I am a Muslim Woman

November 21, 2001 | Furi Setio Rini

[Ronin]

Hello,

My name is Furi Setio Rini and I am a Muslim woman. I am 20 years old and live in Jakarta, Indonesia. I am attending my third year of medical school at Trisatki University. My friend, Ronin, asked me to write this because he is very disturbed about the hatred of Islam that he is seeing on your board.

What can I say about me? Well, I think I am an average Indonesian girl. I like movies and music. I love to shop for new clothes. Sometimes I eat too much. I do not like the music that is too loud. I don't like politics and I don't understand them.

I have to laugh when I hear western people talk about Muslim women. Somehow they think that all of us are beaten by men and treated like animals. If you had ever seen my father, my brothers and me, running away from my mother when she was angry, you would know how silly that is.

I have never worn a veil. I wear make up and I use lipstick. Except on the days I go to Mosque. On those days I clean myself as much as I can. I do not believe that it makes much difference to God, but I want him to see me with my true face, and heart.

I have two brothers. One of them is older, the other is younger than me. I guess that they are like brothers everywhere. Sometimes I love them. Sometimes I hate them. Sometimes I wish I could kill them. But no, that is a lie. Even when I think I hate them, I love them. They are my brothers, my family. I love and respect my father and my mother. I adore my father and hope to find a husband just like him.

I have not been kissed yet. And I have not been held as a woman wants to be held. Yes, I want it. Yes, I dream about it. But I can wait until I find the man I will marry. And no -- it will not be a marriage arranged by my parents. I will choose my husband, and he will choose me. We will marry because we love each other and want to spend the rest of our lives with each other. God willing.

I am studying to be a doctor. It is my best dream and ambition to be a doctor in a small village where doctors are rare. I want to be able to help the most common people of my country. I want to make life better for them. I want to bring happy and healthy babies to loving mothers and proud fathers. I want to give comfort to the old people who have so much to teach us. I want to share my love with true and real results.

I am not perfect. I am quite lazy sometimes and I have to force myself to studies on days when it is too hot, or at times when there are so many other interesting things to do. But this is a story about Muslim women, so maybe I should talk about that a little. What is Islam to me? This is a question that is very hard for me to answer. Islam is in my blood. I pray to God each day. I ask for health and happiness for my family, my friends and my country. More than that I cannot say. I love God and I pray to Him daily. . Is that any different from you?

I pray to God each day for wisdom. But the newspapers and the television and the radio shows me nothing but images I do not want to see. I can't stand the pictures I see.

I hate war. I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!

I hate it almost as much as I hate pediatrics class. Not because I hate newborn babies, I love them. I want my own babies. But, I hate learning about the illnesses and the horrible conditions that can happen when a baby gets sick.

My heart cries. Sometimes, just opening the textbook is a horror. To see a stillborn baby makes a small death inside me. But I must learn, because if I cannot learn to treat them and make them well, more babies may die. I cannot think of anything worse.

I think that most Indonesian girls are like me. And, most Indonesian boys are like boys everywhere. They like cars and sports. They play music too loud. When they think they are so cool and exciting, they are usually very boring. The television and radio you see is not showing you the proper vision of my country or my people. We live and we love. We go to restaurants, movies, and clubs.

I do not drink alcohol, but I do not find that a hardship. (I did have a glass of red wine once. It did not taste very good.) My father and my brother smoke cigarettes, but I don't. No, we do not eat pork.

Men say that the words of God are in the Holy Quran, the Christian Bible and in the Jewish books. I do not know about that. I read the Holy Quran and try to live my life in the teachings that it contains. But inside my heart I know the only commandment of God is love. I love God. And I know that God is love.

So, this is my testament. It is not very profound.

I am a Muslim woman. I love God. God is love. I love you all.

Furi Setio Reni

[Ronin]

This was written by Ms. Rini. All I have done is correct the spelling and clean up the grammar a bit. The words and thoughts are her own.

I have a photo of Ms. Rini on my computer, but I do not know how to post it to the article. If anyone can help with that, please FReep Mail me.

[crazykatz]

Got those air islam pictures ready???

[Cool Guy]

BUMP!

[Hildy]

Very nice. But to post this here, in my opinion, is an insult. I think I speak for most of the people at FR when I say that we are quite aware that not all Muslim women wear veils, are beaten, etc. etc. We are not morons, like Ms. Rini thinks we are.

[NetValue]

Bravo Sierra.

[crazykatz]

I prefer open pit roasted myself...Serbian style....the whole piglet....apple in the mouth...hmmmmmmmmm.

[yazd]

To see a stillborn baby makes a small death inside me. But I must learn, because if I cannot learn to treat them and make them well, more babies may die. I cannot think of anything worse.

Please ask her if she has any thoughts she can share with us about Al-Qaeda and the 5,000 WTC dead. She did not mention that matter at all.

[RobbyS]

Does she know about East Timor, or that westerners are fleeing from her country because they fear her co-religionists?

[OK]

Nobody said there are not a lot of good people in Islam. The problem is that the Koran advises some things that are incompatible with freedom of religion, and advises attacking or killing "infidels".

By the way, the author said nothing condemning the attack on the WTC, or repudiating these repugnant verses in the Koran.

[Joe Hadenuf]

-- --- .-. . / -... ...

[Libertarian_4_eva]

We don't hate all muslems for christs sake. We hate the bullshit that is being played out in the middle east. The sponsoring of terrorists by rich arab states who then clame they know nothing. If your too dumb to understand that most muslems in SOME of the arab states would like to dominate the world with their religion then your way past reason. Take a look at how they treat women in their own nation. They would love to export their domination of Islam to your nation. Not only killing all christians and jews but also those muslems who do not support their views.

[illbenice]

Just remember its not good people that we hate its people that hate us that we have no patience for.

[P-Marlowe]

This woman probably has never read the Qu'ran.

[Aedammair]

Excellent post; keep them coming if you can!

[IronJack]

I would suggest to Ms. Reni that she is an atypical Muslim woman. Most of her sisters are NOT studying to be doctors. You might want to look at the Revolutionary Association of Afghan Women (RAWA) site for a completely different perspective.

I'm glad your life is good, and that you share certain values with us in the West. But I assure you, there ARE Muslims who don't. If you want true horror, put down your pediatrics text and look at the pictures of the World Trade Center. That's horror. Unleashed by practitioners of YOUR religion on innocent men, women, and CHILDREN in a pair of office buildings in downtown Manhattan.

Pardon us if we're inclined to think of you as barbarians.

[freebilly]

Yes, there are many good Muslims, but we've heard precious few tell how disgusted the attacks on the WTC and Pentagon made them. Nor have I heard any state how ashamed they are that madmen have committed these acts in the name of Allah.

The silence has been both thunderous and deafening.

[Shermy]

I have not been kissed yet. And I have not been held as a woman wants to be held. Yes, I want it. Yes, I dream about it.

Hmmmm... Sounds a little Manga-ish, but let's get that picture posted!!!

Men (!) say that the words of God are in the Holy Quran, the Christian Bible and in the Jewish books. I do not know about that. I read the Holy Quran and try to live my life in the teachings that it contains. But inside my heart I know the only commandment of God is love. I love God. And I know that God is love.

What's that, Gospel of John? Get her e-mail, I bet many can send her some helpful info. Warn her to stay away from East Timor, Irian Jaya, Moluccas, etc.

[RobbyS]

There were foreigners who lived quite comfortably in Nazi Germany before the war, and since they looked upon the Nazi activities as colorful pageants and had no interest in politics, they regarded outside criticism to be exaggerated.

[crystalk]

How does she feel about the current ongoing campaign of mass murder against Timorese and other Christians in Indonesia? Sudan? Pakistan?

Does she feel any sympathy at all for the 5000+ Americans and others killed in Islam's brutal assault upon the United States?

What have she and her boy friend personally done to curb the excesses of Islamic madmen worldwide?

[dixiemelody]

But inside my heart I know the only commandment of God is love.
Sorry, but wrong. God has more commandments than love. People don't want to think of having to suffer consequences for their sin, so they choose to only think of God as love. There is much more. But thank God for Jesus Christ who suffered for us. Islam is not the way to Heaven. We can only get their through Jesus Christ. I'm sure she is a nice girl, but she is in the dark about salvation and someone should help her see the light.

[crazykatz]

AGREE!!

[beGlad]

"I don't like politics and I don't understand them."

Sounds just like many American women. Sad.

[crazykatz]

BUMP!!!!!!

[abner]

Is there any way we can ask her questions? A reasonable q & a session would be more productive. I would love to know her opinion on the WTC attacks which she did not mention. I think that is part of the problem, most Muslims ignore that elephant in the living room. Or NYC as the case is.

[xm177e2]

Very nice. But to post this here, in my opinion, is an insult. I think I speak for most of the people at FR when I say that we are quite aware that not all Muslim women wear veils, are beaten, etc. etc. We are not morons, like Ms. Rini thinks we are.

Apparently you posted just a minute too soon (look at post #5 hehehe)

[Thinkin' Gal]

Jordan Times

20 November 2001

Man kills sister over family honour

By Rana Husseini

AMMAN –– Police in Ajloun apprehended a 35-year-old man who reportedly confessed to killing his younger married sister for reasons of family honour on Sunday, official sources said.

The victim, Fadia G., 20, received several bullets to different parts of her body by her enraged brother in their family home in Anjara, a small village outside Ajloun, the source told The Jordan Times on Monday.

The suspect then turned himself in to police shortly after the murder was committed, the source added.

According to the source, the victim was engaged in an affair with the man who later became her husband after their affair was discovered.

“The two were wed in a civil ceremony by the [Ajloun] governor three months ago,” the source said.

However, the suspect did not approve of his sister's marriage and plotted to kill her, the source added.

On Sunday, the source said, the suspect walked into the room where his sister was and shot her to death.

Fadia became the 18th woman reported murdered in the Kingdom for family honour since the beginning of the year.

http://www.jordantimes.com/Tue/homenews/homenews8.htm

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

the newspapers and the television and the radio shows me nothing but images I do not want to see. I can't stand the pictures I see.

Of course. You must understand, you are being shown what you do not want to see for a purpose--to seduce you into looking. To entice and entrap you, to make you think the world is full of evil around every corner. In short, to make you feel that you have to know "what is going on in the world"--and that the way to learn that is to look at those pictures and hear those reports.

It is hogwash. Those reports may be true--probably are--but they represent only a very small portion of reality even if so; they are a half-truth. Look to the truth that endures.

[ken21]

is this for real?

[RWG]

How do we know who the author really is? Even if it is a woman she could be a liar on behalf of a political cause.

[Fighting Irish]

You are probably a very nice young lady...however, your so called "Holy Quran" advocates the murder of everyone that is not of the Islam faith.

Jesus, of the *true* lineage of Abraham never condoned physical violence. So for you to compare the not so holy Quran and the christian bible is disengenious.

[crazykatz]

I have had SEVERAL Bosnian muslims tell me that it was the Jews who destroyed the WTC!!

The stupidity of these people is HORRID!! They said a muslim would NOT do such things....yep, muhammed atta was a good Jewish boy from the Bronx.....NOT!!!!!!

[Clinton's a rapist]

Most rank-and-file Nazi voters where just regular folks, too. So what?

[razorback-bert]

Yea, I smell something other than a simple woman of Islam.

[RLK]

I find some people to be naive about the true meaning and nature of their beliefs.

[LarryLied]

If a group I was affialated with was committing atrocities around the world, I would address that issue if someone asked me to write such a piece. At the very least, I would mention the dead.

[isthisnickcool]

20 years old? This is written by a pre-schooler. No matter, Muslims have proven themselves to be people of the lie anyway. Just another cultists spewing BS.

[Alouette]

Here's a picture of Muslim women taken at a rally in Jakarta, Indonesia. Does she remember it? Was she there? Would she care to comment on the sign being held up by the young lady?

Indonesian Muslim protesters shout anti-U.S. and Israel slogans during a protest in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 28, 2001. More than 2,000 people rallied in the center of Jakarta on Friday demonstrating against a feared U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Except on the days I go to Mosque

Can you ask her how she feels about the fact that in Saudi Arabia, the seat of the holiest places in Islam, that women aren't allowed in many mosques and are "encouraged to pray at home" (their words)? In the mosques that do allow women, they have to enter through a different entrance than the men do.

[rko1933]

.- --. .-. . . -.. !

[gcraig]

"But the newspapers and the television and the radio shows me nothing but images I do not want to see. I can't stand the pictures I see."

You can't ignore the truth. You can hide but the fact still remains that Muslims crashed airplanes into our buildings and killed Americans. For that they must be punished.

[califordubya]

Muslims in Indonesia are killing Christians...... what is she doing in behalf of them? It will say a lot about the person who wants to be a doctor in order to help people, to see some of it now.

[Cicero]

I doubt whether many Freepers worry much about whether Indonesian women wear veils. We're a lot more worried about the prospect of Indonesian men slaughtering more innocent Christians, as they do on a fairly regular basis.

And by the way, Ronin, it's good to hear from you.

[Fighting Irish]

.....woops.....there I go using big words I know not how to spell.....

[jlogajan]

Well, as a practicing Atheist I can inform her that not only do I find Islam a bit nutty, I find all the religions a bit nutty. Hope that helps. :-)

[Stentor]

Are you kidding? Bad joke.

[hinckley buzzard]

A lot of Indonesian Christians who used to be alive say, you're full of sh*t, as usual. Oh. Just so you are sure to get the point, let me spell it out with a red crayon on wide-lined tablet paper:

They were slaughtered by this chick's brothers.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I want to remind you that not all Indonesians' impressions of American women are accurate either, and while I appreciate what you are saying, I have a few questions for you:

QUESTION #1: What are the differences between the Koran that the Terrorists are reading, and the Koran that the "peaceful" Muslim world is reading?

QUESTION #2: Why is there such an effort to convince non-Muslims in America that Islam is a peaceful, tolerant religion, but no such direct effort to convey the same into the Mosques in the US or the rest of the Muslim world?

QUESTION#3: Why are Christian churches, Christian worship and Christian preaching banned in so many Islamic nations if Islam is tolerant of all faiths?

QUESTION#4: Your religious leaders put a price (FATWA) on the head of Salman Rushdie and all he did was write a book that broke Islamic Law. Why don't you put a price on Osama Bin Laden directly and condemn him and other terrorist organizations as apostates for blaspheming your Allah?

[keithtoo]

If she excercised her free will and converted to another religion would her Muslim friends sentence her to death?

I know the answer, but what would she say?

[Tree of Liberty]

Here's just a few of the passages from the koran that call for the destruction of the West.  Any one of which, I believe, is justification for any animosity towards Islam that has been shown here on FR.

 

005.033
YUSUFALI The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;
PICKTHAL The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;
SHAKIR The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement,

005.049
YUSUFALI And this (He commands) Judge thou between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah's purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.
PICKTHAL So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that Allah's Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! many of mankind are evil-livers.
SHAKIR And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors.

008.059
YUSUFALI Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly) they will never frustrate (them).
PICKTHAL And let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah's Purpose). Lo! they cannot escape.
SHAKIR And let not those who disbelieve think that they shall come in first; surely they will not escape.

009.005
YUSUFALI But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

009.073
YUSUFALI O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed.
PICKTHAL O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end.
SHAKIR O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination. 009.073 YUSUFALI: O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed. PICKTHAL: O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. SHAKIR: O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.