Islam on SomaliNet

[BigRedBook]

I have been a member in many forums; forums for a host of different Muslim nationalities and I haven't seen the level of mockery levelled against Islam in any of those places. Maybe this website has more unique visitors per month, maybe the other forums' administrators are not as lenient.

On this forum, Islam is reduced to issues about sex and violence. Certain members, who I will not name, control the parameters of the discourse. Almost always, all topics about Islam will turn women in vessels for sex and men into violent, brainless, irrational beasts. Verses from the Quran will be nonchalantly quoted in an informal manner, to be used as innuendos for sexual-slavery and other off-color topics. The same is done to Hadiths. In some instances, Islam is mixed with other religions, like Christianity, and comedic short-stories are written revolving around these scenarios. I don't know if anyone has noticed, but all topics on Islam on this forum revolve around a handful of these scenarios. Never is anything else ever discussed.

Now, you would be thinking what this means. Well, I never thought much of it and I always avoid such topics but then yesterday, I witnessed something that made me think. I was on very popular website, browsing some of the boards I usually go to. One of them is called Islam and deals with Islamic studies, philosophy, history and culture. One of the posters was complaining about a different board infiltrating their board. It was a board for ex-Muslims, as they like to call themselves. I clicked on it and to my surprise, I have seen some disturbing topics. One of them was about how to discredit Islam by redefining it. It laid out ways to lock the vast majority of people out of this new Islam, so that they turn to atheism. The overall consensus was that Islam should revolve around sex and violence. Therefore, for these people to push their message out, they would start disparaging topics, such as;I am going back home to marry a 9 year old, I can't wait to go to Heaven to have sex with a thousand virgins (who will remain virgins for life), etc. Topics, funnily enough, that appear here, almost always.

This lead me to study the people who pedal these topics here and they fit the profile of the ex-Muslims and how they operate. Now, I am not saying that they are agents out to change SomaliNet. No. What I think is happening is that a growing number of atheists on this website, who would be the subjected to a lot of hate if they came clean, are acting like Muslims, so as to troll or ruffle a few feathers. I am not calling for a massive witch-hunt or anything like that, but I am calling for a bit more decorum from the ex-Muslims and maybe a little less leniency on the part of the administrators. I have seen people get banished for a lot less than mocking Islam but nobody really gets reproached for this war against Islam on SomaliNet.

[Negritude]

This lead me to study the people who pedal these topics here and they fit the profile of the ex-Muslims and how they operate. Now, I am not saying that they are agents out to change SomaliNet. No. What I think is happening is that a growing number of atheists on this website, who would be the subjected to a lot of hate if they came clean, are acting like Muslims, so as to troll or ruffle a few feathers. I am not calling for a massive witch-hunt or anything like that, but I am calling for a bit more decorum from the ex-Muslims and maybe a little less leniency on the part of the administrators. I have seen people get banished for a lot less than mocking Islam but nobody really gets reproached for this war against Islam on SomaliNet.

I strongly disagree with you on this.

[BigRedBook]

Would you explain why?

[SecretAgent]

Would you explain why?

Ur talkin to a non somali muslim do u noe ?

[Negritude]

Would you explain why?

For starters, if they're afraid of being attacked for their beliefs, it would make more sense for them to not place themselves in an atmosphere where it's this likely. If as you said they're in the religious closet out of fear of ostracization, I highly doubt they'd deliberately ruffle feathers. If they're so sensitive, they'd be more low key so as to evade suspicion.

Also, most non-theists are just not that invested. Unless they recently left the religion and/or harbour a whole lot of hate. 'Zeal of the newly converted' in reverse.

I'm not saying it isn't possible, I just don't think it's often the case.

[DR-YALAXOOW]

bugredbook your against freedom of speech my friend ... this is a discussion forum and Everything should he discussed.. Islam comes in the Picture because of what The evil sect of salafism(wahaabism) do in the name of Islam. . blame wahaabism not the members on this forum. we must disccus things like 72 Virgins and other crazy things whichs wahaabism teachs to brainwash Young people inorder to murder innocent humanbeings..

[FAH1223]

I actually am contemplating banning about 10-15 of these users in the coming hours and days that you speak about.

[BigRedBook]

For starters, if they're afraid of being attacked for their beliefs, it would make more sense for them to not place themselves in an atmosphere where it's this likely. If as you said they're in the religious closet out of fear of ostracization, I highly doubt they'd deliberately ruffle feathers. If they're so sensitive, they'd be more low key so as to evade suspicion.

Also, most non-theists are just not that invested. Unless they recently left the religion and/or harbour a whole lot of hate. 'Zeal of the newly converted' in reverse.

I'm not saying it isn't possible, I just don't think it's often the case.

I would say it is a mix of fear of ostracization and zeal of the newly converted. People come here because it is one of the mostly popular places for the younger generation Somalis to meet-up. I suppose their Somali identity defines them more, rather than their beliefs.

On the website I mentioned, there were a few Somali ex-Muslims. All the tactics they were discussing there has been shown here by a few members, so it is not a stretch to say that they might as well be one and the same.

bugredbook your against freedom of speech my friend ... this is a discussion forum and Everything should he discussed.. Islam comes in the Picture because of what The evil sect of salafism(wahaabism) do in the name of Islam. . blame wahaabism not the members on this forum. we must disccus things like 72 Virgins and other crazy things whichs wahaabism teachs to brainwash Young people inorder to murder innocent humanbeings..

With all due respect, there is no real freedom of speech anywhere on this website. Whether a person can get away with things depends on how much support they can muster upon their banishment, their relationship with the administrators and the length of time that the person might have been a member. As for your scapegoating of a particular sect, what if this was the mission of the ex-Muslims?

I just wanted to bring this to light. I have seen similar behaviors on other forums dominated by other Muslim nationals, but they are not given any leeway.

[LetsCookBreakfast]

You have just called many Muslim members of this forum ex-Muslims.

[Adali]

I totally agree with you, didn't read your entire post but you are right there are many members who take the piss and mock the diin, why do they have so much hatred for Islam I wonder.

[Negritude]

I would say it is a mix of fear of ostracization and zeal of the newly converted. People come here because it is one of the mostly popular places for the younger generation Somalis to meet-up. I suppose their Somali identity defines them more, rather than their beliefs.

But Somali culture and religion are pretty much inseparable at this point. If they oppose the religious beliefs, I'd have thought they'd take issue with the community itself being that most of the traditions and values are the result of Islamic influence. In which case, detachment would be more sensible. Extremely codependent characters rarely address their doubts, however deep, if they run the risk of isolating themselves in the first place. I can't see that many people who fit this description converting. Especially not with enough ease to troll a forum on a matter that bears significance in their lives, while giving enough of a damn to care what people think of them personally. But I suppose trolls are anomalies.

On the website I mentioned, there were a few Somali ex-Muslims. All the tactics they were discussing there has been shown here by a few members, so it is not a stretch to say that they might as well be one and the same.

It's possible but IMO improbable.

[ZubeirAwal]

Fah that doesn't include me does it?

[ElfRuler0]

You're spot on, but I think in general regardless of religion or not, this forum is all about sex and violence. The atheists, the religious, the tribalists, the nationalists, the educated, the ignorant, the perverts, the trolls, etc all focus on sex and violence.


It isn't necessarily against Islam as much as it's a reflection of what has been tolerated on this forum.

[InaSamaale]

You make some valid points and I am glad someone addressed it directly. Most of us would be offended at such level of mockery coming from non-Muslims irl. Though, I would not attribute their poor taste in humor in anything nefarious. One should not belittle the weight of the words even as a joke. Simply said, words mean stuff.

[Alphanumeric]

Lol, all this determined in only 4 days. Fascinating. It may be that fear of hyper-literalism has devolved into a theory of infiltration by ex-Muslims.

Oops, I used a word with "evolve" in it. I hope I'm not one of those assumed to be creeping in the shadows.

This site is getting shittier by the day. And for the admin to co-sign on this nonsense? Smh.

P.S. A Monty Python fan?!