Saturday, July 23, 2005

SURVEY REVEALS BELIEFS

Radical clerics who preach violence are not out of touch with mainstream Muslim views, according to nearly half of British Muslims questioned in a poll.
The opinion poll for Sky News revealed that roughly the same number thought of themselves as Muslims first and British second.

Almost all - 91% - were against the bombings of July 7, but 2% agreed with what the suicide bombers did.
Around 88% thought there was no justification in the Koran for the bombings, but 5% thought there was.
The interviewees were asked to respond to the statement: "Muslim clerics who preach violence against the West are out of touch with mainstream Muslim opinon."
Nearly half - 46% - disagreed or strongly disagreed, while 54% thought they were out of touch.
And 46% said they thought of themselves as Muslim first and British second, with another 42% not differentiating.
Only 12% saw themselves as British first and Muslim second.
When asked if Britain's role in the Iraq war led to the bombings, just over 60% thought the war was largely to blame, while 40% did not agree.
Most - 79% - agreed that the Muslim community must take more responsibility for preventing young Muslims from becoming bombers.
Finally, one in five - 22% - said they had experienced increased racial or religious prejudice as a result of the bombings.
But 78% said they had not seen any backlash.
Communicate Research interviewed 462 UK-based Muslims by phone, most before Thursday's attacks.

No comments: