"Ironically we show more respect to your cultures and needs here than you do!..Even that you are the once who are living with us and working in our country…
Haven’t you notice that?"
I've had to think about this for a while.
There are definitely plenty of people in the U.S. who dislike Muslims. And, according to a recent poll, nearly half of Americans say they have an unfavorable view of Islam. On the other hand, Muslims living in the U.S. have the right to wear hijab, to pray in public, to proselytize non-Muslims, and so on.
Here in Qatar, I've never had anyone harass me for being Christian. However, I don't have the right to pray in public. I can't legally proselytize (not that I would anyway). I can't even buy a copy of my Scriptures in this country.
So on the one hand, I think you're right that Qataris show an amazing amount of respect and tolerance for outsiders. (And I am often appalled by expats' disregard for Islam, by wearing inappropriate clothes etc.) But Qatar is very far from having freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
"Ironically we show more respect to your cultures and needs here than you do!..Even that you are the once who are living with us and working in our country…
Haven’t you notice that?"
I've had to think about this for a while.
There are definitely plenty of people in the U.S. who dislike Muslims. And, according to a recent poll, nearly half of Americans say they have an unfavorable view of Islam. On the other hand, Muslims living in the U.S. have the right to wear hijab, to pray in public, to proselytize non-Muslims, and so on.
Here in Qatar, I've never had anyone harass me for being Christian. However, I don't have the right to pray in public. I can't legally proselytize (not that I would anyway). I can't even buy a copy of my Scriptures in this country.
So on the one hand, I think you're right that Qataris show an amazing amount of respect and tolerance for outsiders. (And I am often appalled by expats' disregard for Islam, by wearing inappropriate clothes etc.) But Qatar is very far from having freedom of expression and freedom of religion.