More than half of Muslims (56%) experienced prejudice based on their religion in the last year, but three-quarters (73%) still feel the UK is a good place to be Muslim, according to new research.
The research, published in the report ‘Understanding Anti-Muslim Hostility: Foundations for Action’ by British Future and the British Muslim Trust, was based on a survey of 1,013 Muslims in Britain and a further nationally representative survey of 2,000 GB adults by Number Cruncher Politics.
One in four Muslims (27%) experienced prejudice in a public space, such as the street or on public transport, 19% encountered anti-Muslim prejudice at work or in an institution like the NHS and 34% experienced anti-Muslim prejudice on social media. Most Muslims felt less safe after the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protests last year, with 6 in 10 Muslim respondents (61%) agreeing that ‘I feel more worried about my personal safety after the protest’, rising to 7 in 10 Muslim women (69%).
The report also reveals that around 1 in 6 of the public hold worryingly hostile views towards Muslims, with 17% saying they ‘strongly agree’ that “The growth in the Muslim population poses a foundational threat to UK culture”. Some 19% do not agree that “Muslims born in this country are as British as white, non-Muslim people born here” – though 52% of the public agrees that they are.
Yet the research also finds a degree of confidence in Muslims’ sense of identity in Britain, and in inter-community relations. Seven in ten Muslims (69%) agree that ‘Muslims born in this country are as British as white, non-Muslim people born here’. And 75% of Muslims, alongside a majority of the general public (57%), agree that “It is possible for Muslims and non-Muslims to live well together in towns and cities around the UK”. Some 16% of the public disagrees.
A clear majority of the British public (63%) recognise that there is prejudice against Muslims and six in ten (61%) support government action against anti-Muslim prejudice. That includes a strongly supportive 20% of people who feel the government should take strong action, with a 41% group who answer that government action is important, provided there are balances to protect freedom of speech. 7% are opposed to action on the issue.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said:
“It’s deeply worrying that one in six people hold sweeping, hostile prejudices towards Muslims in Britain. Most people do not agree with them – but if this trend continues unchecked, there is a real risk that these attitudes become normalised in wider society.
“It cannot be OK for a section of our society to be subjected to such hostility because of their religion. This shouldn’t be a matter for polarised political debate, but a basic norm that we can all agree on. We must protect free speech, and we must also protect our fellow citizens from hatred.”
Akeela Ahmed, CEO of the British Muslim Trust, said:
“More than half of British Muslims experienced prejudice in the last year, and most are more fearful for their safety since the Unite the Kingdom Rally. That number is shocking, and it is utterly intolerable for anyone who cares about community cohesion and public order.
“It’s heartening to see the vast majority of people in this country support action to crack down on Muslim hatred. Muslim communities are not asking for special favours – they just want to be free to live rich and full lives in our country just like anyone else, but they are experiencing unprecedented levels of hate and hostility.
“At the British Muslim Trust we are working hard to monitor, report on, and support victims of anti-Muslim prejudice – but tackling this crisis will require a society-wide effort. These figures underline an undeniable truth – there is a clear need for a more effective strategy to protect British Muslims from hate.”
The survey also finds:
- There is a striking age gap in public attitudes towards Muslim contribution to British society. Over-65s are four times as likely to see the contribution of Muslims as negative (29%) than say the same for other faith minority groups (6-7%). Yet 18-24s hold distinctly pro-Muslim views, with 43% seeing Muslims as making a positive contribution and only 16% negative.
- Contact affects attitudes. A third of people (36%) report frequent social contact with Muslims, while 34% seldom meet Muslims (and “never” for 14%). Researchers found a strong correlation between the regularity of interaction with Muslims and respondents’ levels of acceptance towards Muslim people.
- When asked about fairness of treatment across various institutions, the media scored worst, with half of Muslim respondents feeling that they are treated either ‘a lot worse’ (26%) or ‘somewhat worse’ (26%) than the rest of the public.
The report is the first of a series of publications, drawing on research into public attitudes towards Muslims aiming to understand the extent and nature of prejudice and hostility so as to tackle it more effectively. Further research will include qualitative discussions with Muslim and non-Muslim respondents to dig deeper into underlying attitudes, stereotypes and the roots of prejudice and develop detailed recommendations.
Download the report ‘Understanding Anti-Muslim Hostility: Foundations for Action’
