John P.

You haven’t asked me whether hijab is forced upon me or a voluntary choice? I’m a British citizen born and bred. I have the law to protect me. So ask me why I wear hijab? I can choose not to. Right? But I wear it? It’s called choice. My choice! Because I’m not blind to the wisdom behind it. If you fail to see it, that’s something you have to deal with. But don’t assume that we muslim women are forced to wear hijab.

Every person who defines freedom as the ability to flaunt yourself naked in front of strangers should realize that by doing that a woman isn’t empowering herself. She is a slave who is merely satisfying the lusts of people who wouldn’t otherwise give a toss about her. They are the ones who have power over her. It’s their sick desires she fulfills while emptying herself of self-respect. Is this freedom? Freedom no different to being able to throw yourself off a bridge when you wish.

John P –
You say the sexist woman could be in front of you and you wouldn’t attack her. Of course you wouldn’t. Women probably hand themselves on a plate to you. And if one doesn’t the next one will. You’re never hungry enough to attack.
You say your wife has a Masters? A job? It sounds as she had to have something for you to respect her. Would you give her the same respect if she were a homemaker and you the sole breadwinner. Sure you wouldn’t resent the fact that she does nothing but spend your hard earned cash? I know some non muslim men would. But a true muslim man feels proud to provide for his family.

You say muslim men have 100% more rights than women?
100% Really? Let’s separate fact from fiction. We’ll look at the authentic source of Islamic knowledge – The Quran & Hadith.
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them [al-Baqarah 2:228]

“but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis” [al-Baqarah 2:233]

What is expected from the wife in return? Nothing, except guarding his wealth, her chastity (his honour) in his absence, and obeying him where he is religiously right. She is neither required to cook, clean, or even nurse their offspring. But if she does, she will be rewarded. She’s the queen. She commands love respect and care. The fact that a man has degree of right over the woman does not lower her status. In fact her status is raised from a woman of other religions. The ‘modern women’ is expected to do everything that should be a man’s responsibility if she wants to be recognized an equal. I find that very sad and belittling for a woman. The woman was meant to be treated like a jewel. Not be made the breadwinner and turned into a money making machine. All it proves is that men whose wives have to work are incapable of fulfilling their family’s needs.

Muslim men beat their wives? Men can be evil can’t they? No matter what race, creed, colour they are from. There will always be weak pathetic lowlifes who raise their hand to a woman. That includes ignorant muslim men!

But let’s see which teachings of islam ignorant muslim men are missing:
He (God) it is who did create you from a single soul and therefrom did create his mate, that he might dwell with her (in love)…(Qur’an 7:189)

“And among His signs is this: That He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest, peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect.” (Qur’an 30:2 1).

The Qur’an states:
“…But consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing wherein God has placed much good.” (Qur’an 4: l9).

Prophet Muhammad. (P) said:
The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family.
The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives. (Ibn-Hanbal, No. 7396)

Behold, many women came to Muhammad’s wives complaining against their husbands (because they beat them) – - those (husbands) are not the best of you.

I’ve brought clear proof that islam does not condone ill-treatment of women in any way whatsoever. If you still want to believe what you want to believe, it’s up to you.
And please stop confusing what ignorant men do with Islam. Don’t talk about Human Rights Watch. It bears no testimony to Islamic teachings but culture and politics. I can guarantee you there are enough hostels full of beaten up non muslim women in the UK that will throw your misconceptions out the window. But muslims never say a Christian man beat up a woman. Rather we say ‘the man’ is wicked/evil for doing that. We never say a Catholic priest sexually abused a choirboy. We say a paedophile. We muslim don’t bring religion into people’s wrong and evils. No religion preaches wrong. But people from all religions can be bad when they don’t follow the teachings of that religion.

Lastly..

Deepak,

I’m amazed how I failed to notice your beautiful speech earlier. Truly uncalled for. I can also bring a lot of unacceptable practices from your faith, but I refuse to do that in order to make myself feel better. This is what islam teaches us – to not to give in to temptation for self-satisfaction.

Daz,

I know what you’re talking about and I apologize for the way those sickos have treated you. You are not the only one who is angry with them. We are too. They bring disrespect to our community and give our religion a bad name. I assure you if they followed Islam they would never behave like that. They are only born into the muslim faith but live by the thug culture. Drugs, alcohol and more. We are ashamed of them. You have the right to be angry. Please believe their behaviour and way of life is abhorred in Islam. I wish never to see them again.

Peace.

Deepak,

Perhaps you should also ask muslim women whether they are beaten and forced to wear hijab. Perhaps you should ask muslim reverts who forced them to wear hijab. Could it be that they did their own research on the matter and saw Islam as the beautiful religion it is? After all I’m sure you they accepted Islam from their own will. May be you’d like to dig a little deeper and you will see the Bible also tells women to cover their heads. Remember Christian women in Biblical times didn’t wear short skirts. They dressed modestly and when observing the dress code taught to them in the Bible they would also be covered like muslim women, complete with head scarves.

Bible – New International Version (©1984)
If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

And, please Deepak, allow me to enlighten you on the rulings of punishment for adultery in Islam. As you already know adultery is punishable by death. However, there are criteria to be met in order for that punishment to be carried out. 1. Confession from the adulterer. 2. Four eye-witnesses who actually see the act take place. Not kissing, not touching, but the actual act itself. What’s the possibility of that happening? Where stoning is happening without meeting the criteria set by Islamic law then they are transgressing the boundaries set by Allah, and this itself is a serious sin.

Secondly, it isn’t only islam that calls for severe punishment for adultery. The Bible and Torah do too.

(Leviticus 20:10) . . .“‘Now a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife is one who commits adultery with the wife of his fellowman. He should be put to death without fail, the adulterer and the adulteress as well. .

In fact the Quran further protects women by prescribing a punishment for men who falsely accuse chaste women of adultery.

024.004 And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-

I’d hate to think your comments rise from prejudiced views of Islam and not from real study of this beautiful religion. Islam is a complete way of life. It’s not just about worshipping God, but divine instruction on how to conduct ourselves in the best manner is all aspects of life on earth. It truly saddens me to know there are people who haven’t discovered this beautiful way of life, and probably never will.

Peace.

que allah les protege

niiiiiice pic i looooooove it <3 <3

And moslim women: NOt interested in beiing sexy? Riiiiight. In the lingerie stores in my hometown Oslo (25% muslims) the girls you will most likely bump into in the most outrageously sexy stores are young/unmarried/often veiled muslim girls. I guess they use sexy lingerie to express their sexual nature in SOME way.

But what really p… me off, is the fact that the lack of a veil is seen as a right by many adult moslim men to harass any woman not wearing it. At the same time you will note that western men manage to respect women wearing one or not. I have never been disrespected by a western man. But in predominantly christian Norway, moslem men have spat on me for not wearing one, called me a whore, groped me, etc… What is really is; an excuse for moslim men not to develop normal control of their own libidos. In 2009 the official statistic shows that all assault rapes in Oslo were carried out by moslim men on western women.
So my conclusion is that more than protecting women, the veil is a control mechanism that gives the men the right to demean anyone who doesn’t conform. So there is the the RESPECT you claim to have. And the most brilliant thing of all: They have actually convinced the women it is for their benefit. If it wasn’t so tragic, I would cry.

As for “god/allah/Jahve. Why did he ignore the salvation of millions of humans and suddenly appear 2000/1400 years ago? Surely an omnipotent creature would care for the salvation of stone age people as well? Since he didn’t, does that mean he is intentionally cruel, or perhaps a hint of his non-existence.

• As a biologist you should know that only creatures like jellyfish, starfish and sponges lack brains. So the fact that you have a brain controlling your central nervous system does NOT differentiate you from the animals. What then? Consciousness? No, animals have that also. Language? No, animals communicate with both verbal and non-verbal signals. Dreams? My dogs have dreams. So, please define EXACTLY what makes you different from the animals?
• Ahhh. God told you that you are different! Well, he didn’t tell YOU, right? I mean, he told some guy thousands of years ago, and he told someone, and he told someone, etc. Now you are 100% certain of the truth, even though as a scientist you can not validate this truth with any evidence.
• You do realize that societies existed before God’s word was laid down in the Koran, or the Bible, right? And that those modern human societies survived just fine? American Indians, for example, didn’t believe in God – and they weren’t running around having wild orgies. Indeed, God is not a prerequisite for a civil society. Humans are capable of self-governance in the absence of a supreme deity.
• Indeed it is YOUR choice to dress as you wish! And I would fight and die to protect your freedom to do so! I also cherish my freedom to think freely and speak about how my belief differs from yours. And the fact that I do indeed say exactly what I think right here on my blog – publicly and with complete transparency – makes me wonder why you would, “…bet you won’t blatantly express your prejudices in public…” Come now, do you really think I wouldn’t say exactly the same things to your face? That is much easier…
• Circling back around to the actual point of this discussion thread, and piggybacking on my previous point, freedom is exactly what this is all about. You choose to subscribe to a belief system which defines you as a second class citizen. Your belief system says that you are not as good as me in the eyes of God. I “accept” that you are the way you are, but you can not ask me not to criticize things that are fundamentally in opposition to my core value system.

Sincerely,

Grand Wizard John P.

Every single answer here has focused on accusing men of being “lustful” and turning women into “sex objects”. Well guess what ladies! That is exactly what you are! (Everyone is!!!)

Humans were made to have sex. Biologically speaking it’s how the species procreates. You’re trying to take something natural and turn it into something dirty. Furthermore, you’re acting as if the women behind the burka never look at men and “lust” after them. Bullshit!

You go right ahead living a double standard and treating yourselves as less than equals. It does me no harm. But I feel sorry for you because you are blind to your own hypocrisy.

John P

BRAVO To fsalim, mushtaq, zara and afaf…your brilliant responses have surely silenced the likes of john and the sara’s of this world

Now you are comparing yourselves with Iran WOW thought that you are the democratie one and the most open-minded

respect the sexy women or drooling? what about muslim women? not a bit of lust, right?

at least i’m a muslim, wearing burqa and i’m not an object of sex.

thank to God.

goodluck to you and him

I am amazed yet very appreciating of what you have said, I am a christian Women, i too am educated with a triple degree in various fields, many of my friends and community represents a majority of muslims, and though at times i am truely offended by their belief i also wish they would think beyond their quran, beliefs and religon, we do, so you would assume they would want to also. We live in a christian nation yet we allow them to dress in the way they chose and pray in their mosque you would want them to respect what you also have to say. France has its own ways and we do too at times i wish we would follow the french men and put a stop to burqa and scarfs only because that separation is drastic and does cause many forms of conflict, their own men and women abuse thier religion if we were to focus on the armed robberies and the fact the offender wore the burqa, scarf, abeye. in regards to hiding behind a mask well there you go how could you trust without being able to see the complete face, the emotion the movement, isn’t that what makes us unique isnt that what allows us to feel comforatble when we are socialising, so yes to us its hiding and to them its religion but they do need to consider our feelings as we consider them when we are serving a covered women in a supermarket not knowing what her face may look like and whether she has the capability of stealing or what not. I DO NOT intend to say all muslims are criminals infact it is not always muslims commiting a crime it is teh telescope placed on the community and it does not always mean a muslim when that telescope is being used they do say middle eastern, oh and i am of lebanese decent also. My main concern is that they judge us, they praise pictures as the one above but what really and truely offends me is the fact that because we are showing flesh it has to immedialty mean that we want attention, the difference between me and a scarfed women is i love to dress and i love my fashion and i can WEAR it without being spoken abotu isnt that the entire point of covering up, what tehy do not realise is that they cover up for tehir own men as our men do not feel the need to think sexually when they see the arm and they do not think or objectifying us and do not wish to rape us do i need to remind you about the bilal scaf situation it was not a christian that did so but a muslim or a few muslims and as a defence lawyer i STILL try to defend his actions so do not assume i am putting down islam. I feel that hatred and offensinve behaviour is not from the other cultures but from the islamic community, they assume the hatred upon them and as a result discussions get out of hand, as a christian i do not appreciate a muslim saying that i will nto enter heaven, and i do not appreciate the suggestion that showing flesh indicates iam a slut or crave teh attention and i certainly do not appreciate the hypocricy, Majority of my muslim friends who wear the abeye and scarf wish they could be in my shoes and my short dresses even for a day, they wish they could style their hair and walk out and not for the reason of attention or sexual purpose but for freedom but becuase their religion and community are unaccepting of trends and 2010 culture they do not have the ability to do so without being spoekn about, shamed or judged by their OWN religion, If they were to do that and walk down the street then i can assure everyone here that they will not be rapped, judged by a non muslim or threatened. Many ALAWI commnity members drink, dance, and do not wear the scarf and are very accepting of teh australian culture and christians yet for being so contemporary tehya re shamed by sunni believers and rejected as being apart of islam if not slaughtered for their belief, what does that say about the islamic belief that they kill their own becuase they chose to be a little contemporary now shame on you. To finalise i agree with John and i strongly appreciate comment because it brought light to the truth behind our opinions, as for the picture above i do not wish to see the lovely family in our beaches like that build a pool in your backyard, i do not wish to hear that NSW has a muslim beach when its a beach for all whether its only women using it or not, you wnat to swim in your burqa and abeye then sorry do so in your own backyard something about that picture makes me feel as if i am suffocating how could you swim in all of that without feeling heavy and pressure why would you allow your wife teh mother of your children to do so ? do you not see the danger in it? also their is thousands of women on the beach what a man is going to chose your wife and only your wife to perve at come on we are in 2010 lighten up you are living in australia a multicultural country and you are allowed to dress in your own way if i was to go to IRAN what will happen to me if i was to wear my jeans and singlet and no scarf GIVE ME A BREAK respect us and our nation as we would in yours.

APPRECIATE

Sam.