Why Are There So Many Muslims In Bangkok These Days?

[moe666]

Lots of Muslims in Thailand this time of year is not rock science. You will see many in Chiang Mai as well. In the end no matter how hot here it is cooler than where most live. Even if ramadan was not in August there would still be a lot visiting.

[lannarebirth]

It is an offence to wonder why you are seeing more tourists who are obviously muslim than usual. To openly voice this curiosity constructively constitutes a thought-crime and is punishable by some tersely worded aspersions on your demographic.

The Oberscharführethoughtsgeschafttroppen (Volunteer) in attendance has discretionary powers to dispense guidance and re-education for compliance to regulation levels of obtuseness under the Sanctimonious <deleted> Act 1984.

Before this thread gets closed. I just wanted to say I enjoy your posts. I think you mentioned your are either 100% Thai or Luk Kreung and that you were educated here in Thailand. You certainly represent that demographic very well. :jap:

[Beetlejuice]

I still say; who cares? And ask; what’s the point of this thread? Totally uninteresting.

Now if someone were to begin a thread saying; 2000 scantily clad young gorgeous girls invade Bangkok and are taking farangs as hostages, that would be interesting.

And why am I wasting a few precious minutes of my life reading and responding to this crap? All these questions and more will be answered in the OPs follow up thread titled: Why Are There So Many Big Fat Greeks With Beards In Bangkok These Days?

I am sure that the OPs next contribution on Thai visa will be a roller coaster of a ride, with thrills, excitement and a twist at the end.

In the meantime, I am moving over to the Chiang Mai forums. We get a much better class of people on there.

[PingManDan]

This would not be the reason, but Ramadan starts next month, I think around the 2nd or 3rd, at least this is what my caddy tells me.

[samran]

I still say; who cares? And ask; what’s the point of this thread?

If I was being cynical, then I'd say the point was to the fact that the OP was trying to 'dog whistle'.

You know, using comical terms such as 'Darth Vader costumes', terms which also can carry negative and aggressive connotations.

But why use Burqua if 'Darth Vader costume' will do?

But I will take to OP's guarantee's that his motives were pure as the driven snow.

To do otherwise would imply I was cynical of course, which I certainly am not.

Disingenuous, maybe..but cynical, never....

[lazygourmet]

As mentioned previously summer holidays, wedding season... and ramadan next month.

The poorer are coming to Thailand, while the richer are going to Geneva or Puerto Banus.

[ThaiPauly]

There are tons of them at Vejthani Hospital. Full Darth Vader dress and face shields. (Nice one btw )

They are medical 'tourists'.

My thoughts also, whenever I go to Bumrungrad Hospital the place is awash with people from the middle east,they outnumber westerners on quite a scale from what I have seen in fact I saw something that made me chuckle the last time I was there.

There were two ladies in full burqua kit in wheelchairs parked a good 20 yards apart,obviously not together, when one was moved she passed the other, and made a hand signal of recognition.

How on earth could she have known who she was?, they looked identical

I appreciate it's their custom and have no problem with it, but there must be individual tell tale signs of the persons identity, otherwise how would they ever interact with each other?

[Ulysses G.]

But why use Burqua if 'Darth Vader costume' will do?

Because it is mildly amusing?

[WebBangkok]

Why is there so many Asians in Thailand? lol

Nah but I was in Nana last night, eating outside of Subway and 100's walk past.

They seem Ok and you never see any drunken louts hassling Thai shop keepers and poking fun at them like to do with some other nationalities.

[Max2010]

Here"s my 2 cents to the question posed by the OP regarding the sudden number of us Muslims in Bangkok:

1. Because we can. Just like any Westerners, we visit Thailand any month of the year.

2. For medical reasons. Healthcare is of poor quality in most developing countries. People who can afford go to India and Thailand for medical care. It is not only Muslims who go abroad for treatments as well. I have seen large number of Westerners being treated in india when I took my parents for treatment. High medical costs in America makes it extremely difficult to afford medical care there. I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

3. Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports. Therefore, I refuse to travel there. I would rather spend my hard earned money in countries where I am welcomed and treated with respect. Many middle-class Muslim families feel the same way. Thailand respects me and therefore I come here very often for leisure with my family. I have never been mistreated here nor picked for "random search" in Asian countries.

4. Visa issues. Even before Sept. 11th, getting visas to go to the West has always been difficult. Is is much easier to travel to places like Thailand where visas are issued on arrival to most nationalities. India requres visas but they don't hassle you and don't require many documents to present to the embassy visa officers. Even the Saudis get 15 days on arrival in Bangkok. As a naturalized Canadian, my passport has not shielded me from being "randomly picked" from Western airports simply because of my Arabian race, so I refuse to be humiliated and help their depressed economies at the same time, by boycotting Western destinations.

5. If you paid attention to your geography classes in school, you would have learnt that not all Muslims live in the Middle East. And not all Muslims are devout just like not all Christians go to church. Also, there are many Arabs in the Middle East who wear what is considered an Islamic style of clothing though they practice Christianity or other faiths. The garment is just seen as a national dress rather than a religious dress. Many Africans and Indians in Africa wear Kanzu or male version of Hijab, especially when they celebrate weddings or go to Friday prayers.

6. I respect and learn alot from Bina from Israel. Though Ramadhan is in August, we do not have any special plans for wedding ceremonies prior, at least in Africa. We marry whenever we want or find the right partner. I will go for my holidays in the middle of Ramadhan and will have quite a few glasses of cold Heineken. I have married an Atheist and we never had a wedding celebrations. It is 27C in Tanzania, but I chose the beautiful beaches of Thailand to spend my time and money this summer. My brother will have an Islamic wedding in December in Australia.

Max20107

[WebBangkok]

5. If you paid attention to your geography classes in school, you would have learnt that not all Muslims live in the Middle East. And not all Muslims are devout just like not all Christians go to church. Also, there are many Arabs in the Middle East who wear what is considered an Islamic style of clothing though they practice Christianity or other faiths. The garment is just seen as a national dress rather than a religious dress. Many Africans and Indians in Africa wear Kanzu or male version of Hijab, especially when they celebrate weddings or go to Friday prayers.

Max20107

I wonder how many people in here think Muslims only live in Iraq and Iran lol

[thaibeachlovers]

I still say; who cares? And ask; what’s the point of this thread?

If I was being cynical, then I'd say the point was to the fact that the OP was trying to 'dog whistle'.

You know, using comical terms such as 'Darth Vader costumes', terms which also can carry negative and aggressive connotations.

But why use Burqua if 'Darth Vader costume' will do?

But I will take to OP's guarantee's that his motives were pure as the driven snow.

To do otherwise would imply I was cynical of course, which I certainly am not.

Disingenuous, maybe..but cynical, never....

FYI The cultural dress to which many refer as a burqua ( Afghanistan ) is probably not such. It could be an abaya ( Saudi ), and the "face shield" would probably be from Kuwait. The garb is called different things in different countries. It's also NOT islamic dress, though it may be worn by women from islamic countries that happen to be Muslim. It is a cultural dress. If it was an islamic requirement, the same garb would be worn in all islamic countries eg Malaysia and Indonesia, but it is not. It is not even an islamic requirement to cover the hair. I have worked with many Muslim women that did not cover their hair, even in Saudi ( except outside where men with sticks would beat them if they did not ).

The problem is that too many people from non Muslim countries confuse cultural dress with islamic requirements, so you get the stupidity of western women that convert to Islam wearing Arabic dress in the mistaken belief that it is necessary to do so to be a Muslim.

So if one feels the urge to ridicule the costume, you can do so safe in the knowledge that you are not being anti islamic, but anti culture.

[WebBangkok]

I have also seen drunk people hassle Muslims in Nana calling them all sorts of immature names. What the hell is up with that?

This old American man was giving real dirty looks at this muslim girl for no reason at the traffic lights, funny thing was his Thai girlfriend slapped him a few times to put him back in line lol.

[thaibeachlovers]

Here"s my 2 cents to the question posed by the OP regarding the sudden number of us Muslims in Bangkok:

1. Because we can. Just like any Westerners, we visit Thailand any month of the year.

2. For medical reasons. Healthcare is of poor quality in most developing countries. People who can afford go to India and Thailand for medical care. It is not only Muslims who go abroad for treatments as well. I have seen large number of Westerners being treated in india when I took my parents for treatment. High medical costs in America makes it extremely difficult to afford medical care there. I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

3. Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports. Therefore, I refuse to travel there. I would rather spend my hard earned money in countries where I am welcomed and treated with respect. Many middle-class Muslim families feel the same way. Thailand respects me and therefore I come here very often for leisure with my family. I have never been mistreated here nor picked for "random search" in Asian countries.

4. Visa issues. Even before Sept. 11th, getting visas to go to the West has always been difficult. Is is much easier to travel to places like Thailand where visas are issued on arrival to most nationalities. India requres visas but they don't hassle you and don't require many documents to present to the embassy visa officers. Even the Saudis get 15 days on arrival in Bangkok. As a naturalized Canadian, my passport has not shielded me from being "randomly picked" from Western airports simply because of my Arabian race, so I refuse to be humiliated and help their depressed economies at the same time, by boycotting Western destinations.

5. If you paid attention to your geography classes in school, you would have learnt that not all Muslims live in the Middle East. And not all Muslims are devout just like not all Christians go to church. Also, there are many Arabs in the Middle East who wear what is considered an Islamic style of clothing though they practice Christianity or other faiths. The garment is just seen as a national dress rather than a religious dress. Many Africans and Indians in Africa wear Kanzu or male version of Hijab, especially when they celebrate weddings or go to Friday prayers.

6. I respect and learn alot from Bina from Israel. Though Ramadhan is in August, we do not have any special plans for wedding ceremonies prior, at least in Africa. We marry whenever we want or find the right partner. I will go for my holidays in the middle of Ramadhan and will have quite a few glasses of cold Heineken. I have married an Atheist and we never had a wedding celebrations. It is 27C in Tanzania, but I chose the beautiful beaches of Thailand to spend my time and money this summer. My brother will have an Islamic wedding in December in Australia.

Max20107

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

[thaibeachlovers]

I have also seen drunk people hassle Muslims in Nana calling them all sorts of immature names. What the hell is up with that?

This old American man was giving real dirty looks at this muslim girl for no reason at the traffic lights, funny thing was his Thai girlfriend slapped him a few times to put him back in line lol.

Perhaps they used to work in Saudi. Most westerners I know that worked there would like to do the same.

[thaibeachlovers]

There are tons of them at Vejthani Hospital. Full Darth Vader dress and face shields. (Nice one btw )

They are medical 'tourists'.

My thoughts also, whenever I go to Bumrungrad Hospital the place is awash with people from the middle east,they outnumber westerners on quite a scale from what I have seen in fact I saw something that made me chuckle the last time I was there.

There were two ladies in full burqua kit in wheelchairs parked a good 20 yards apart,obviously not together, when one was moved she passed the other, and made a hand signal of recognition.

How on earth could she have known who she was?, they looked identical

I appreciate it's their custom and have no problem with it, but there must be individual tell tale signs of the persons identity, otherwise how would they ever interact with each other?

"but there must be individual tell tale signs of the persons identity, otherwise how would they ever interact with each other?"

I wondered that too, when I worked in Saudi. The only explanation I could get was the shoes.

Incidentally, if you think western women sometimes wear really ugly shoes, they've got nothing on the horrid things they sold in Saudi when I was there ( perhaps things have got better since ).

[mightyharriss]

Here"s my 2 cents to the question posed by the OP regarding the sudden number of us Muslims in Bangkok:

1. Because we can. Just like any Westerners, we visit Thailand any month of the year.

2. For medical reasons. Healthcare is of poor quality in most developing countries. People who can afford go to India and Thailand for medical care. It is not only Muslims who go abroad for treatments as well. I have seen large number of Westerners being treated in india when I took my parents for treatment. High medical costs in America makes it extremely difficult to afford medical care there. I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

3. Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports. Therefore, I refuse to travel there. I would rather spend my hard earned money in countries where I am welcomed and treated with respect. Many middle-class Muslim families feel the same way. Thailand respects me and therefore I come here very often for leisure with my family. I have never been mistreated here nor picked for "random search" in Asian countries.

4. Visa issues. Even before Sept. 11th, getting visas to go to the West has always been difficult. Is is much easier to travel to places like Thailand where visas are issued on arrival to most nationalities. India requres visas but they don't hassle you and don't require many documents to present to the embassy visa officers. Even the Saudis get 15 days on arrival in Bangkok. As a naturalized Canadian, my passport has not shielded me from being "randomly picked" from Western airports simply because of my Arabian race, so I refuse to be humiliated and help their depressed economies at the same time, by boycotting Western destinations.

5. If you paid attention to your geography classes in school, you would have learnt that not all Muslims live in the Middle East. And not all Muslims are devout just like not all Christians go to church. Also, there are many Arabs in the Middle East who wear what is considered an Islamic style of clothing though they practice Christianity or other faiths. The garment is just seen as a national dress rather than a religious dress. Many Africans and Indians in Africa wear Kanzu or male version of Hijab, especially when they celebrate weddings or go to Friday prayers.

6. I respect and learn alot from Bina from Israel. Though Ramadhan is in August, we do not have any special plans for wedding ceremonies prior, at least in Africa. We marry whenever we want or find the right partner. I will go for my holidays in the middle of Ramadhan and will have quite a few glasses of cold Heineken. I have married an Atheist and we never had a wedding celebrations. It is 27C in Tanzania, but I chose the beautiful beaches of Thailand to spend my time and money this summer. My brother will have an Islamic wedding in December in Australia.

Max20107

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

Two great posts here

[jackr]

I thought the op was as good a question as any, but as per usual the PC brigade stomped all over it.

Doesn't bother me who visits, but would be nice for those of these faiths to show some respect for their hosts. Removal of burqa should be mandatory.

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

Too right charging foreigners silly money for healthcare in UK. Btw, that same op would be free for me... does that piss you off, too?

[thaibeachlovers]

I thought the op was as good a question as any, but as per usual the PC brigade stomped all over it.

Doesn't bother me who visits, but would be nice for those of these faiths to show some respect for their hosts. Removal of burqa should be mandatory.

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

Too right charging foreigners silly money for healthcare in UK. Btw, that same op would be free for me... does that piss you off, too?

"Doesn't bother me who visits, but would be nice for those of these faiths to show some respect for their hosts. Removal of burqa should be mandatory."

I don't understand how they get away with it, especially as must stuff up the facial recognition technology. When France was debating the no burqua in public law, it was sickening how many people that should know better were claiming it contravened islamic rights when burquas are not islamic dress.

At least one Muslim terrorist escaped the law in Britain by wearing a burqua. Who knows how many more terrorists are walking around hidden from view and allowed to do do by an overly PC government?

"that same op would be free for me" and unfortunately, also for a lot of foreigners that are corrupt. Saw a lot coming through my surgical theatre.

[thaibeachlovers]

I thought the op was as good a question as any, but as per usual the PC brigade stomped all over it.

Doesn't bother me who visits, but would be nice for those of these faiths to show some respect for their hosts. Removal of burqa should be mandatory.

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

Too right charging foreigners silly money for healthcare in UK. Btw, that same op would be free for me... does that piss you off, too?

"as per usual the PC brigade stomped all over it"

PC, the curse of the west. Now it's even encroaching into LOS. Is there no escape from this pestilence?

[Max2010]

Here"s my 2 cents to the question posed by the OP regarding the sudden number of us Muslims in Bangkok:

1. Because we can. Just like any Westerners, we visit Thailand any month of the year.

2. For medical reasons. Healthcare is of poor quality in most developing countries. People who can afford go to India and Thailand for medical care. It is not only Muslims who go abroad for treatments as well. I have seen large number of Westerners being treated in india when I took my parents for treatment. High medical costs in America makes it extremely difficult to afford medical care there. I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

3. Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports. Therefore, I refuse to travel there. I would rather spend my hard earned money in countries where I am welcomed and treated with respect. Many middle-class Muslim families feel the same way. Thailand respects me and therefore I come here very often for leisure with my family. I have never been mistreated here nor picked for "random search" in Asian countries.

4. Visa issues. Even before Sept. 11th, getting visas to go to the West has always been difficult. Is is much easier to travel to places like Thailand where visas are issued on arrival to most nationalities. India requres visas but they don't hassle you and don't require many documents to present to the embassy visa officers. Even the Saudis get 15 days on arrival in Bangkok. As a naturalized Canadian, my passport has not shielded me from being "randomly picked" from Western airports simply because of my Arabian race, so I refuse to be humiliated and help their depressed economies at the same time, by boycotting Western destinations.

5. If you paid attention to your geography classes in school, you would have learnt that not all Muslims live in the Middle East. And not all Muslims are devout just like not all Christians go to church. Also, there are many Arabs in the Middle East who wear what is considered an Islamic style of clothing though they practice Christianity or other faiths. The garment is just seen as a national dress rather than a religious dress. Many Africans and Indians in Africa wear Kanzu or male version of Hijab, especially when they celebrate weddings or go to Friday prayers.

6. I respect and learn alot from Bina from Israel. Though Ramadhan is in August, we do not have any special plans for wedding ceremonies prior, at least in Africa. We marry whenever we want or find the right partner. I will go for my holidays in the middle of Ramadhan and will have quite a few glasses of cold Heineken. I have married an Atheist and we never had a wedding celebrations. It is 27C in Tanzania, but I chose the beautiful beaches of Thailand to spend my time and money this summer. My brother will have an Islamic wedding in December in Australia.

Max20107

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

I agree that Mulims in the Western world live freely, much more than in the Middle East. You cannot pay me enough to persuade me to pack up and live in Riyadh. My personal feeling is that, one must respect the cultures and rule of law of your host nation or of a place where you live. I don't personally believe in multiculturism. Even as a Muslim, I agree with the French government and other European countries who insist the Muslim women take down the veil when they drive, take a passport photo or in need of police inspection at airports. No exceptions. What I am against is, being put in the same catagory with murderers I have no connection with other than my skin color. When Timothy McVeigh killed hundrends of innocent children in Oklahoma with a car bomb, no one pointed fingers at Americans in foreign airports as possible terrorists. Those Saudi soldiers who crossed their borders into Bahrain to repress the will of the Bahraini people to live freely are trained and equipped by the Amnericans and British governments. Their soldiers attend the best military academies in the West. I won't even start with Al Ghraib Prison torture in iraq.

I understand where you are coming from. People must be protected at all costs, including picking up all Muslims for further checks at the airports. I think that those who blow themselves and kill innocent civilians could be avenging against NATO bombs which could have wiped his whole family or in his twisted mind, it is the only means for him to fight " foreign invaders". if we ignore the fact that innocent civilians, whom we never read much in westren press, are killed whenever "Smart" bombs are dropped in their villages, then we will never live in peace and the violence and death will surely come to your shores. Like any decent human being , I condone all forms of terrorism, from BOTH sides.

Max2010

[Max2010]

I thought the op was as good a question as any, but as per usual the PC brigade stomped all over it.

Doesn't bother me who visits, but would be nice for those of these faiths to show some respect for their hosts. Removal of burqa should be mandatory.

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for on ie month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

Too right charging foreigners silly money for healthcare in UK. Btw, that same op would be free for me... does that piss you off, too?

I don't expect to have free health care in London, i am a foreigner. I was comparing the prices of medical care in India against that of Britain. The main reason why middle-class people from the developing countries go to Bangkok and Mumbai for example, rather than London to be treated. The treatment for you might be free ( and I am not pissed off , but it sure is inconvenient. I paid cash but had to go to four different hospitals to do x-rays and other tests while similar tests were done under one roof in Mumbai for a fraction of the cost I paid at St. Thomas Hospital.

Max2010

[chuang]

Why so many Christians in Thailand??

If you look at statistics or just use common sense and knowledge, you'll know that there are in fact

not that many christians in Thailand right now.

I am so sorry, but your witty atempt at beeing funny kinda failed.

Were you perhaps trying to take a swing at me for being here? Sorry but I am an atheist.

The best part is these days " common sense " is not so common anymore.....

[metisdead]

An insulting post has been removed.

[thaibeachlovers]

Here"s my 2 cents to the question posed by the OP regarding the sudden number of us Muslims in Bangkok:

1. Because we can. Just like any Westerners, we visit Thailand any month of the year.

2. For medical reasons. Healthcare is of poor quality in most developing countries. People who can afford go to India and Thailand for medical care. It is not only Muslims who go abroad for treatments as well. I have seen large number of Westerners being treated in india when I took my parents for treatment. High medical costs in America makes it extremely difficult to afford medical care there. I paid $5000 for heart surgery and intensive care expenses for one month. The doctors in London wanted $25000 just for the same operation.

3. Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports. Therefore, I refuse to travel there. I would rather spend my hard earned money in countries where I am welcomed and treated with respect. Many middle-class Muslim families feel the same way. Thailand respects me and therefore I come here very often for leisure with my family. I have never been mistreated here nor picked for "random search" in Asian countries.

4. Visa issues. Even before Sept. 11th, getting visas to go to the West has always been difficult. Is is much easier to travel to places like Thailand where visas are issued on arrival to most nationalities. India requres visas but they don't hassle you and don't require many documents to present to the embassy visa officers. Even the Saudis get 15 days on arrival in Bangkok. As a naturalized Canadian, my passport has not shielded me from being "randomly picked" from Western airports simply because of my Arabian race, so I refuse to be humiliated and help their depressed economies at the same time, by boycotting Western destinations.

5. If you paid attention to your geography classes in school, you would have learnt that not all Muslims live in the Middle East. And not all Muslims are devout just like not all Christians go to church. Also, there are many Arabs in the Middle East who wear what is considered an Islamic style of clothing though they practice Christianity or other faiths. The garment is just seen as a national dress rather than a religious dress. Many Africans and Indians in Africa wear Kanzu or male version of Hijab, especially when they celebrate weddings or go to Friday prayers.

6. I respect and learn alot from Bina from Israel. Though Ramadhan is in August, we do not have any special plans for wedding ceremonies prior, at least in Africa. We marry whenever we want or find the right partner. I will go for my holidays in the middle of Ramadhan and will have quite a few glasses of cold Heineken. I have married an Atheist and we never had a wedding celebrations. It is 27C in Tanzania, but I chose the beautiful beaches of Thailand to spend my time and money this summer. My brother will have an Islamic wedding in December in Australia.

Max20107

"Because of the rise of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the West. As a Muslim, I am automatically treated as a terrorist in Western airports."

I take exception to that statement.

Most Christian western countries allow large Muslim populations to live unhindered amongst them ( unlike Saudi with Christians, for instance ). One only needs go to London to see that. In fact, western Christian people go out of their way to avoid offending other cultures, even to the extent of suppressing their own, something that would never happen in any Muslim country that I know of. Countries like Saudi actively suppress Christianity and other faiths, while expecting to be able to build mosques in London. As a Christian I always felt badly treated at Riyadh airport.

The only reason you may be singled out at western airports is that Muslims are the only people that currently blow themselves up to kill innocents. Till that stops, Muslims should expect to be given more attention than others, and I, and I expect eveyone else, hope that continues, as I have no wish to be killed by a suicide bomber on a plane, because the security became too PC to do their job properly.

I agree that Mulims in the Western world live freely, much more than in the Middle East. You cannot pay me enough to persuade me to pack up and live in Riyadh. My personal feeling is that, one must respect the cultures and rule of law of your host nation or of a place where you live. I don't personally believe in multiculturism. Even as a Muslim, I agree with the French government and other European countries who insist the Muslim women take down the veil when they drive, take a passport photo or in need of police inspection at airports. No exceptions. What I am against is, being put in the same catagory with murderers I have no connection with other than my skin color. When Timothy McVeigh killed hundrends of innocent children in Oklahoma with a car bomb, no one pointed fingers at Americans in foreign airports as possible terrorists. Those Saudi soldiers who crossed their borders into Bahrain to repress the will of the Bahraini people to live freely are trained and equipped by the Amnericans and British governments. Their soldiers attend the best military academies in the West. I won't even start with Al Ghraib Prison torture in iraq.

I understand where you are coming from. People must be protected at all costs, including picking up all Muslims for further checks at the airports. I think that those who blow themselves and kill innocent civilians could be avenging against NATO bombs which could have wiped his whole family or in his twisted mind, it is the only means for him to fight " foreign invaders". if we ignore the fact that innocent civilians, whom we never read much in westren press, are killed whenever "Smart" bombs are dropped in their villages, then we will never live in peace and the violence and death will surely come to your shores. Like any decent human being , I condone all forms of terrorism, from BOTH sides.

Max2010

"When Timothy McVeigh killed hundrends of innocent children in Oklahoma with a car bomb, no one pointed fingers at Americans in foreign airports as possible terrorists"

While not wishing to get into a tit for tat situation, it is only fair to mention that caucasian American terrorists normally target their own country, while Muslim terrorists are attacking other countries and aircraft. There has been no evidence that Christian Americans or Britons are boarding planes with the intent of immolating themselves, no matter how much the overly PC British airport security services target white middle England mothers with breast fed infants and their families in attendance.

BTW, I sincerely hope you meant to say that you CONDEMN terrorism, not condone it.

[richard_smith237]

I walked around Paragon today and I too noticed a large number of Middle Eastern folk mooching around the shops amongst the Thai's and Westerners of many other nationalities.... I also noticed a lot of attractive women wearing very short skirts and shorts (but thats for a new topic)....

I like this level of multiculturalism - If ever regular Middle Eastern people felt they were unwelcome in Thailand then it also might not be the place that welcomes me as a Westerner. I feel comfortable and happy here, and I'm sure many other nationalities do too.

This topic is an interesting one and I must say its a pleasure to read the comments of those posters such as Max2010 and also some views of others on this subject, especially as some might consider this a somewhat taboo topic in rather excessively politically correct times, while at the same time recognizing a certain level of paranoia generated by Western Tabloids.

It's good to read of many opinions and that not every westerner is a bigot, in the same manner not every Arab is a potential terrorist threat - I appreciate reading these points of view especially when the topic can remain civil.

Isn't it all about achieving a healthy balance? I for one would severely miss the Middle Eastern influence in Bangkok as much as I would miss the Japanese influence, the Italian Influence, Korean, American, Indian influence - Of course I'm talking about restaurants..... and thats is some of the small benefit multiculturalism brings us.... The fanatics of any nationality or religion can go jump and leave the rest of the world in tolerant peace.

[bina]

regular Middle Eastern people felt they were unwelcome in Thailand

that not all Muslims live in the Middle East. And not all Muslims are devout just like not all Christians go to church. Also, there are many Arabs in the Middle East who wear what is considered an Islamic style of clothing though they practice Christianity or other faiths

exctly. one of the girls who works with me, her mother was raised in a christian convent in israel although her parents are from two different large muslem 'hamula' (clans) in our nearby muslem city/town (ottman and abdul rahman in abu gosh)... she wears regular western israeli teenage girl clothes; sister chose to wear head covering as do others of the women working here (and which, btw, they wear when working in our kibbutz kindergarten. one parent objected. the parent's child does not continue in our kindergarten.)... there are several christians in nearby town, and also in nazareth and the women wear 'modest' dress; no diffent then the israeli orthodox jews visitinf in thailand, headcoverings/wigs long sleeves long skirts and all (hot as hell, i must say)...

anyhow, among our muslem workers here, most fast and dont touch alcohol; some just during ramadan, others eat here but not at home during ramadan (out of sight of grandparents,just like i eat on yom kippur, not in front of everyone to be provocotive)...

the guys from the local village here go in the winter to thailand for the sports as ive said before; they can eat hallal or bring with them (one guy brought all instant food); some drink, majority dont.. some dont go with woemn before mariage, others do... but the wedding thing is an absolute fact around here-- one a night until ramadan. then we have quiet until the end of the fast days ....

cant understand the big fuss either way;

not sure who regular middle east people are? im a regular middle east person (israeli) ; i might be unwelcome due to the actions of after-army kids on treks in khoa san but other then that? felt definately more unwelcome in uzbakistan airport; felt welcome in the sinai and taba no problem...

seems like people who dont live in the regular middle east make more of a fuss then those that do....... btw, plenty sudanese muslems here also, and none of the women wear the 'modest' clothing although the men will , as mentioned above, wear the various typesof robes on holidays etc...

the funniest thng was watchng epressions of the muslem guys when i showed them pics of thai muslems (whom they never knew existed for that matter)... it was a revelation... and here, btw, brides are chosen by parents but final choice is the girl/guy for the most part apart from the beduin groups, and aprt from the more citified modern folks; and the christian arabs are a bit more lenient in all ways... just like differences between small town bible belt attitudes and new york soho attitudes; or bannork issan/khmen vx. big city types....

totally off the subject but the subject was basically a non subject to begin with...

bina

israel

[Trembly]

It is an offence to wonder why you are seeing more tourists who are obviously muslim than usual. To openly voice this curiosity constructively constitutes a thought-crime and is punishable by some tersely worded aspersions on your demographic.

The Oberscharführethoughtsgeschafttroppen (Volunteer) in attendance has discretionary powers to dispense guidance and re-education for compliance to regulation levels of obtuseness under the Sanctimonious <deleted> Act 1984.

Before this thread gets closed. I just wanted to say I enjoy your posts. I think you mentioned your are either 100% Thai or Luk Kreung and that you were educated here in Thailand. You certainly represent that demographic very well. :jap:

I am indeed a halfling. I thank you sir.

[edwardandtubs]

Anyone seen this guy in Bangkok recently? I'm not sure what he'd make of the nam som sellers.

[Mrjlh]

I have also seen drunk people hassle Muslims in Nana calling them all sorts of immature names. What the hell is up with that?

This old American man was giving real dirty looks at this muslim girl for no reason at the traffic lights, funny thing was his Thai girlfriend slapped him a few times to put him back in line lol.

How did you know he was American? Did he have that tattooed on his forehead?