Amreeka is sooo horrible for Muslims right?

dhj786 · October 3, 2009, 11:42pm

Muslim nations could learn a lot from the US.
By Merve Kavakci

from the September 28, 2009 edition

Washington - This summer Muslims were murdered in Holland, Germany, and Belgium – four victims of hate crimes.

These murders are just the latest examples of Islamaphobia coming out of Europe. But Europe is not the only place intolerant of its Muslim citizens. Even in some Muslim countries, expression of religion is often perceived as a threat to the secular state.

One of the best places for a Muslim to live is the United States. In a lot of ways, conditions are better here than almost anywhere. As a Muslim not permitted to wear my head covering as a politician in my home country, Turkey, I know.

Think about it: In Turkey, where the vast majority of the population is Muslim, you will not find a lawyer with a beard or a student at a university wearing a head scarf, but you can find plenty in New York City. In Tunisia, you won’t see a religiously dressed physician at university hospitals – but you can in Alabama.

In the majority of Muslim countries the government is an intrusive enterprise with eyes and ears everywhere. The result is bleak. Countries reward only sycophants of the “divine” state. Muslims feel stifled by the encroachments of the establishment and lack of religious tolerance. If a man or a woman wanted to organize a protest against the government to gain the right to practice their religion more openly or be politically active against the status quo, may God help him to escape from the wrath of the state.

Many Muslim countries promote homogeneity while their citizens yearn for a right to diversity, which will give them the ability to practice their religious rituals freely.

In America, on the other hand, doors open to accommodate people’s religious beliefs. And that, along with citizenship rights and the opportunity to exercise the freedom to practice Islam day in and day out, is what makes the US so good for the millions of Muslims here.

American Muslim women can engage in any sport they choose wearing their religious garment – unlike in France and Italy where Islamic-approved swimsuits, and therefore Muslim women, are not welcome in the pools.

The White House and universities alike host iftars to celebrate Muslims’ holy month of fasting. Elementary school students can attend Friday prayers without having to worry about absentee records.

These small but significant examples of freedoms attest to the country’s sine qua non of inalienable citizenship rights: freedom of expression and freedom of religion.

That is not to say that the US is exempt from the mistreatment of Muslims. Racial profiling and workplace discriminations sometimes do occur. Yet the difference is when American Muslims face an unjust treatment, they have recourse where they can find justice.

Examples abound: The Justice Department sided with Muslim high school students in Texas who weren’t allowed to pray on school premises during lunch break in 2005, when they took their complaint to the federal government.

This year, a judge has ruled favorably in the pretrial lawsuit brought by six imams who were detained in 2006 for “flying while Muslim.” This would not happen in many Muslim countries since judiciary bodies are generally under the thumb of the regimes that promote coercive secularization.

Post-9/11, the US did mistreat some Muslims. But today, the Obama administration is making amends by probing alleged CIA torture and by closing the Guantánamo prison. There, after early abuses, officials accommodated detainees’ religious needs. So-called Muslim nation-states could learn from these steps in their treatment of devout citizens.

As President Obama tries to mend America’s relationship with the global Muslim community, he should promote “democratic” change from within, supporting any push from within countries for more heterogeneity.

Supporting the will of the “people” alone rather than the (semi) dictators, even when it is difficult, could make a huge difference.

Dr. Merve Kavakci is a lecturer of international affairs at George Washington University.

This should shut all the rabid America-haters up on here.

Slickstar · October 4, 2009, 1:16am

Re: Amreeka is sooo horrible for Muslims right?

see a doc mate

dhj786 · October 4, 2009, 1:52am

Ironic coming from a wannabe-bogan.

Slickstar · October 4, 2009, 1:55am

[citation needed]

X2 · October 4, 2009, 5:09am

Re: Amreeka is sooo horrible for Muslims right?

all the rabid america haters here?
errr i dont see any
a couple of keyboard happy kids typing away in their basements is about all you may muster up here

Nosherwan · October 4, 2009, 8:28am

I don't know about America but we Muslims' have a lot of religious rights in this country.

I worked as a chef once and I wouldn't shave out of laziness for weeks on end but my boss was too afraid to say anything lest I take it as an offence against my religion whereas my gora colleague would get bollocked for having a bit of stubble.

Muslims women are allowed to wear scarves, Muslim men are allowed beards, some Muslims even unnessecarily we're the ethnic clothing of their former countries in the name of religion and Britiain is all-embracing to them.

Imams (both Muslim and Christian) are offered discounts at a lot of theretail outlets even if these are owned by Christians.

Most decent Muslims appreciate the freedom and diversity of this wonderful isalnd.

There are some Muslim pricks though who bite the hand which feeds them, the bad boy wannabes' (ruuddee bwois innit) from scummy areas like Oldham are responsible for the growth in Islamaphobia and Anti-Pakiism.

We need to root out the kind who join these pseudo-Islamic hate groups and also the ghetto druggies/thugsters who give us a bad reputation and will probably get us all deported to Pakistan, these people will only come to theirs senses and all their AkkaR will go when they starve to death in the mountains of Pothwar.

Dubaiwali · October 4, 2009, 8:32am

Re: Amreeka is sooo horrible for Muslims right?

Awesome, it comes at the right time, when I am going to USA.

Jaanwar · October 4, 2009, 8:35am

Re: Amreeka is sooo horrible for Muslims right?

"rabid america haters". wow.

happyheart · October 4, 2009, 9:05am

U did it again MAsha Allah
looking forward to ur next thread
i keep on hoping for u
and praying for u
that u will one day be without hate and grudges

Arleitter · October 4, 2009, 9:08am

Re: Amreeka is sooo horrible for Muslims right?

Whats Amreeka?

happyheart · October 4, 2009, 9:33am

Amreeka
is the slang we use
for USA
i think its in whole South Asia that they say Amreeka (in rural areas then)
but i maybe wrong.

happyheart · October 4, 2009, 9:37am

Re: Amreeka is sooo horrible for Muslims right?

Dhj786

the problem with you is that in your imagination
every Muslim hates Americans or America
you are so wrong dear
If for example (sorry Arleitter but thats the closest example i can give) I dislike Indian foreign policy does not mean i hate Indian. Just like that MOST muslims (and believe me nowerdays even EUROPEANS) are disgusted by USA policy.

Did you read what i wrote :)?
Yes i live in Holland all my life and i know how Europeans and Dutch think about the USA and its not positive. They think of USA as the biggest problem for the world peace yes my dear
u should not only focus on Muslims but also read some other litterature to broaden your knowledge.

So Most muslims only have American foreign policy and not the Americans.