some personal experiences

Submitted by B. Williame (Belgium), Apr 17, 2008 at 03:44

1 example:

Location: Valaar - Antwerp - Belgium

At a public playground non muslim children where obliged to pay 1€ to be able to play on it freely.

This wasn't ordered by the police or any known authority, but muslim children of the ages between 8 and 18 harrassed other children giving them 2 choices: pay up or be gone out of free will or force.

Parents reacting didn't help much, the second that police were informed, the children denied everything.

Being a case of he says, she says and no real proof could be given and accidents do happen on playgrounds. The police didn't have anything to work with.

The parents of the muslim children did not give any comment to the situation.

Consequence... The non muslim parents have to give their children 1€ so they can play on a free public play ground or have to stay by their side the entire time to be certain of their safety.

What do you think these parents and their growing up children will come to think of muslims?

Location: Hoboken- Antwerp- Belgium

I was stopped by a group(5) of northern African looks, they asked me if I was muslim, and I said no.

They demanded my shoes as tax for not being a muslim and this would be for them the only way for me to get away unharmed. I was able to talk my way out of it by stating it where working (safety)shoes and so not mine to give and they could not know if my employer (the real owner) was muslim or not.

They let me then pass.

What do you think others who would be halted in the same manner and less lucky than me, would think afterwards about muslims?

Location: Antwerp city - Belgium

I asked a boy who seems muslim if he was. he said he believed in Mohammed (Pbuh), etc...

Then I asked if I could ask some questions about his religion as I was curious about it.

He's reaction was: He told me his fate can not be questioned and then yelled I was a racist.

the verry moment after he starts hitting and kicking me. while evading first punches I asked him: "Why the h**** do you call me so" his response was : "Because you're white"

2 friends of his were running towards us so I took off, considering my physical safety more important.

I tried 2 more attempts afterwards considering this to be perhaps a coincidence...

1 of them was with Abdel, a fellow schoolboy... It didn't work out, though I didn't get attacked the only response I got: "My faith cannot be quesioned, questioning it is blasphemous."

And there were others that would never reach the news...

I went in my youth to many people with different faiths. At least those I could find.

I wanted to know more about faiths considering that the real truth must be somewhere in the middle of all of them as they probably all were corrupted over time due to human nature and each still must hold a basis of truth.

Orthodox Jews gladly answered any questions I had. Buddhists and Hare Krishnah as well as Christian priests. The only people who reacted to my questions with violence were muslims.

And I didn't say muslims imposing in christians or catholics... Just on non-muslims in general.

So, when I found this website I had some certain personal founded experience prejudices and fears towards muslims.

But difference is to me that the internet is a safer place than out on the streets. Probably Mansoor would have spit on my face or so if I 'd met him in rl.

But people like Fathima and others who respond on this site, just like Plato, Infidel, dhimmni no more, etc... They give me answers as good as they can from their knowledge and i'm grateful to them for it.

Though not always as tactful or to the point (exception of Plato who seems to almost always do so). They help me in my quest to knowledge(at least without me having to learn arabic or other languages as well as to travel to many places around the world)

Still me being able to talk safely on this website and learn more about Islam didn't make me forget what happened on the streets. I'm still waiting to meat a peaceful muslim to be willing to talk to me face to face.

And as Belgium as more then 5% Muslims... there are already a lot that I tried with. Perhaps after knowing more I can tell them they should talk to me according to their faith, etc... But instinctively I'll keep an eye on the nearest exit...

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