A growing minority of young Muslims are inspired by political Islam and feel they have less in common with non-Muslims than their parents do, a survey reveals today.Multi-culturalism is a solvent on loyalty. No self-preserving state would ever allow the generation of a hostile minority. So why the hell are we doing it?
The poll found support for Sharia law, Islamic schools and wearing the veil in public is stronger among young Muslims than their parents. While the majority of Muslims feel they have as much, if not more, in common with non-Muslims in Britain than with Muslims abroad, the figure dropped from 71% of over-55s to 62% among 16 to 24-year-olds, the survey of more than 1000 Muslims in the UK over the phone and internet for independent think-tank Policy Exchange found.
The percentage who said they would prefer to send their children to Islamic state schools increased from 19% for over 55-year-olds to 37% of those aged 16 to 24. The number who said they would prefer to live under Sharia law than British law increased from 17% of over-55s to 37% of 16 to 24-year-olds.
One of Scotland's leading Muslims said he was not surprised by the survey results. Bashir Maan, Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Council of Great Britain, said: "The selfish and hypocritical policies practised by George W Bush and Tony Blair in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East, and controversies such as Jack Straw's attitude to Muslim women wearing veils and raids on the homes of Muslims, particularly in England, has led to the radicalisation of some members of the Muslim community.
The emergence of a strong Muslim identity in Britain is, in part, a result of multicultural policies implemented since the 1980s which have emphasised difference at the expense of
shared national identity.
Let them develop their Muslim identity back where they came from.
"It is worrying that such policies are giving fuel to those who would promote radicalism. We don't want any young people to be radicalised. We want them to grow up as good Muslims and good citizens of the society they are living in."
Munira Mirza, the lead author of the report, said the results suggested government policy was to blame for sharpening divisions between Muslims and non-Muslims. She said: "The emergence of a strong Muslim identity in Britain is, in part, a result of multicultural policies implemented since the 1980s which have emphasised difference at the expense of shared national identity and divided people along ethnic, religious and cultural lines."
| Oh, so it wasn't Afghanistan and Iraq after all! |
Ms Mirza said: "There is clearly a conflict within British Islam between a majority that accepts the norms of Western democracy and a growing minority that does not." She continued: "Religiosity among younger Muslims is not about following their parents' cultural traditions, but rather, their interest in religion is more politicised.
"Islamist groups have gained influence at local and national level by playing the politics of identity and demanding for Muslims the right to be different'."
The report also found that authorities and some Muslim groups had exaggerated the problem of Islamophobia, which had fuelled a sense of victimhood among Muslims...