Repressive Islamic beliefs on women, gays and freedom create social ‘chasm’ in Britain

REPRESSIVE Islamic beliefs on women, homosexuality and freedom of expression have opened a chasm between British Muslims and the rest of society, according to new research.

A study carried out by ICM for Channel 4 revealed shocking findings which included:

• Four in 10 Muslims believe a wife should ALWAYS obey her husband;
• More than half UK Muslims believe homosexuality should be illegal
• One in four British Muslims wants Islamic sharia law to replace British law
• Only a third of Muslims would inform police if they knew someone who was getting involved with people who support terrorism in Syria
• One in three Muslims refuse to completely condemn STONING to death in adultery cases
• One in three Muslims refuse to condemn acts of violence against people who mock Mohammed

The revelations form the basis of a Channel 4 documentary, presented by Trevor Phillips, called What British Muslims Really Think.

And Mr Philips, former Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, draws some grim but honest conclusions.

He says: “The integration of Britain’s Muslims will probably be the hardest task we’ve ever faced. It will require the abandonment of the milk-and-water multiculturalism still so beloved of many, and the adoption of a far more muscular approach to integration.

“I thought Europe’s Muslims would gradually blend into Britain’s landscape. I should have known better.

“Hearing what British Muslims themselves think, rather than listening to those purporting to speak on their behalf, is critical if we are to prevent the establishment of a nation within our nation.”Many of the results will be troubling to Muslims and non-Muslims alike – and the analysis of the age profile shows us that the social attitudes revealed are unlikely to change quickly.”

Unlike many other surveys of Muslim opinion, which have predominantly been done by phone or online, ICM used face-to-face, in-home research to question a representative sample of 1,000 Muslims across Great Britain.ICM also used a “control sample” to compare what British Muslims thought with the rest of the British population.

A Channel 4 spokesman said the survey was commissioned to get the views from British Muslims themselves rather than those who claim to speak on their behalf; and, in particular to try to understand why some young Muslims are being drawn to violence.

The spokesman added: “At the top-line level, the survey suggests that a mainstream British Muslim majority have similar values and attitudes to the wider British public on issues such as support for British institutions and a feeling of belonging to Britain.”But looking deeper into the results, a chasm develops between those Muslims surveyed and the wider population on attitudes to liberal values on issues such as gender equality, homosexuality and issues relating to freedom of expression. And it also reveals significant differences on attitudes to violence and terrorism.”

(source)