The findings of a Populus poll of just over a 1,000 British Muslims make for disturbing, if not entirely unexpected, reading. Commissioned for a report published by Policy Exchange today, entitled Living Apart Together, young British Muslims revealed themselves far more extreme in outlook than their parents’ generation. According to today’s Daily Telegraph, the poll found the following contrasts in the outlook of 16-24 year old and those aged over 55:
* 40% of 16-24 year olds would prefer to live under Sharia law as against 17% of over 55s.
* 12.5% of 16-24 year olds admire al Qa-aeda as against 3% of over 55s.
* 30% of 16-24 year olds favour the killing of apostates from Islam as against 19% of over 55s.
* 75% of 16-24 year olds prefer Muslim women to wear a veil as against 25% of over 55s.
* 40% of 16-24 year olds prefer Muslim schools for Muslim children as against 20% of over 55s.
These figures are truly disturbing, especially given 84% of the Muslims polled believed they had been treated fairly in Britain. They raise the question as to what exactly has brought about the radicalisation of young British Muslims.
The report’s main author, Munira Mirrza, argues that much of the responsibility for this trend must be laid at the door of the policy of multiculturalism. She is quoted as stating:
‘The emergence of a strong Muslim identity in Britain is, in part, a result of multicultural policies implemented since the 1980s which had emphasised difference at the expense of shared national identity and divided people along ethnic, religious and cultural lines.’
Whilst containing an element of truth, this cannot be the entire explanation by any means. The radicalisation of young British Muslims is the product of systematic cultivation practised over decades by foreign-backed Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Tablighi Jamaat. Multiculturalism has simply created the cultural vacuum at the heart of contemporary British society which these extremist movements have been quick and able to exploit so as to fill the impressionable minds of young Muslims who have not been taught any better with their poisonous and hate-field propaganda, as the recent Channel Four Dispatches programme on what is preached at British mosques so graphically revealed.
Heaven, or rather hell, only knows what else is being purveyed to them on British campuses and over the Internet.
Unfortunately anyone thinking the problem can be solved purely domestically is living in cloud cuckoo land. Sadly, the West is embroiled in a fight for its life with a deeply pernicious and backward looking ideology whose grip will loosen on British Muslims only in proportion as the wider war is won by the forces of moderation in all current theatres of conflict with it. Whether the West has the stomach for such a fight is an altogether different matter. One cannot be encouraged by the anodyne recommendations for increasing social cohesion contained in last week’s DfEs report ‘Diversity and Citizenship’ which were so effectively demolished in a Times leader last Friday.
Comments (3)
They are not Radicalised, they are Simply Following the Quoran..
Posted by Adrian Peirson | July 16, 2007 9:21 PM
Posted on July 16, 2007 21:21
What is more telling is NOT the results for the 'radicalised' younger muslims, but the fact that out of the 'conservative' 55+ age group, 1 in 5 favours the murder of people converting from Islam. This is the moderate group we are supposed to rely on for the voice of reason, is it?
Posted by Steve | February 1, 2007 5:15 PM
Posted on February 1, 2007 17:15
How do these 'statistics' compare against other groupings in the age groups. Given the disaffection felt by many groupings in the 16-24 age group I would not be surprised to see some similar results from groupings outside Muslim.
Sharia law has many unsophisticated tenets which prove popular to the less world weary.
Muslim children in Muslim schools - a very similar result would no doubt be obtained if the question was asked of "Jewish schools for Jewish children" or Christian schools for Christian children.
Al Qaeda does not only find admirers amongst Muslims but also amongst others who have no stake or prospect of a stake in this so-called Western Democracy. You could also ask white 16-24 youth if they have any support for the BNP and it is likely similar results to the Al Qaeda question would be found.
I do not think it is just young Muslims who have been radicalised and the continual concentration on that particular group is adding to the disaffection and radicalisation of other groups.
Is this another "elephant in the room" situation.
Posted by qaqwex | January 29, 2007 4:11 PM
Posted on January 29, 2007 16:11