I am a journalism student at the University of Lincoln. I am writing an article about travel to Muslim countries after the recent terrorist attack. I was hoping to find some people who are planning to travel to any muslim country in the near future to ask them if they still feel safe in travelling there. Also, if their are any people who have travelled to countries such as Thailand and Indonesia since the terrorist attacks, could they share their experinces with me.

Why are you writing such an article? You are discriminating against countries with a majority Muslim population. In your wording of the post you are negative against Muslims, you feel that people ('Westerners') will have a problem in Moslem countries.

What do you know about Moslem countries student journalist?
I have lived most my life in Moslem countries, but you know, I don't see them as 'Moslem Countries', I call them by their country name. I do not say 'I live in an Islamic country' or 'I live in a Moslem Country', but I live in Dubai.

Yes, I respect the rules of an another country as anyone should when visiting a foreign country. If countries have dress rules tourists should observe them as guests in the country whether Islamic or Asian. I have friends, who are western, who have not left Pakistan during the air strikes. Why not? because they are safe, and their lives are not in danger as is made out by CNN. I believe the in-word among my friends is 'rent-a-crowd' by journalists.

Travelling to Moslem countries is perfectly safe. Just follow usual precautions and avoid civil demonstrations in places like Jakata.

Why don't you get out there and see for yourself instead of staying in your cushy surroundings.

For your information I was simply voicing the legitimate concerns of some people who are travelling to areas of the world where they believe there may be problems as a result of the terrorist attacks in America.

I did not write anything negative about muslim countries or the muslim faith, unlike you who has tried to antagonise me by attacking so called 'Westerners', how do you know that I am even from this part of the world. You are the person making the assumptions here, assumptions like that help to fuel prejudice and are one of the main reasons that there is so much religious and racial hatred around the world.
In reply to your comment that that I should actually get out and experience these countries, I lived in Turkey ( a predominantly muslim country I think you'll find) for four years plus I have already travelled extensively through Malaysia and Indonesia (Both Muslim countries) and have many friends who live in these two countries.

I think somebody is being overly sensitive. Please! Have you heard of a Jihad? There are certain nations that harbor Islamic extremists and these nations tend to be predominantly Muslim. It is hardly discriminating to refer to them as such and to have concerns about travel in these places. The US State Department has issued numerous travel advisories because of this very issue. It can't be denied that tourist (especially Americans) are more at risk in these places than, say, Sweden. Get over your political correctness!

I lived in Sudan for a year and found people to be incredibly kind, helpful, freindly, and tolerant of me.
I;ve also been to Jordan and found the same.
I spent last summet in SE Asia, and loved Malaysia, though was v. surprised by the number of people who siad they found it dirty and the people "unfreindly - you know, that Muslim thing". No, I don't know.
I was in Thailand at the tme of the Spetember 11 attacks, and it didn't make me feel wary for my safety or anything like that.
I can see the point the first reply was making; it is offensive that some people brand all Islamic countries and Muslim people as dangerous and threatening.
However, I am guessing the point of your article was an assessment of just that attitude rather than a desire to add to it.

Hi Bert, Pleased to help you in your assessment. I travelled South West coastal Turkey last Oct at time of Afghanistan conflict just beginning. I am a young white lady (Scots). I was not in least nervous except perhaps if a major war commenced there may be some aircraft visible from airbases in Turkey (although I am ignorant to know where these are). The Turks seemed very sympathetic towards war situation, if I remember they had just vowed to be allies to help get Osama Bin Laden and offered deployment of troops. I never broached the subject while there, but one day on reading an English newspaper to catch up on things with a front page article, some young Turks asked if they could look at newspaper and then went on to tell me how they believed US were doing the right thing to attack Afghanistan. It is my opinion though that Turkey are one of the more liberal Muslim countries because of their desire to better themselves, create wealth and probably because they straggle Europe and Asia. They want to always create fair political impressions now that they applied to enter E.U. It may be just the younger generation that are becoming more "westernised" in their ways. My friend teaches Religious Studies at O.U. and she was there with me. We spoke to a lot of people and we did not find a high population attending (Cami) Mosque on a daily basis. I don't interpret this as a decline in their religious or moral values; they may have found their working and family schedules more demanding and a more personal way in which to offer prayers to Allah. Back to the point, I am travelling Turkey again in a month's time. I will be mostly in or near tourist areas. I am not worried at all about the terrorist situation. I have found the Turks to be the most wonderful, positive and placid people. I shall let you know if I experience anything unusual on my trip. Good luck with your writing. Bye.

Hi Bert, Just thought I'd add my bit... planning a trip to Tunisia this February. I am not too worried about terrorist issues-- I am much more concerned about A) being Jewish and B) being a woman travelling alone than C) being American. I am very very much looking forward to the trip nonetheless. But I am not going to tell certain relatives that I am planning to go, I think they will express all of their fears and concerns and possibly try to stop me.

(Hope this helps with your article)

Bert

I am interested in reading your report on travelling to muslim countries, as I am doing a similar study. can i have a read?

Hi Bert
I just noticed article that may be of use to you. It is about popular nations who visit to Turkey and there has been an increase in visitors - it says increase of foreign nationality visitors to Turkey by 19.3% in comparison to same period in 2001.
Please see www.gototurkey.co.uk/printNews.php?newsID=33

Kind regards,
Carol.

As an independent traveller currently in China I have been warned by the Chinese NOT to travel to Kashgar or other predominantly Muslim areas at this time because of the risk against Westerners. So don't dismiss other peoples concerns as hype. It is not prejudice, there is a real threat in some areas - perhaps not on the 18th green of Dubai golf course but in other slightly less civilised places in the world.

Just for the record, I am ignoring the warnings in order to find out what the situation is for myself, being neither prejudice nor swayed by scare mongering. I will be going with caution, however, mindful of the fact that Kashgar is but a few miles from the Afghan border, is 90% Muslim and there have been troubles there in the recent past. Will keep you posted.