The Daily Star reports an opinion poll revealing that 79% of respondents said they’d feel uncomfortable living next to a Muslim. The Star has no doubt where the blame for this lies. In addition to the effects of 7/7:
“Many moderate Muslims seem intent on leading separate lives. They send their children to faith schools, clad their women in burqas and talk of bringing Sharia law to Britain.”
The incitement of anti-Muslim bigotry by right-wing rags like the Star of course plays no role at all.
Most Brits don’t trust Muslims
By Paul Malley
Daily Star, 8 September 2006
MOST Brits don’t trust Muslims, a shock terror survey revealed yesterday.
A massive 79% said they’d feel uncomfortable living next to a Muslim. In a worrying development for the future of race relations in Britain, only around two in ten of those questioned said they’d be happy having an Islamic neighbour.
Experts say the results are a backlash from the 7/7 terror attacks in London in which 52 people died at the hands of suicide bombers. Before the outrage, 34% of Brits said they’d be comfortable with a Muslim neighbour. Only 35% said they made the security situation worse.
The number who said they’d feel comfortable with a Muslim boss fell from 37% to 20% after 7/7. Those asked the same question about having a Muslim in-law dropped from 32% to 27%.
While 77% questioned after last year’s July 7 attacks recognised that Muslims suffer discrimination and prejudice, they said terrorist bombings had made their feelings more negative towards followers of Islam.
But the poll found that people broadly wanted an equal society with a common set of values.
The surveys comparing attitudes to Muslims spoke to 2,895 people roughly a month before July 7 2005. TNS/Global quizzed 1,100 in the month afterwards.
The polls were analysed by Prof Dominic Abrams from University of Kent, who yesterday said: “Feelings of threat elevated after the bombings.”
Daily Star says
BRITAIN’S Muslims are becoming distrusted by the rest of the country. A survey shows that a staggering 79% of people wouldn’t want a Muslim as a neighbour. That figure has risen sharply since the 7/7 London bombings.
Islamic terrorism and preachers of hate like Abu Hamza have certainly stirred up racial tension. But they’re not the only factors that are dividing the country. Many moderate Muslims seem intent on leading separate lives. They send their children to faith schools, clad their women in burqas and talk of bringing Sharia law to Britain.
Whatever happened to integration?