May-24 12:39:10

nanna8

That mob who are harassing uni students and shoving them around, flying Palestinian flags have lost me. They should be evicted and punished. They have totally disrupted the whole uni and the Jewish students are afraid to walk around because of the abuse. If they want support they are going the wrong way about it.

Not all Jewish students are afraid and some are actively supporting the occupation of university buildings and the movement's demands that UK universities sever ties with Israel until there is a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, students at The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) are calling for their university to cut associations with businesses that fund military weapons as well as sever ties with Haifa University in Israel.

A spokesperson for SOAS said protests could take place "as long as it remains peaceful" and it was "committed to divesting" from any company that "breaks the principles of its ethical investment policy".

The SOAS Jewish Society said in a social media post that it stood "shoulder to shoulder with our classmates and colleagues at the SOAS Liberated Zone for Gaza"

Edward Isaacs, the Union of Jewish Students' president, said: "When the speech becomes unlawful and when there is an environment on campus which becomes toxic and hateful for Jewish students, then that [should be] stamped out because Jewish students deserve to be able to study safely and feel included on campus.
He didn't say he felt harassed.

Iam64 Sat 18-May-24 08:37:04

Positively re-framing the accurate suggestion that many Jewish students feel harassed or scared, by pointing out some support the occupation of university buildings in the hope of a ceasefire is an unsurprising response from Glorianny. It’s the ongoing sanitisation, justification of focussing anger and criticism on ‘one side only’ in this dreadful war

Grantanow Sat 18-May-24 13:23:48

In the past we in the UK could often be unaware of or ignore violent events in far off countries of which we knew little but access to 24 hour TV and social media have changed that so now we see these conflicts spilling over into our society, partly via the media and partly because of immigration.

Wyllow3 Sat 18-May-24 13:59:01

Grantanow

In the past we in the UK could often be unaware of or ignore violent events in far off countries of which we knew little but access to 24 hour TV and social media have changed that so now we see these conflicts spilling over into our society, partly via the media and partly because of immigration.

Provision of many services in our country couldn't function without the people who have come as immigrants over the last 20 years or so.

Iam64 Sat 18-May-24 19:46:56

Additionally, immigration opens the eyes of those who are prepared to consider other views

Allsorts Mon 20-May-24 12:57:20

We are all entitled to our own views, just as anyone entitled to disagree, it called debate w3 are not a police state.