• Burkini: Banned from swimming pool for following her religion

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Many of you seem to forget that this man is as entitled to his views as you are. I am an ex-Muslim who belongs to a group of similar apostates. We feel that Islam is possibly the most disciminatory religion that ever existed. You don't like the criticism? Get used to it because it won't be going away!

- Henry Page, Newhaven, East Sussex

Who is he to complain about someone's wedding! A wedding is a personal choice - why should the bride and groom think about the MP when organising THEIR wedding? Should they ask the guests what colours they do or don't like so they can choose decos in the colour everyone likes - how rediculous!!!!! I thought this was a free country!!!

- Neelu, Romford

" Segregation at weddings aren't laid down by Islamic law. The stranglehold by the Islamic Forum of Europe, who advocate Sharia law, are the issue. "
"These *newly* acquired ways seem dictated by political nuances more than faith. People worry that some imported fundamentalist or hardline Imams have not always been a helpful influence on Muslims who have been born in Britain."

Hold on a moment. What do you know about Islam to make these comments? Segregation IS part of the muslim faith, some will adhere to this and some won't. Gentlemen, please study Islam before making baseless comments. If segregation is a threat to society- PROVE YOUR POINT.

"Perhaps for his next tantrum Jim Fitzpatrick might want to rage against Catholics' refusal to ordain women priests, and the continued practice of single-sex toilets in this country. Or is he only offended by sexual segregation when it's Muslims who are practising it?"

LOL. Well said.

- Umm Abdurrahman, Watford

I went to a Sikh wedding this weekend. I had to cover my hair in the temple, and men and women were sat seperately. And there was no problem. I was there to celebrate the wedding of a dear friend, I had a great time, and I was enriched by learning about the different cultural and religious traditions.

As an MP he should have done his homework and if he had an issue with it he should not have attended. Although I suspect he knew and was trying to jump on the anti-Islam bandwaggon for some pathetic publicity. Hopefully this will backfire against him and he will not be re-elected in that area.

Some Muslims choose to have their weddings segregated and some don't - there is nothing in the faith to say it has to be that way howeve it comes down to personal choice. In many cases its because women want to take off their headscarves, get dressed up and dance freely - and in most cases the women end up having a much better time than the men do anyway!

He seems to find it offensive to women (clearly showcasing his own ignorance) - but I wonder how many stag dos he has been to with strippers...I would find that far more offensive to the new bride!

- Aysh, London

Imagine if Sheila his wife was carrying a child and it was time to breast feed him/her, i am sure she would have been much happier with all the women rather than the men staring at her while she was feeding the child.Jim you got it all wrong ,it is time to apologize ,forget and forgive!

- Akhter, Bradford, England.

How dare this stupid little man ruin what is meant to be
a beautiful day for this couple. How they choose to
celerate they're wedding was not his decision. I only hope
the people of his constituancy speak up as one and get rid
of him as he's giving the majority of good
people in the UK a bad name. We're not all as small minded
as him!!

- Kelly, Scotland

What a Numpty! Never insult anyone at ANY wedding, for any reason! no matter what! especially when you are invited as a Guest... save it for a later time..LET THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM TAKE PRECEDEDENCE...

,.

- Frank, Bristol UK

We should ban bachelors' parties then. His reaction is so labour. Divide and, hopefully, conquer.

Like:
"British jobs for British people"
ops...that didn't work

then
"British homes for British people"
still not working.


Well, let's try and blame the muslims.

- Emmanuel, Letchworth

All Islamic events should be strictly segregated. There is no intermingling between the sexes. If you are complaining publicly must mean that you have no sensitivity to your so-called Musllim friends. If you had any real respect for them you would have stayed, questioned them privately and maybe asked for clarification from the administration of that Masjid. But no, you went to the press to show your intolerance toward Islam and Muslims. May Allaah guide you to the truth.

- Umm Makkah Sakinah Bint Philip Hyman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

I would be interested to find out Jim Fitzpatrick's views on single sex toilets in his constituency and how this fits into his ideology of community cohesion. With such knowledge and intellect, it leaves little imagination as to why Gorden Brown gave Jim FItzpatrick the job of 'Minister of Growing Vegtables'

- J, London

They were quite right to leave after such an insult. This is NOT a Muslim country .... Yet!

- Vince, London, West London

What an absolute idiot. Trust an MP to score points and upstage the bride and groom at a wedding of all places. Absolutely disgusted at his childish behaviour.

- Shareef, London

Understand other's perspectives and if you are unsure....question rather than point fingers....we naturally fear that which we do not understand....

- Faisal, St Albans, United Kingdom

In the light of the above, we can see that the free intermingling of both the sexes is not allowed. Islam enjoins on both men and women to cast down their looks in presence of each other. How is it possible for men and women to meet freely in dinners, tea parties and other social events with looks cast down?. There is not a single instance in the history of early Islam of men and women being allowed to meet each other freely in any social, political or religious gathering. Even in the Masjid men and women had their separate rows at the time of prayers. The Hadith considers the free mixing with in-laws as death, as there is a greater risk of Fitna.

In one narration, listening to the voice of a woman with lust has been termed as adultery. The scholars have debated whether the voice of a women is Awrah, although according to the Hanafi Madhab it is not considered awrah, but it shows the importance of keeping away from free mixing. If a young woman says Salam to a Non-Mahram, he should reply within himself and not let the woman hear his reply [see “Taqreerat” of Rafi'e on the “Hashiya” of Ibn Abideen].

Ibn Abideen says in his “Hashiya”: If one fears Fitna or lust then it will be Haram for him to look at the face of a woman. This was in the early days. However, in our times [Ibn Abideen's] one is not allowed to look at the face of a Non-Mahram woman, not because it's part of the Awra, rather due to Fitna.

It is thus clear that Islam insist on the segregation of sexes.

- Faisal, St Albans, United Kingdom

The above mentioned [and other] verses of the Qur'an and sayings of the Prophet [Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam] indicate the importance of observing the proper limits of gender interaction.

The following are the rules deduced from the Qur'an and Sunnah regarding the social behavior of men and women, as outlined by the scholars:

a) Both men and women should dress properly and modestly, such that their nakedness (awra) is covered with loose clothing that does not define the shape of the limbs below. This, of course, includes women being in proper hijab, both avoiding tight-fitting clothing;

b) Men and women who are not immediately related should not talk to each other unnecessarily. When there is a genuine need (such as work or education) to talk, the conversation should be in a modest, restrained manner, and be limited to the extent of the need;

c) It is from the guidance of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that women cannot wear fragrances that might catch the attention of strange men;

d) Both men and women should lower their gazes. It is disliked to look at someone young of the opposite sex even without the fear of desire; when one even fears desire, it is impermissible to look;

e) Particular care must be given to one’s interaction with in-laws, relatives, and others one is likely to have sustained contact with, such as co-workers.

- Faisal, St Albans, United Kingdom

This Hadith is clear that the companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to observe separation (hijab) in a way that there use to be a curtain or a veil between the sexes. If free mixing was acceptable, then there was no need for this. Besides, if such separation was against the spirit of the Sharia, the Messenger of Allah would have certainly pointed it out to her.

2) Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim narrate in their Sahih from Uqba ibn Amir (Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah said: “Do not go near [non-Mahram] women.” A person inquired: “What about in-laws?” The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) responded, “The in-laws are death.”

The Prophet of Allah (Allah have mercy on him) compared male in-laws to death. This means that one should be even more careful with in-laws with regards to interaction as there is greater risk for fitna, especially given the comfortable, social atmosphere in which both parties may lower their guard and forget lowering their gazes.

3) Imam Muslim narrates from Jarir ibn Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) who says: ”Iasked Allah's Messenger about the sudden glance on a Non - Mahram. He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes.

4) Buraida reported that the Messenger of Allah said to Ali [Allah be pleased with him]: “O Ali! don't allow your glance to follow a glance, because the first [glance] is forgiven and not the second. [Narrated by Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Imam Ahmad].

- Faisal, St Albans, United Kingdom

The regulations related to male-female interaction are essential to the very soundness of human civilization. If ignored, they threaten its very survival.

Islam is not just a religion but also a social order that enables individuals to attain the cherished goal of material happiness and welfare in the world and to prepare them for the next world through righteousness and virtuous deeds.

Islam removes the possible causes which may breed corruption. It strikes hard at the root of evil and suggests measures which may bring about peaceful, happy and harmonious relations among the Muslims.

It discourages free and unbridled contact between men and women in order to check the consequences of undesirable impulses. It puts restraint to such impelling forces which might play a disastrous role in degenerating the mind of young men and women.

The sexual instinct is the greatest weakness of the human race. That is why Shaytan selected this weak spot for his attack on the believer.

In the present-day society, we see that the family system has been totally shattered.

The husband and the wife are working in different places in an atmosphere of free mixing of the sexes. Sometimes it leads to unlawful contacts with strangers and ultimately to divorce and the destruction of the home.

We can see for ourselves the disastrous outcome of giving unlimited freedom for mixed gatherings.

- Faisal, St Albans, United Kingdom

Mr Fitzpatrick has abused the concept of 'social cohesion' completely. If men and women are kept apart for a few minutes during wedding , how on earth does that interfere with social cohesion?

- Mynameis41, Coventry

I find it very hard to understand an MP who is invited which is an honour to be invited and one should respect the host's wishes or decline the offer politely. The segregation at marriages is not practiced by many Muslims, it is also to be found at Hindu, Sikh and other cultures. Jim should have done his homework and or must have been told so therefore if he found it offensive HE should have not taken his partner with him and made a fuss about it after the event.
May the couple have a happy marriage without this fuss.
When I get invited to any occasion I spend a lot of time to make the occasion a happy one for both the host and myself and if there are any short comings I negate them and high light the good points perhaps Jim F can take this on board.

- Majid Hawa, Englefield Green Surrey

New Labour are now courting the non-muslim vote, hence these non-stories planted in the press. Don't be fooled. This party has sucked up to every special and fringe group, especially if they're not white, or Christian, or heterosexual, or employed, or taxpaying,or libertarians. What muslims do at their ceremonies, within the non-sharia law, is not his business. Just as muslims should conform to the norms and customs and laws of their host country.

- Ronold, London

In their eagerness to harvest the muslim vote, the Labour Government confused democracy and freedoms. They translated those as "do as you like" and "make it up as you go along" to those newly arriving as mass migrants. Too lazy to try to educate themselves to the different religions and sects, they sat back and encouraged a free for all approach. For many years they wilfully failed to understand the likes of Abu Hansa, Omar Bakri, Andrem Chowdri...and the rest. They couldn't believe that their tolerance was being met with, and nurturing intolerances.

Still too lazy to clarify the and identify from all of the varying muslims who have come from so many sects and different countries, they are content to homogenise muslims as just one group. They totally fail for instance, to observe the expanding followings of, just two, extremely hardline muslims groups, energetically operating in this country; the Wahhabi sect (Saudi Arabia), and the Deobandis sect, (India). A lot of money is pouring into backing them. Fitzpatrick seems to be nudging us to open our eyes and take stock. Not against muslim people at large, far from it, but at political movements out to further their own ends. Perhaps if we look a little more closely, we'll take the opportunity to prevent another Abu Hanza and very much worse.

- M. Pennington, London

Mr Fitzpatrick should be aware that at Muslim functions they will have their own quirks. Why did he go?

- Roy G, Solihull, England

Muslim weddings I have been to usually have the main wedding ritual segregated. In one room , the priest deals with the groom asking him 3 times if he takes the woman as his wife. Then he goes to the other and asks the bride 3 times if he takes the man as her husband. After that, there is some prayer and the ritual is over. After that, the men and women can be in the same room. This isnt anything to do with some IFE, people just want to follow a tradition/religious ritual that has been in their families for generations. It isnt harming anyone. If someone cannot respect that, they are unfit to be an MP.

- Sayid, London

Our multicultural attitudes are actually making segragation worse instead of better. we are making it too easy for people to live lives totally separate from the rest of society.

- Barry, woking, GB

I'm surprised Mr Fitzpatrick didn't realise or wasn't told before he attended that it would be separate seating.

- Adam, Harrow, UK

The rapidly gaining encroachment of the fundamentalist leaning, Islamic Forum of Europe in the Forrest Gate/Tower Hamlets area is the disturbing aspect. The enforcement of their views on the local Muslim population is the disturbing aspect. The segregated weddings, not the norm in Bangladeshi weddings, just represents the influence of this group's growing dominance. Segregation at weddings aren't laid down by Islamic law. The stranglehold by the Islamic Forum of Europe, who advocate Sharia law, are the issue. Not the wedding/s. What's next on this group's agenda for British Muslim women? No Muslim women drivers? No women's education? No jobs/careers? Separate doctors, dentists...shops, buses? Britain's freedoms have been very hard won. We are not Saudi Arabia...yet!

Well done to this MP for speaking his mind. Glad to see others are doing the same if they find that the IFE have secret, even sinister designs of their own.

- Graham, London

I'm not clear how this segregation is practised - but let's assume it means men and women are in separate rooms and cannot mix. If this is fine at a wedding, then it must also hold true that is it fine to segregate men and women at other celebrations: birthdays for example as that would be the parents' choice for children, or the celebrant's choice. So if personal celebrations are ok to be segregated, then it must also hold true that the workplace must respect our personal choices - so men and women are segregrated in the office, or in fact, an employer would not need to hire a man or a women if it would affect this segregation. This issue is not about a right to choose to segregate, but about how whether we tolerate the whole idea of segregration. Afterall, it's not such a big leap between male and female segregration and between black and white - and I think we can all agree, that was plain injust.

- R, London

New Labour surrender monkey surprised by Islamic political correctness whatever next!

- Jim, london

Segregation? Stag nights and hen parties?

And to answer Mike Hudgell's point, it was a wedding celebration, not the legal marriage ceremony which is done separately.

- Sam, London

Faisal seems to pinpoint the problem. He talks about having attended past mixed weddings, but segregated ones *recently*. The MP who has been MP in the Muslim dominated Tower Hamlets area appears to be pin-pointing a modern trend. Just as burka's have been a completely modern fashion in this country. I've attended Muslims weddings, they were mixed but that's changing only now. These *newly* acquired ways seem dictated by political nuances more than faith. People worry that some imported fundamentalist or hardline Imams have not always been a helpful influence on Muslims who have been born in Britain.

- J V S, London

A wedding is a matter for the bride and groom and their families to decide? The state's role is to register the fact that two people have become wed, not to attempt to press any particular form or ceremony on the participants.

However, it's not "a tantrum" to leave, if the chosen form offends one's personal values. Doing so is just as valid a personal choice, as the decision on segregation was. Passive acquiescence to things that offend one's own values helps extremism and intolerance to gain ground. Polite but resolute opposition is better.

It's like the press: "I don't like what you are saying, but I'll fight for your right to say it". And unstated, I'll then use my right to say loud and clear why I think you are wrong.

- Nigel, London

So how does that meet the legal requirement that all weddings must be open to everyone to give them a chance to object if no women are present to have that opportunity?

- Mike Hudgell, London, England

Perhaps for his next tantrum Jim Fitzpatrick might want to rage against Catholics' refusal to ordain women priests, and the continued practice of single-sex toilets in this country. Or is he only offended by sexual segregation when it's Muslims who are practising it?

- Charlie, Soho, London

it really is down to the bride and groom - we have had family weddings were it was mixed but at more recent family weddings they are segregated. Its a shame we talk about multi-culturalism and talk about how diversity is a asset in the UK and the fact that we need greater community cohesion and yet part of this acceptiong someone who has different morals and principals - its not wrong just different! In community cohesion we should focus on commonalities instead of differences as differences divide.

- Faisal, St Albans, United Kingdom

Some Muslims and institutions are nowadays picking and honing in on wider degrees of separation to represent growing authoritarian views. Far from us mixing together in any multicultural society, we're hopelessly experiencing segregation and divide. Some groups seem heck bent on proving..."east is east and west is west, and never the twain shall meet".

- Anita, London

Has Jim Fitzpatrick taken leave of his senses? How could he claim to be building social cohesion if he is disrespecting the traditions of people from other backgrounds? Many cultures represented in the UK, including Asian and Jewish in his own consitiuency, have segregated weddings. Is he really fit to be an MP in a multicultural community?

- Frank, London

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