March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
31
News Every Day |

When confronted with Islamophobia head on, I chose to react calmly

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 12: Demonstrators protesting over media blackout for Chapel Hill shootings that killed three Muslims in North Carolina, USA, outside BBC Broadcasting House in central London, England on February 12, 2015. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Religious ignorance is all too common nowadays (Picture: Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

While volunteering on the Islamic Society’s stall during my university’s Freshers’ week a few years ago, I noticed a middle-aged man dawdling through the courtyard.

I could already see the frown lines forming on his face as he approached the stall. He picked up a leaflet from the table and feigned interest as he flicked through the glossy pages.

After a few seconds of awkward stares, he mustered up the courage to utter a few words: ‘What do you think of Osama Bin Laden?’ I let out a weak laugh. I had to admire his audacity.

‘I guess I thought he was a bad man?’ I responded. He shot back that someone else told him they believed the late terrorist group leader was their ‘brother in Islam’.

He got progressively angrier as he spoke. He ended abruptly, almost on cue, like a comedian awaiting a roar of laughter after delivering the punchline.

Religious ignorance is all too common nowadays, so while I was taken aback by his brashness, I was far from surprised that his first instinct was to associate Islam with a world-renowned terrorist.

The man then began a bold inquisition. He asked a lot – about the call to prayer, rights of non-Muslims in Islam, halal meat and women’s rights.

It was clear that he harboured a vehement dislike towards Islamic values. Yet, from his incessant questioning it was evident that he was also hungry to learn.

There were countless occasions where his perceptions of Islamic values were wholly inaccurate.

For example, he believed Muslims held a deeply entrenched opposition towards non-Muslims, so my fellow Islamic Society members and I spoke of fundamental verses in the Quran that encourage coexistence.

We also cleared up his misconceptions on the concept of Halal meat – a practice that he believed was cruel and undignified. We told him that the process embodies not only the method of killing animals but also the guarantee of humane treatment while they are alive.

On correcting his misbeliefs, he expressed no annoyance or animosity – he appeared almost relieved. I wasn’t insulted by his queries. None of us were. The six of us introduced ourselves in turn, offering a friendly handshake and a smile.

This was probably the first and only time someone had approached us that day to ask such candid questions about our faith.

But the man’s line of thinking is a symptom of a wider problem. When people rarely interact with individuals from different faiths, their views remain unchallenged.

Speak to someone well versed in the faith, contact a mosque, an Imam, a Muslim friend – then form your opinions

Throughout this entire ordeal, I felt proud. A group of Muslims were conversing with a potentially hostile non-Muslim peacefully. A conversation that easily could have taken a sinister turn remained pleasant with unwavering curiosity and will to understand each other.

It was this incident that made me realise that unwinding years’ worth of fear and unease can begin with something as simple as a conversation.

Talking may not be the ultimate fix to a world plagued with bigotry and anti-Islamic sentiments, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Many British Muslims are all too familiar with Islamophobia. Muslim adults are the most likely to be a victim of religiously motivated hate crime, and more than a third of Britons believe that Islam is a threat to the British way of life.

Furthermore, Islamophobic attacks have surged in recent years, especially in the light of the EU referendum – with a 475% increase immediately after 23 June 2016, reportedly fuelled by a number of far-right supporters. Similarly, the week after the New Zealand Christchurch attack, there was a 692% rise in Islamophobic incidents.

These deplorable attacks were committed by people who most likely were driven by ignorance – a complete unwillingness to learn about a seemingly alien faith. And of course, as humans we fear that which we cannot understand. We subsequently develop a fervent hostility for the matter, and so the cycle continues.

We have to be able to break this vicious circle; to foster environments in which we can ask questions about different faiths without being labelled as foolish, and be able to address any queries with an open mind and a patient attitude.

I understand that my experience with Islam may differ vastly from others’. I accept that I will inevitably come across many more who are fiercely opposed to my faith, values and beliefs. But I also believe that we can live side by side despite our immense differences.

For those non-Muslims who associate Islam with terrorism, violence or oppression – using uncontextualised passages from the Quran to reinforce what they think Islam is – I say that we’re all free to have our own views. But I beg, please do your research before ardently expressing them.

Speak to someone well versed in the faith. Contact a mosque, an Imam, a Muslim friend – then form your opinions.

I find that our approach to others’ ignorance can often say more about ourselves than it can about anyone else. If the man who approached us so bluntly was to be met with outrage and hostility, we wouldn’t have reached the state of serenity that we did.

The person we reasoned with walked away from us with a newfound knowledge of Islam. He was finally able to separate fact from fiction.

We may not have reached allyship – but we were no longer enemies. We practiced what we preached; peace, respect and coexistence – and it benefitted us all.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing james.besanvalle@metro.co.uk 

Share your views in the comments below

MORE : How Muslims are challenging Islamophobia by refusing to condemn terrorism

MORE : The Labour Party has a problem with Islamophobia and needs to tackle it head on

MORE : There is no one way to be a Muslim woman – so stop comparing us

Москва

Что известно о продлении нацпроекта «Туризм и индустрия гостеприимства»?

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

Ria.city






Read also

Israel Hits Syria in Heaviest Strikes on Iran Proxies in Months, Says It Killed Hezbollah Commander in Lebanon

Chiefs' Andy Reid impresses with perfect ceremonial first pitch at Royals' Opening Day

Goulamirian-Ramirez style clash will deliver says Abel Sanchez and Malik Scott

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Российская теннисистка Калинская покинула WTA-1000 из-за проблем со здоровьем



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Sitronics Group рассказала о достижениях компании в области корпоративного спорта



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Sitronics Group рассказала о достижениях компании в области корпоративного спорта


Новости России

Game News

Пробный запуск вампирского градостроя Vampire Legacy: City Builder


Russian.city


ЦСКА

В хоккейном ЦСКА сменился главный тренер


Губернаторы России
Спартак

Metaratings: "Спартак" может уволить Абаскаля по ходу сезона, клуб ищет тренера


Мамиашвили о позиции МОК по Играм дружбы: оттуда, где хорошо, не бегут

СК запросил арест девятого фигуранта дела о теракте в «Крокус Сити Холле»

Metaratings: "Спартак" может уволить Абаскаля по ходу сезона, клуб ищет тренера

Заказать недорогой ремонт шкафов купе в Москве и Московской области


Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

На ЧЭРЗ приступили к реорганизации производственной площадки

Розенбаум исполнил «Вечернюю застольную» в память о жертвах теракта в «Крокусе»

Джиган откровенно рассказал, почему начал худеть, и раскрыл свой максимальный вес


Рыбакина о том, что не играла в Индиан-Уэллс из-за болезни: «К сожалению, восстановление заняло много времени»

Александрова впервые войдет в топ-15 мирового рейтинга

«Бомж» Дарья передает всем привет»: Касаткина ответила на слова Винер

Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами



Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Архитектурные доминанты округов Москвы

«Радио Зенит» – информационный партнер форума «Мы вместе. Спорт»

Пассажир рейса Москва — Пермь попал в реанимацию


Всем по местам: в России назвали топ благополучных регионов

Браво! Солистки Бурятского театра оперы и балета стали победителями театральной премии

Самые популярные туристические маршруты России: на автомобиле

Тариф – Большой Концертный Тур. Организация серии больших концертов.


Милана Буш проведет ритуал на деньги, удачу и защиту в коридор затмений

Единственная женщина-оператор котельной Химок рассказала о своей работе

Большинство торговых точек Москвы нарушают закон о продаже вейпов

Тема дня: В РФ на комплексную модернизацию центров занятости направят 5,2 млрд рублей в 2025 году



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Семён Слепаков

Shot: комик Семен Слепаков решил ликвидировать ИП в России



News Every Day

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости