Salam Algerians!

[Bingo Zoom]

I am a Muslima from Pakistan and would like to learn about

1. Your culture

2. I met an Algerian and was shocked to find that despite being a Muslim you people are so different from us!

3. Your culture is very different influenced by the french culture!

4. I would like to know more about the different sections of your society, how you live, family lives, marriage customs, Eid celebrations, women's liberty (education, job, driving, interaction with other men)

5. Do your wives and sisters kiss stranger men on their faces as a greeting as do your men?

6. I would also like to know your socializing patterns, extent of equal opportunities with respect to gender in your country, practice of religion, etc.Thats all for now!

[Bent_Bladi]

Salams BingoZoom and welcome

k, I'm not Algerian so I'm not "qualified" to answer your questions. But I can tell you that if you browse around here you'll find answers to many of your questions

happy posting

[ssew]

uh point 5 is that a serious question?
Do they do that in pakistan?

[Bingo Zoom]

YES THAT IS A SERIOUS QUESTION!

In Pakistan women do not even go near men; we respect them as they respect us.

Maybe kissing is a sign of respect in Algerian culture but in Pakistan it is considered as initiation of something else .....(forbidden in Islam) so women respect them; greet by a wave or just verbally if we know the person. Women call them uncle, bhai (brother) or Sir and they call women as sister, madam, aunty, Amma jee (old mother), etc.

[Bent_Bladi]

here's my two cents

algerians were occupied by the french for 100+ years... the french kiss new aquaintances (male or female) on the cheek.... just do the math

not all algerians do that - and it's not only algerians that do. you're right, it's not islamic -- but if you can find one group of people from a specific culture or country or whatever that follows islam, word for word, perfectly - or else - then you've found treasure.

[gn4dz]

It’s common between people of the same family and close person to kiss or shake hands, it’s a sign of respect, especially with old people…. but many Algerians don’t do that any more and avoid doing this as it’s forbidden in Islam….in my city, the Imam of the mosque remind people by the end of Khotba EVERY Eid : “Happy Eid to all of you and you should know that Man shouldn’t kiss a stranger woman or shake her hand as it’s forbidden” …. The mosques are done for that, to remind people, what’s correct and what’s wrong, but as human, we forget…many people get used to this as sign of respect and they are hurt and shocked if a close person apologises for doing it (because it wasn’t for a bad intention)

But it’s a rule for every body, for the both who have a good or bad intention; it’s just a rule …

I remember when I started working, when I first met the girl working with me, she told me : ‘listen, we have here many man working with us, I explained to everybody that they shouldn’t neither kiss nor shake hands, so please do the same, I don’t want to remind them again about this …she succeeded to change it!

Regarding the respect, the woman is respected in Algeria, in the street you are called ‘Kh’ti’ (my sister) if you are young, and ‘yemma or khalti’ (mom or aunt) if you are old , and you as a girl you call stranger man ‘khoya’ (brother) if he is young and ‘baba or 3ammi El Hadj’ (father or uncle) if he is old

French people kiss each other EVERY morning (my GOD I will die if I do it with every body every day!!)
I’ve been told that Algerians have rejected ALL what was French during the occupation, they have been tortured enough!!

-- but if you can find one group of people from a specific culture or country or whatever that follows islam, word for word, perfectly - or else - then you've found treasure.

It’s true what you said BB May Allah guide us!

[Bent_Bladi]

great reply, gn4dz