zuzu143

Salam,

There seems to be an overriding assumption to be British means you are white anglo-saxon, you consume alcohol and your meeting place / place of choice is a bar which as we all know is completely wrong. There also seems to be a number of gross assumptions and misconceptions of what it means to be a Muslim which leads to why I have made this post.

I would like to propose a informal meeting of British Muslims working within Dubai and the UAE in order that we may address the challenges faced by this particular group working within the Gulf and those that are thinking of moving here - there is a gap within this site.

Please feel free to email me if you are interested.



Ali

shiva

that in itself is an assumption zuzu.
It is a FACT the the majority of posters here are "white anglo-saxon, who consume alcohol and their meeting place / place of choice is a bar"
There are no assumptions or claims of britishness being made its just a fact. any assumptions are on your part only i'm afraid

nottmbantam

Speaking as a British Muslim, I tend to agree with Shiva. I personally don't feel there is a gap, I haven't found one, but then being in Saudi,there are no bars anyway for people to meet - Starbucks does great business here!

I don't really subscribe to support groups and focus group,and special groups that have unique requirements. If you're here ,then get on with it. Its what our grandparents had to do when they arrived in the UK. Build up a network of friends, work and non work colleagues and a good mix of muslim and non muslim. Surely coming to new country is a fantastic opportunity to meet people you wouldn't normally, without having to compromise your faith?

But then - I'm probably talking bollocks, as I'm in Saudi and you're in Dubai. Good luck.

BaNdy

yes you indeed asume to much,

many ordinary people dont consider themselves in any particular way at all.
what about the people over in dubai that are just british but also require help? or are they not required to join your little group perhaps.

Ill get me coat...............

weescot

I think Ali means thre is a general assumption on what it means to be British - as was laid bare with the epic thread that Beard Man helped keep going to - er - around 700 posts. He didn't even know there are veiled women in the UK.

I draw my own conculsions on what it means to be muslim though my muslim friends - who I work/socialise with in bars/coffee shops. I tend to agree with nottmbantam and others that "special interest gorups" is not really a progressive way forward.

Inselaffen

I have known many British muslims who enjoy drinking alcohol and going to Bars. Their view of what it means to br British and muslim would differ greatly from your view.

jvr20

It also presupposes that British Muslims form a single, homogeneous group. Apart from religion and nationality, there's not a great deal of commonality in other ways between say, for example, Yemenis on Tyneside, Mirpuris in Lancashire, Sylhetis in E1...

Different languages, different music, different sects, different outlooks, often different levels of education which persist through the generations, there's more difference than commonality.

That said, I would be quite interested, Zuzu, in what particular challenges you face that are different from the challenges of any of the other expat population in the same age/status/salary/disposable income bracket. I have my ideas but don't want to presuppose too much.

Another thing is the idea of exlusivity. There are those on this site who are neither British nor expats - that will be lost in an exclusive 'club' which tends to increase insularity at a time when that's the last thing most people want.

W10

Does anyone understand the particular challenges of being a privately educated mixed race British Asian with no particular religious leanings and a social democratic political point of view?

(Nb: This mostly means I get bored of conversations with taxi drivers about where I'm from, and get the mickey taken because I don't talk like a chav )

Please PM to join my club

jvr20

taxi thing is easily sidestepped - I go on the offensive and ask the cabbie where he's from first, then family, kids, when he last saw them etc... normally preferable to him than feeling he has to ask me! If he's an Arab, so much the better, I can usually add to my v poor vocab.

W10

You're ruining my club....

*****ing British Muslims

jvr20

WTF?

W10

Well I only have two issues....you've solved one.

Grrrrr

zuzu143

Each person is entitied to thier own opinion.

For those that have nothing to do but be negative - move on! Not interested and for those that understand feel free to email me.

zuzu143

You want to behave like a dick head go ahead!

Yeah and I would be careful about posting your insults against Muslims on a site thats monitored by the Mukabarat!

shiva

everyone is indeed entitled to their own opinion, even unfortunately when that opinion is formed by one whos view is skewed through tinted glasses and in fact has no basis in reality. You are perfectly entitled to your own "wrong" opinion just dont go banding around false accusations.