Peace ☮

Dear Diary,

 It’s Monday 15^th April 2013. Something major happened today. Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston marathon. I don’t know exactly what’s happened yet, nothing’s been said, but I know that a lot of people have got hurt. I can’t even begin to imagine the terror those people faced and what their families must be going through. But the one thing that annoys me is that people automatically assume that Muslim’s are to blame. Even before anything has been reported or said, the Muslim’s always get the blame. I understand that because of previous events, people would jump to that conclusion but is it always right?

Growing up as a Muslim girl, people haven’t always been afraid to tell me what they think about my race or my religion (if you get what I mean). I’ve always known that there are Muslim extremists, who are power crazy, but people need to understand that not all Muslims are like this. If anything, I’m completely against terrorists and I hate what they do. Muslims are supposed to be caring and trustworthy people, yet some feel the need to cause harm to others to show power, which is disgusting. But, the media and society never really ask other Muslims what their feelings towards extremist’s actions, so people assume that we agree with what they do.

I want to be able to walk down a street wearing my hijab proudly, without being shouted abuse. Nobody shouts at Christians for wearing religious jewellery, so how is it fair that Muslims get abused for being proud of their religion? I wish the world, would just be simple. A place where people wouldn’t judge and hate on others because of their religion or race. I wish that there could be peace. Just as Jimi Hendrix once said, ‘When the power of love, overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.’

N.K  

Bringing Up Children in a Multi-Faith Society - ES

I am going to be taking the role of a Catholic Christian Mother who is worried about her children questioning the Roman Catholic faith and the existence of God.

Dear diary, 
                  I have made a huge mistake, ever since I allowed Lucy and Oliver to go to a mixed faith secondary school they have been questioning our faith. I was having second thoughts at the time, I should have just followed my instincts and sent them to a Roman Catholic school. 
                  It was a few weeks ago, I wasn't paying attention but they were discussing their school day over dinner and gradually they got on the subject of their Muslim friends Abdul, Nafiah and Rashida (I think these are their names) and they began telling me about their culture and traditions. I wasn't really paying attention at the time as I was doing some cleaning, until they began asking me "does God really exist?" and "could Allah be the true God?" I brushed it off but ever since they've been questioning me on how I know God exists and why I don't believe in Allah. I brush it off and try to change the subject but they're at that time in life where they have all these questions and decisions to make. 
                  I know for a fact going to both a Roman Catholic Primary and Secondary school was one of the best experiences of my life, and it brought me closer to God as my faith grew over the years. However, I'm worried Oliver and Lucy are going to disagree with our faith, and now I feel they've missed out on a wonderful Christian Catholic upbringing. One of my tasks in life was to spread the word of God and now I feel I've failed. John (my husband) doesn't seem to be concerned, however lately I've been quite upset about the whole situation. I mean I've been trying to teach them to follow the Christian faith for the first 11 years of their life, and now they've only been at Secondary school for several months and they're already questioning our faith. I don't know whether to feel extremely proud of their intelligence and strength to explore other faiths or whether I have failed to raise them as good Catholics who believe in God. I was certain I was going to send them to a Roman Catholic Secondary school but I felt bad I was separating them from their friends, although now I feel I've made a bigger mistake.
                 I always knew I would face issues when raising my children in a multi-faith society, however nowadays I just feel they're slipping away from God and not appreciating the things he has and is doing for us. I know I cannot force them to be a Catholic Christian, but if there was just a way I could get through to them so they too believe God has and always be there for them, of course I would do it. I just pray that God will reach out to them and help them to discover their faith once again. 


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Conversion

Converting to another faith or from no faith at all is meant to be a happy time, especially in so called 'Multi-faith' Britain right? Wrong. I have lived in this country for years now, most of those years, were spent as a practising Catholic, and my time in Britain was going well, I had a supportive family and was doing well at University, but when I took a life changing decision to become a Muslim, everything seemed to slowly change.

My family even struggled to accept my decision, I think mostly they were confused, as to why I suddenly decided to convert, changing from a faith that I had been brought up to believe in. And there seemed to be no questioning these beliefs. One main thing I have discovered during my time as a Muslim, is that it is human nature to feel the need to make others believe what you believe, and we seem to find it very hard to accept people's different beliefs. I feel like my choice is not socially accepted in even in this apparent multi faith society. I am 'randomly' searched more often, making me try to avoid travelling when I can, whereas before my intentions were the opposite, to travel as often as possible. After events like 9/11 and 7/7 the Muslim faith was generalised, making some Muslim's lives a living hell, now I'm beginning to experience that hell.

Trying to convert followers of other religions when you are living in a multi-faith society is a form of prejudice and discrimination against others with other faith's to you. Yet I am still asked frequently when I'm going to snap out of this 'faze', by my own friends and family.

Some find it very easy to judge other religions when they know barely anything about them. How can you regard a religion as wrong, or useless, unless you have studied them and compared the differences? Well some find this very easy.

SC

An overview on life in England

Britain is portrayed as a multi-cultural and faith society, but what has become of this image? My religion brings great torment to my life it would appear and judgment at each new page I try to turn. I had come to England to study at the University of Bristol, assuming that I would make friends easily, gain a better knowledge of the language and settle into the housing I myself paid for. I did not claim any ‘state benefits’ as you call them, and nor did I require any additional help settling in. However, despite being self-sufficient, I have yet to make anything more than acquaintances. It may be because I’m quiet; the fact that I am not the one to start a conversation or even to end one. My appearance is greatly respected in my home country of Saudi Arabia and all men are required cover themselves from shoulder to knee and wear plain clothing; no silk, the colours red or gold and trousers below the ankle.

Daily I face crude comments and suspicious glances from people everywhere I go; security guards in shops, police officers patrolling the street, porters in hospitals and staff at the airports. I can hear the whispering behind my back; the name calling, rude gestures, hurtful and degrading comments. It would appear that my faith is of great significance to everyone here, but for all the wrong reasons. No one I’ve met has taken any notice other than to turn their nose up at me, or from what I can tell since it is required for my gaze to be lowered at all times. Racism takes on many different forms and unfortunately, some don't even realise they are taking part in an sometimes illegal offence.

I feel like an outcast in what is supposed to be an accepting and inviting place that I chose to come to based on my studies and my older brother, who emigrated to this country about 4 years ago and has since made a family for himself. He 'gave up’ his religion of Islam if that is even possible, just to be with his now wife. I know that Allah would forgive him. My parents have banished him from the family… I hope he is happy with his Christian wife. My life is made quite awkward sometimes by the fact I am required to pray 5 times a day…wherever I am at daybreak, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. I speak Arabic during these intimate prayer times- I honor my traditions.

I know now that without 'friends at this time', staying here will be hard for me. I feel forced out of the country purely on the basis that I love my God so therefore I am a practicing Muslim, I appear different and speak a foreign language as my first language. Many Englishmen cannot understand the way I live my life. I knew when I came here that the most practised religion was not Islam, but Christianity. I have no problems with other religions- each person can believe in their own God or even no God at all. A way of life is your own choice. Religion unites communities of people in times of trouble, grief and happiness. I have recently been in contact with a Muslim society for males here. They are much more accepting and understanding and they too have said that they have, and still experience racism and false accusations based on their beliefs.

Never judge a book by its cover. A truly false statement for many western countries, but one that can hopefully be rectified and England grows ever more in different faiths.

"Islam teaches tolerance, not hatred;universal brotherhood, not enmity; peace, and not violence."

-Pervez Musharraf

S.G

Muslim and Catholic Marriage - OK

My name is Adila and I am a practicing Muslim. I have been married to my Catholic husband Simon for a year now but this did not come about without any difficulty. Many members of my family still do not speak to me or even acknowledge my existence just because I did not marry a fellow Muslim.

Why should all Muslim girls be forced into marring someone they barely even know and maybe do not even love? Marriage is permanent and frankly I would rather spend the rest of my life with someone I fell in love with not who my parents put me with just to make sure I am a married woman.

When Simon proposed to me I immediately knew that my parents would not agree to the marriage but this would leave me heartbroken so I said yes as I love him and nothing would get in the way of us living the rest of our lives together. I told my parents that Simon and I were to be married and as I suspected they immediately disagreed and said that the marriage would never take place or they would never speak to me again. Of course I took this into consideration but I love Simon and I am an independent woman who has her own mind and can make her own actions and decisions so I went against my mother and father's wishes and married Simon.

Eventually my parents came round and are now speaking to me and Simon. They have learnt that tradition is not always the answer and sometimes it can be broken and have got to know Simon and really like him! I am so happy with the way things turned out. I have my mother, father and husband who all love me and care for me and that is all I need!

Adila

Muslims and Terrosism - JH

Terrorism

I really can’t stand it anymore; I think I’ve finally had enough.

This is not the life I want for me or my family. It was today that I was walking through Heathrow Airport, eyes watching me as I travelled past different terminals. As I walked past, people whispered and tried to hide their stares but I’m too used to this behaviour now not to notice. It still hurts that just because I am Muslim, I am automatically a terrorist suspect.

As I stop for lunch with my family and put our bags to the side, I see a panicked look spread throughout the crowd, I really just want to say ‘get a life!’ but of course that would only make matters worse. I was sad at the beginning but then I got angry, especially because my children had to go through this with me. We just wanted to pass through the airport like any other family, excited to go on holiday but of course this is never to be. I really don’t think anyone knows how I feel?

The worst bit was when we went through security. The security guards seemed to put most of their efforts into searching me and my family. It is hard for me to get my head across why this happens.

There is so much stereotyping in today’s world, yes I know that Muslims have been terrorists, but that does not mean that every Muslim is. People judge me by what I look like and what I believe in, but my faith is very important to me and I would never change my beliefs.

I hope that when my children grow up they will not have to deal with this prejudice and discrimination; we are as human as anyone else.

I hope attitudes change soon

Syed  

JH

Muslims and Terrorism VK

VK

Muslim….. Terrorist

These words somehow seem to go hand in hand. Why do people think that every Muslim is a terrorist, an evil mastermind, wanting to kill?

I have faced this issue all of my life. I remember once, passing through airport security, feeling ashamed and alone. The security men would whisper to each other as soon as walked up to the security screening. Them looking me up and down and giving me filthy looks. They always stopped and searched me, always, asking me more questions than any other passenger. Once through to the airport lounge, passengers would be sacred as soon as I walked away and left my bag whilst going to the loo, thinking a giant bomb was inside, waiting to explode. Do you know how horrible that feeling is? People actually believing that you are here to ruin lives, to blow up buildings. It makes me feel so sad.

The airport is not the only example of this. Travelling to work is a problem too. I work in London and take the tube to work. Every time there is a security threat, passengers automatically look at me and pin the blame just because of my religion. They all seem to think I would want to hurt others. Yes Muslims have been terrorists before but does that mean everyone is? Not every Christians is kind and nice.

I wish attitudes and beliefs would change. I really hope people soon see that Muslim people are not all terrorists, that they are just normal human beings living their lives!

Why is this world full of judgement and prejudice?

Ahmed

Loneliness - EN

I am now in Year 10 and it has been 4 years since I started Secondary School and ever since my first day at school it has been very difficult to get through the day. I have been bullied about my faith in my form. There are 9 girls in particular who make me feel that I have done something wrong and that my opinion does not count.

I have been brought up in a strict Muslim household and I have never felt that I have been on my own until we moved in this local area. Before, in my previous estate, each weekend I would meet with my Uncle and the neighbours and pray. Since my Uncle died, we moved here to try and move on and forget the loss of my loving family member. My little sister does not understand that much and she has just started primary school. It has been hard to try and explain why people do not have friends round this area to my sister as she has been discriminated by her teachers in the school. 

My parents are finding it difficult to get a job and find a secure income for the family. Why can't we move to a different area? We have already put money on out current house and we have no extra money coming in. We just can't afford to pick ourselves up to move somewhere different.

See, most people where I currently live follow the same religion and in their eyes my family and I are different and not welcomed. I want to make my family happy and myself happy and not feel lonely. Each day at school people call me names and laugh at me. I have found it difficult to find the strength to not cry and carry on like normal. 

I wish there was something I could do to make this pain go away....my family and I deserve to be happy for once in our lives....

EN

Muslim & Catholic Marriage - SOK

Dear Diary,

I am so confused. This morning, I was discussing wedding arrangements with my fiancé Abdul-Rashid who is a Muslim. He wants to have a traditional Muslim wedding in a mosque but I prefer a Catholic one because I have been a Catholic all my life and my whole family are Catholics as well. I really want any children we have to be baptized, brought up in the Catholic faith and have the Catholic education. Even the Roman Catholic Church says that if one parent is Catholic, all children in that relationship should also be brought up in the Catholic faith. Abdul-Rashid however, wants them to be Muslim as in their religion they believe that the children should follow their father’s faith. I can’t imagine my beautiful future kids being forced to wear headscarves to conceal their lovely hair and wear clothes up to their ankles and wrists all the time-even during summer! It just wouldn’t be fair on them or me because he would try to convert me to Islam. I am seriously having second thoughts…

Maybe this marriage isn’t going to be such a good idea. It would put a lot of strain on both of us and our children. I don’t think this marriage will work, so it’s probably best to end it now. I will talk to him this evening. I should have thought about this before. This is a lesson for everyone and an experience for me.

Goodnight diary,

Amanda

S.O.K. 

Muslim 'Suspect' - JF

I am getting seriously sick of this. I travel round the world a lot, it's part of my job, and so I should be used to the airport security by now but honestly, I would really like to make my plane just once. This morning, whilst leaving the US at JFK airport I was stopped and searched not once, not twice but three times by border control! 

I'm a Muslim and, despite having lived in London my whole life, people still seem to think that I would love to blow them up. I despise those who go against my God's teachings and who take their religion to the extreme, what they do is pure evil and though I completely disagree with their beliefs I still suffer the repercussions of their selfish actions. 

Ever since I was a child I have seen people of my faith being singled out by authority and checked over constantly for bombs and other suspicious possessions, whenever they search me at airports the most suspicious item I'm carrying is probably a toothbrush because everyone knows that Muslim's love to brush people to death.

This 'random' searching is not so 'random'. From the moment people of my beliefs enter the airport grounds, to the moment we leave the airport at the end of our flight, we are religiously profiled and marked as 'high risk'. Statistics show that those who are Muslim or are of middle-eastern ethnicity are much more likely to be screened again. I once wrote to the border agency about the searching and received a reply saying that I was selected randomly each time and it was no way affected by my religion. If what they said is true then I'm the Queen of England!

I know that those in border control are charged with the duty of keeping all the inhabitants of a country safe but could they at least try and get some solid evidence before searching someone again. A small piece of me dies every time I am stopped and searched because I know that I will have to put up with this treatment for the rest of my life due to the stupidity of fanatics and the Islamaphobia of the rest of the world. 

This is Abdu Safar signing off...

J.F.

Muslim & Christian Marriage - MG

I will be writing a diary entry as a young Muslim girl dealing with the problems faced when different views from different religions collide within society:

Dear Diary,

I told everyone at school today about my parent's plans for me. Honestly, I was really surprised at their reaction! They said it wasn't normal for your parents to choose who you marry, and that you should only marry someone you love! They said that my marriage will be forced, not arranged. But all my friends are Christian, and their parents don't care who they marry. They don't understand the Muslim culture. 

Although I told my friends what they said was offensive, their opinions made me think. I mean, I've never met Abdul before. What if I don't like him? He could be really boring, or annoying, or grumpy. We might not have anything in common.

But my parents know what's best for me. They've met him and they say he's nice. They would NEVER marry me to someone I wouldn't like. NEVER.

I still worry, though. Sometimes, I imagine what it would be like to be a Christian, and not have to marry Abdul. I would be able to marry whoever I choose. None of my friends are even thinking about marriage yet. It might be nice to go out and meet new people before I get married. 

I know that what Mum and Dad have done for me will provide me with a stable future, but talking to my friends has really opened my eyes to different beliefs and faiths. In a way, I'm glad I am able to talk to my friends to help me understand different religions. It has really widened my cultural knowledge within society.

Sincerely, Aisha

M.G.