Anti-Christian Christian, Anti-Muslim Muslims (Earth, tradition, experience, catholic, religion)

[Djamila]

One of my videos on YouTube envoked the following exchange in the comments section. I've heavily censored it:

Bosnieee: shes pretty but what a ****..if shes a muslim,why is she that naked.thats not a real muslim..have people forgotten what the hijab is?Girl from bosnia

RE: Bosniee
DarkWolfy: You ****ing arab piece of ****, This is Bosnia where everyone has the right to be whoever they want to be. IF your so called version of islam is good why the **** are all the arab countries starving and people bombing thesmevles. I know how u so called muslim wannabes are u cover up your wive and lock her up while you go around ****ing tons of other women. Women are not a possession they are people too!

RE: Bosniee
Hanuma81: and bosnieee if ure a real muslim you shouldn be here on youtube watching inappropriate videos right?! shut the **** up and pretend like a european cuz thats what u are *****!

*****

And that, obviously, made me wonder. I've warned you Bosnians are vulgar, this really is how people talk in everyday life - so ignore than much of it - but just the response in general to a woman just mentioning hijab... is that strange?

I've witnessed the same thing in Bosnia about Roman Catholics who wear veils, and Orthodox Christian women (only women) who wear large, gold crosses. They're beaten up just as much.

What is this, do you think? What causes it? What do you think about it?

[Victor]

Think about what? About women who deviate from traditional ways? I think they're people too.

[Laila]

Djamila I couldn't care less if women want to wear a tent - and it's a shame that they are given such grief. I mean I can understand, if in the UK where you've got to respect cultural 'norms', but I wouldn't of expected this reaction from Bosnians in Bosnia! (I mean as a muslim country) I suppose one of the reasons, for the negative reaction, could be that men then start to expect all women to dress in the same manner and the gates are open to abuse and disrespect for women who don't cover.
I'm not really sure - what are your thoughts?

[Djamila]

Originally Posted by Laila

Djamila I couldn't care less if women want to wear a tent - and it's a shame that they are given such grief. I mean I can understand, if in the UK where you've got to respect cultural 'norms', but I wouldn't of expected this reaction from Bosnians in Bosnia! (I mean as a muslim country) I suppose one of the reasons, for the negative reaction, could be that men then start to expect all women to dress in the same manner and the gates are open to abuse and disrespect for women who don't cover.
I'm not really sure - what are your thoughts?

I don't know if this will surprise you or not... but DarkWolfy above is a Bosnian man, and in my experience men have been far more defensive of our Hanafi (ie modern) traditions than women.

[Laila]

Originally Posted by Djamila

I don't know if this will surprise you or not... but DarkWolfy above is a Bosnian man, and in my experience men have been far more defensive of our Hanafi (ie modern) traditions than women.

Sorry, I'm having a dumb moment I need to ask you to clarify the difference;
tradition bosnian dress is...................
hanafi tradition is.............................
I think I know what you mean but I need to check I've understood you.

[Djamila]

Oh sorry!

Muslims around the world know that Islamic life in Bosnia and Herzegovina changed greatly from 1945-1992 - when we were part of a socialist regime that was, official, athiest.

But they fail to realize, even before this, we were nothing like Saudi Arabia is today. Not even close. Our tradition is Hanafi, an Ottoman form of Sunni Islamic life. Clothes were form-fitting, veils didn't cover the face or neck (they barely covered the hair, which often extended a foot or more farther than the veil).

So people are very defensive about maintaining that heritage because, frankly, it worked. During the Ottoman Empire, Bosnia was one of the wealthiest regions on the face of the planet. Sarajevo was the second largest city on earth for a time.

We've also had an experience with fundamentalism. After WWI, when Bosnia was incorporated into the first Yugoslavia against its will, Muslims rebelled with religion and dress. You'd see burkas as often as you'd see hijab today, so... people don't want that again.

[Laila]

Cheers, got a better picture. It's interesting to know both sides.