{UAH} UK MUSLIMS HAVE MORE FREEDOM THAN UGANDA MUSLIMS

UK MUSLIMS HAVE MORE FREEDOM THAN UGANDA MUSLIMS

By Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

Living in the UK, I can attest that there is not a single law that prohibits me from practicing every single aspect of Islam. If I want to pray, I go to the mosque nine minutes' walk down the road and pray, If I want to grow my beard, I can (it has even become fashionable for non- Muslim men to grow beards, too). If I want to wear Islamic clothing, I can, and If I want to preach my faith to others that want to listen, I can.

Muslim girls go to public schools wearing headscarves and long skirts/pants and long sleeves, without facing what is and has been happening in France for many years. A lot of Catholic schools in Uganda, on the other hand, don't allow Muslim girls to dress Islamically or practise their faith – this was principally the reason why my elder sister had to be moved from Namagunga to Kibuli.S.S.

Muslims are not prevented from privately praying while at work or school. There are multi-faith rooms in hospitals, government buildings, etc, where Muslims go for prayers here in the UK. You rarely find such a set up in workplaces in Uganda.

Muslim kids have never been forced to pray in a manner antithetical to their faith while in school, which is very common in Uganda Catholic schools. They aren't forced to eat or drink publicly during Ramadan, which occurs in some non-Muslim schools in Uganda. Yes, there's now legislation to teach LGBT and sex education amongst young children in schools, but it has been disturbing for both Muslims and non-Muslim parents.

We have got halal meat being sold in various butchers and supermarkets around the country. There are halal sections in major supermarkets in cities, like, Bradford, Leicester, Luton, etc, where there is a large Muslim population.

There is no governmental policy in place to teach people, particularly students about how Muslims have ruined the UK. The propaganda here against Muslims is from private sources, and mainly cropped up after terrorist attacks on 11th September,2001, in New York. The noises by some people against Sharia laws have to do with the ignorance of the people toward Muslims and Islam.

There is no comparison of Muslims to animals. There are no UK government led gangs going out to destroy Muslim property and menace the Muslim population, like in Nazi Germany. Yes, some people have isolatedly shouted abuses at Muslims, but this isn't so common.

A Muslim could work for the UK government if he or she so chooses to do so. I think it's the same in Uganda though there are some government posts that have never been filled in by a Muslim deliberately.

There is no governmental prevention of masjids or Islamic schools being built. A lot of Muslims have bought churches, entertainment clubs, and other buildings here and turned them into mosques. For instance, the Swahili community in Leeds bought a massive building about six years ago, and it now houses a mosque, hall and madrassa for the Muslim community.

I don't have to have a special pass or wear a special symbol which marks me as Muslim. I see Muslim women everywhere in major UK cities covered from head to foot, freely wearing Hijabs, and looking at the ground when they are out.

By the way, Muslim women aren't oppressed to dress that way. I would suggest non-Muslims try to meet and talk to Muslim ladies who cover themselves and find out first-hand if it's their choice or they are forced to do certain things. It's never a good idea to believe stereotypes.

I have also not been targeted by government forces for arrest, injury, or death for simply following Islamic precepts, which allegedly occurred in Uganda where several Muslim leaders were gunned down over the years for unspecified reasons.

I have non-Muslim friends - most of them aren't bothered by my being a Muslim. We joke, talk, go out, eat together, etc, without any problems. A Muslim man can marry a non- Muslim woman or have another wife without any issues – hell only arises when the official wife complains to the police. Non-Muslims basically respect my faith. There are enormous social pressures on everyone about many issues, we have to learn how to deal with them in a way we each find comfortable.

I am reminded of how blessed I am to be a Muslim and living in the UK. Nowhere is there true freedom like here. You can practice whichever belief you want, be what and who ever you want, your rights are protected, you are protected. The laws are there for everyone.

This is the 'Great' Britain. "Great" is generally used to differentiate the island of Britain from the region of Bretagne in France or Brittany. The term ''Great'' Britain was first coined by James VI of Scotland when he became James I of England in the 17th century because he became king of the two kingdoms of Scotland and England.

Part of what makes the UK so great is the fact it is so multicultural. It's good to have the good and bad parts of cultures in front of us, it aids us to understand them, and also helps us to realise what we don't want to adopt into our culture and what we do. At one point Xmas was never celebrated in the UK, tea wasn't drunk, there were no Christmas trees, Curries couldn't be bought, No one was willing to try potatoes, never mind making chips from them to have with fish. All those things came from other cultures and the British adopted them into theirs and made the quintessentially British.

To understand a religion, you have to study it, not follow people and their behaviour, because we are human, and we are not perfect!

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*Abbey Kibirige  Semuwemba*

Stalk my blog at: http://semuwemba.wordpress.com

"Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive." - Henry Steele Commager 1902-98

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