Muslim immigrants viewed far more negatively than Jewish, poll finds
Just 13 percent say Jewish immigration harms the UK, compared to 41 percent who say the same of Muslim immigrants
Muslim immigrants are viewed far more negatively than Jewish immigrants by the British public, new polling suggests – with more than 40 percent saying Muslim arrivals have a negative impact on the UK, compared to just 13 percent for Jewish immigrants.
The findings have been described by an imam as “deeply worrying” and showing “high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment” in Britain.
The polling was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ahead of a gathering for what it described as the UK’s biggest Muslim convention – the Jalsa Salana – this weekend in Hampshire, expected to be attended by 40,000 followers of the faith.
This year’s convention is “opening its doors to sceptics of Islam and those with any questions about the faith”, organisers said – noting that two Reform UK voters are due to attend to hear about the religion.
The YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in Great Britain in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK.
While 41 percent said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, the proportions feeling this way were much lower for other groups.
Around 15 percent felt this way about Hindu immigrants, 14 percent about Sikh immigrants, 13 percent about Jewish immigrants and 7 percent about Christian immigrants.
Just under a quarter (24 percent) of respondents felt Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions stated.
Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged Labour colleagues to acknowledge people’s “real concerns”, pointing out that immigration was one of a number of factors having a “profound impact on society”, as she updated Cabinet on her work on social cohesion.
Some 53 percent of those polled said they believed Islam is not compatible with British values, while 25 percent said it is and 22 percent said they did not know.
Sabah Ahmedi, aged 30 and known as “the young imam” online – where he has a large following, said he believes fear among people “stems from a lack of understanding of Islam”.
He said: “These findings are deeply worrying, revealing high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country.
“As a British Muslim, it is tragic to think that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs. It is unfair and unjust considering that the vast majority of Muslim immigrants to the UK are contributing positively.”
He encouraged people to “meet Muslims to see we are not a threat” and urged the media to “play a role as well”.
He added: “Instead of focusing on the tiny minority of Muslim immigrants who cause harm, focus on the majority who are on the frontlines serving the NHS, our armed forces, the police, educational institutes and the like.
“We love this country and cherish its values of freedom and tolerance.”
The Union flag will be raised at this weekend’s gathering “alongside the Islamic flag of our community, to symbolise that love of our faith and country go hand in hand,” he said.
The survey findings also indicated younger people were less likely to feel Muslim immigrants have a negative impact and that Islam is incompatible with British values.
Mr Ahmedi said he was “encouraged by these findings that seem to show that the younger generation is more open-minded and that I hope it indicates a brighter future where Muslims are not considered a threat but an asset to this society”.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is made up of people and their descendants who generally fled Pakistan in the 1980s in the face of religious persecution.
Members said they now often face the same discrimination in the UK, from some Muslims who do not agree with their version of the faith and from other people who have subjected them to racist bullying because of their Pakistani ethnicity.
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