Half of Brits think Islam not compatible with British values in latest poll as imam says he is 'deeply worried' by results.
Half of Britons think that Islam is not compatible with British values and four in 10 think Muslim immigrants have a negative impact on the UK, according to new research.
The public views Muslim immigrants as a greater threat to the British way of life than those from other religious groups such as Sikhs or Jews, the poll found.
The findings have been described by a leading British imam as ‘deeply worrying’ and demonstrating ‘high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment’ in the UK.
The Muslim population of the UK grew by more than 150 per cent - from 1.55 million to 4 million - between 2001 and 2021 and census data shows Muslims are the fastest growing minority group.
Muslims accounted for 32 per cent of the overall growth of the UK population between 2011 and 2021 and the last census showed that just 50 per cent of Muslims in Britain are UK-born, suggesting this rise was driven largely by immigration.
A new representative YouGov survey of 2,130 British adults asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK.
Sabah Ahmedi, who is known as ‘the young imam’ and has a large online following, described the findings as ‘deeply worrying’ and said they demonstrate ‘high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment’ in the UK
The poll found that while 41 per cent said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, just 15 per cent felt this way about Hindu immigrants, 14 per cent about Sikh immigrants, 13 per cent about Jewish immigrants and seven per cent about Christian immigrants.
Some 53 per cent of Britons said they believed Islam is not compatible with British values, while 25 per cent said it is and 22 per cent said they did not know, the poll found.
Just 24 per cent said Muslim immigrants have a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions.
The findings also suggests that younger people are less likely to feel Muslim immigrants have a negative impact and that Islam is incompatible with British values compared to older generations.
The polling was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ahead of the UK's biggest Muslim convention this weekend, which is expected to be attended by 40,000 adherents.
Some 53 per cent of Britons said they believed Islam is not compatible with British values, while 25 per cent said it is and 22 per cent said they did not know, the poll commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community found (Stock image: a mosque amongst the roofs of the Hyde Park area of Leeds)
Sabah Ahmedi, 30, who is known as ‘the young imam’ and has a large online following, said he believes public fear of Muslims ‘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 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.’
Mr Ahmedi added that he was ‘encouraged’ by the 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’.
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