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Can a secular muslim live in Poland?


solento 1 | 1
16 Aug 2016 #1
My girlfriend is from Indonesia and muslim. However, she does not go to the mosque or pray five times per day. Her and her daughter's muslim habits are limited to not drinking alcohol and not eating pork. She has no problem with entering a church.

Would we have a problem with living in Poland?
We want to leave the multicultural country of Sweden. Just read about the immigrant areas in Sweden. No Swede wants to live there.
Ironside 53 | 12,423
16 Aug 2016 #2
You mean can a Muslim immigrate to Poland? No. Poland is not halam.
mafketis 37 | 10,913
16 Aug 2016 #3
I've known a few Indonesians in Poland mostly they do okay.

The language is important and must be learned as soon as possible (and there will be other culture shock from Sweden to Poland) but IME Polish people don't have a problem with those who keep their religion reasonably private.

Traditionally Indonesian practice of Islam was more like modern Christianity in much of the west (in having very little impact on adherents' everyday behavior). If she's like that she'll do fine.
Veles - | 201
16 Aug 2016 #4
The case is whether these secular Muslims are able to assimilate. Also, women would not have problems most likely, anyway.
Sparks11 - | 333
16 Aug 2016 #5
She should be fine. Especially in Warsaw, there are many people who don't eat (certain kinds of) meat and who don't follow the traditionally Catholic lifestyle. Also more and more women wearing head coverings, if she does that.
mafketis 37 | 10,913
17 Aug 2016 #7
more and more women wearing head coverings

Why would this be a selling point? If anything it means Warsaw becoming a little more like the crap they want to get away from.
OP solento 1 | 1
18 Aug 2016 #8
I agree. My girlfirend can wear it at home sometimes but almost never when we are out.

Now I have to convince her about the advantages of Poland. After she had a bad experience with a rude polish taxi driver in London she is a bit negative to Poland. I tell her she cannot judge all Poles from that experience.
Paulina 16 | 4,390
18 Aug 2016 #9
My girlfirend can wear it at home sometimes but almost never when we are out.

Why would she wear it at home?

I've exchanged some e-mail messages with a young Muslim woman from Indonesia (a religious one - once when we were chatting she had to take a pause for her prayer) and it was a very nice experience. We talked about our countries, a bit about history, food, she sent me some recipes on how to use batatas because I bought some at the supermarket and didn't know what to do with them lol

She was very nice and friendly and it felt not much different than talking to a religious Catholic girl from Poland, tbh.

Considering your girlfriend doesn't even wear a hijab I don't see a problem, as far as her looks - she will have no more problems then, let's say, the Vietnamese would (if they have any), I suppose (?).

In which city in Poland would you like to live?
Ironside 53 | 12,423
18 Aug 2016 #10
I tell her she cannot judge all Poles from that experience.

I know you're a troll but never the less. Why would anyone care? If someone wants to immigrate to Poland should be well aware that Muslim people are not generally welcome. There is consensus to that in Poland.

I don't see much sense in Muslim immigration because as much as Poles are tolerant and not prone to violence - they would never tolerate attitude and a vibe that many Muslim emanating, especially if they are in numbers.

People of color might sometimes get to call names (rarely) but there is also consensus that is a bad thing to pick on someone because of their skin color.

Muslims from the middle east think themselves superior - and Poles would not stand for it.
On the other hand could learn to eat some pork.
123111111
2 Sep 2016 #11
My girlfriend is from Poland. She has no problem with entering a mosque. However, her and her daughter's habits are drinking alcohol and eating pork.

Would we have a problem with living in Islam community?
ANSWER: NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNo Way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Honeymoon55 6 | 28
2 Sep 2016 #12
In my opinion as an internaitonal student living in Poland i can tell that Muslims sometimes find it hard there to adapt NOT because they don't wanna ! It's mainly because Some polish people do not just want to give them a chance. I personally had 2 friends (Guy & Girl) from a Muslim country and more than often they used to get harassed verbally a lot and sometimes even physically ! But that was in Wroclaw, I don't know about other cities but from what i observed living with a lot of International students from all over the world that if you're a non white European, your life wouldn't be that easy in Poland.

After all this is my opinion from what i saw by my own eyes not to mention the attacks that happened to me.. But I hope you can have a better life and would be much better if you both live in bigger cities like Warsaw.
Wroclaw1010 3 | 91
2 Sep 2016 #13
The truth be told, your girlfriend not eating pork nor drinks alcohol does not make her a Muslim. She is just a sympathizer, not a Muslim. Being a Muslim is largely on believing that there is only one God(and his prophets) and the Salat(which should be put into practice). Without these two you're not a Muslim.

About being a Muslim in Poland, I would say there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm a Muslim and never have I ever had any issues with Poles. If you respect their values they will respect yours.
Honeymoon55 6 | 28
3 Sep 2016 #14
@Wroclaw1010
I agree with you on the part of not eating pork nor drinking alcohol aren't the factors that make you a muslim or not. However, I do disagree about the part that if you respect their values they will respect yours. Poles simply do not RESPECT Islam as a religion in general (most of them at least ) so it really doesn't matter. Me as a person, I tried very hard to learn the language as a way of respect to their nation plus that i never had any problem to have friends who drink or eat pork as well as i used to go clubbing normally BUT after all, they would still annoy me if i don't drink alcohol just because ''This is Poland, you have to drink''
984562
3 Sep 2016 #15
@ Honeymoon55

"Poles simply do not RESPECT Islam as a religion in general"

How absurd. What exactly do you base your opinion on? History? Read about the history of Polish Tartars. It's not like Islam is a foreign or recent concept to polish culture, they were oppressed throughout the centuries since the very beginning of our mutual coexistence LOL. Personal one? Did they forcibly make you eat pork or drink alcohol? Told you this is a no go zone for Muslim? Shun you? You're confusing simple teasing with hatred towards "unbelievers" which is more than can be said about the behavior of practicing Muslims witnessed throughout Europe on a daily basis be it in religious matters, one on one relations or respect of local laws and authority, theirs seem takes the precedence above all else wherever they form a large enough herd.
Nickidewbear 23 | 609
4 Sep 2016 #16
Why would this be a selling point? If anything it means Warsaw becoming a little more like the crap they want to get away from.

All head coverings are Mohammedan, right? Ok, then; these women must've missed that memo:


ufo973 10 | 88
4 Sep 2016 #17
No. Poland is not halam.

Hahahaha, The funny thing is that Polish people are immigrants themselves and immigrant hate on other immigrant is the funniest thing i came across.
This is how Polish immigrants feel in britain
buzzfeed.com/albertonardelli/harlows-poles-speak-of-tensions-abuse-and-a-lack-of-respect?utm_term=.dyXb63Oez#.bwgGrnaY9
nothanks - | 631
4 Sep 2016 #18
Hahahaha, The funny thing is that Polish people are immigrants themselves

Polish people living in Poland are immigrants?
mafketis 37 | 10,913
5 Sep 2016 #19
these women must've missed that memo:

Very intellectually dishonest, that chart.

Comparing nuns with lay women is not comparable. Also Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic women are only supposed to cover their hair in church (and many don't bother then, not one in twenty in Poland bothers to cover her head in church).

Hair covering is an old part of all middle eastern religions, is probably most related to regional cultural habits and is about the least spiritual way to express one's faith I can imagine. It's hard to take very seriously as a way of life.

More women covering their head in a modern European context is dog-whistle for "more muslims" since the hijab (a very modern thing) has become a way for muslims to exclude themselves from western values.
Atch 22 | 4,135
5 Sep 2016 #20
Comparing nuns with lay women

Agree. The photo shows a very old style of veil which is rarely worn by nuns these days. Even in Poland nuns wear far less elaborate concoctions than the one depicted and in holy Catholic Ireland nuns mostly dress in ordinary everyday clothes and certainly don't cover their heads. As for Catholic lay women I don't think they've covered their heads in church in Ireland since the 1970s and even then it was rare enough. Mostly it was a practice followed by elderly ladies who wore always hats or headscarves, not just in church, or by younger women who had a fancy lace Mantilla and wanted to show it off.
mafketis 37 | 10,913
5 Sep 2016 #21
Agree.

In addition, most orthodox Jewish women don't cover their hair with scarves but mostly shave their heads and wear wigs (sthreimels) sometimes with scarf like items as accessories.

And (like Mennonites and Aimish, and unlike Muslims) they don't proselytize.
Atch 22 | 4,135
5 Sep 2016 #22
Yes, you're absolutely right about the Jewish women wearing wigs. I remember seeing quite a few of them when I lived in London, around the Golders Green area. The wigs were sometimes very obvious depending on what their budget was!
mafketis 37 | 10,913
5 Sep 2016 #23
you're absolutely right about the Jewish women wearing wigs

Oops, but i was wrong about the name. A shtreimel is a kind of fur top hat worn by men (very cool looking), a wig worn by a jewish woman is a sheitel.
Honest Pole
5 Sep 2016 #24
Just read about the immigrant areas in Sweden. No Swede wants to live there

As you lived there, could you tell us what is happening there? Any interesting stories,


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