Originally Posted by KatrinaK:
“Okay this is my opinion...
I'm a huge supporter of Christian and Syed. Love them, want them together and as an individual I have nothing negative to say about homosexuality. The way I see it, you don't chose who you love.
Though I don't hate Zainab, yet. I disagree with the people who say she's completely homophobic, though I can understand why people draw that conclusion. Personally, I'm not using Zainabs religion as an 'excuse' but let's not pretend that it's not a huge factor either. She has been bought up with strong religious values and how homosexuality isn't acceptable in Islam. That's been imbedded within her before she moved to England. It's clear from her attitude towards Christian, before she learned of his affair with her son, that she liked him and held no hostility towards him being gay. She showed some ignorance "they do those horrible homosexual things in public toilets and such" and "Can you dress a little less.... gay" but overall, she had nothing against him personally. She even showed to be bothered when there seemed to be lack of compassion on Syed's part when Christian was beaten up. Her exact words to Ian was "Yes I know Christian is a homosexual and we have to make allowances for that but for Syed to remain completely indifferent on the face of human suffering... that is NOT how I bought him up". Earlier she was talking about how Christian was possibly 'gay bashed' and how ‘awful’ it was. AtBushra’s party in June, after Christian outed himself as gay, she said to him ‘As far as I’m concerned you can live your life however you please…just not in my faith’. She wasn’t angry that he spoke about being gay, she was angry that he spoke about it to people of her culture. In her eyes, it was done in poor taste (though in my eyes it wasn’t).
For me, it shows that Zainab is no gay rights activist but she's not all out homophobe either. If she had a real problem with Christians sexuality, she would have never worked with him. All those derogatory comments she made towards Christian on the day of Syed’s wedding was a result of her thinking Christian was infatuated with her son and her fear as a Muslim mother that it would ruin her families reputation. I’m certainly not excusing what she said. Her comments were totally out of line and like I said, I can understand why some people would interpret that as homophobic. In the context of that scene, maybe it was but over all as a character I can’t say Zainab is homophobic. Her values on homosexuality are driven from religion, not her as an individual.
For the record, I don’t agree with her emotionally blackmailing her son to get married or her views on homosexuality, religious or not. Though it’s all very realistically done and while I can’t agree with her comments, I can somehow emphathise. It’s clear that she is a very desperate woman now and she’s trying to convince herself that her son isn’t gay and what she did was truely for the best. In typical fashion though, it’ll all come back to bite her.
Just my two pence worth.”
And in my humble opinion your two pence worth is absolutely fantastic. What a great post and summed up what I've been thinking but not able to put into words
Originally Posted by broadshoulder:
“Nope. It was his religion.He quoted the Koran at me. Alot of it was his socialisation but that little book he worships structured alot of his prejudices.
Its not just muslims gays get crap off - its Christians too.
Why does religion make prejudices alright? There is no evidence of god - its all a delusion. They are basing their life on a medieval set of thinking. The whole thing is a house of cards.
Thats why I cant stand Zainab in this - her religon doesnt really exist.”
broadshoulder I feel for you being treated like a leper by your colleague. There is absolutely
no excuse for that kind of behaviour IMO.
And I'm saying this with respect but please don't justify your opinions by slating the religious beliefs of others. It's making yourself almost as bad as them and doesn't do you justice.
I'm not religious myself but I think that people have the right to believe what they want and worship in peace, but also to leave others in peace. I understand that you must be frustrated, that what you see as fiction is dictating to some people that they should treat you like this, but whether you believe in it or not is immaterial to most believers - THEY believe it and that's what counts to them. If they were TRUE believers IMO they'd be praying for your soul (even if you don't want them to!) not treating you like a bad smell.
It saddens and maddens me that in our so called enlightened age that what you described still happens
I've said the same thing, religion states it's the big chiefs job to judge not us mere mortals, yet somehow this conveniently gets forgotten in the "says in the bible being gay is a sin" rampage 
”
