Internet Dating equals Dating without Fear of Persecution

Being an Arab in UK or European cities is bad enough for young people, as they struggle to come to terms with the differences in the values they have learned at home and the very different values and views of their peer groups.

In the United States, they are greeted with fear and suspicion to add to their already substantial cultural confusion. In particular since the 9/11 events, wrongful persecution has often become part of their daily lives.

Going out in groups, as they are required to do when finally old enough to be dating - which is very different to how Western dating is viewed - they often almost take their lives into their hands. In Islamic tradition, young people are not permitted to date as such. 

This is why many people believe that a zawag (marriage in Arabic) is always arranged, often causing young people to have to deal with misplaced pity and cries for liberation from their peers. As it stands, they do usually have the freedom to choose their own spouses and to meet them before marriage in most cases.

What they are not permitted to do is to date before they are old enough to consider marriage or to meet alone. Once they have gained parental approval to meet and date, usually regarded as a precursor to marriage, as opposed to the casual dating in Western societies, they will initially meet with parents or other senior members of the family being present as well.

Typically, these first few meetings will take place with both families present. Questions like how the young man intends to support family, dowries, children and more will be discussed at such meetings. As soon as both families are agreed and the couple decide they do want to get married, they get engaged.