Exactly half a year after Hamas’ October 7th massacre of Israeli citizens, polling—described as “the largest of its kind” since these terror attacks—revealed a series of deeply worrying views among Britain’s Muslim population.
The Sunday Telegraph on April 7th splashed with the figure that “just one in four British Muslims believe Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel.” The poll also found that that 46% of British Muslims said they sympathise with Hamas.
Figures were provided by polling company JL Partners for the Henry Jackson Society, a counter-extremism think tank. These suggest that:
- 52% of British Muslims want to make it illegal to show a picture of the Prophet Mohammed, compared to 16% of the public;
- 32% want to see Shariah law implemented in the UK, compared to nine percent of the public; and
- Younger Muslims, described as more ‘well-educated,’ were the most likely to think Hamas did not commit atrocities on October 7th.
Conservative commentators say these findings are “shocking” but “not surprising.” Dickie Fletcher, who is a prospective parliamentary candidate for the economically left-leaning and culturally traditionalist Social Democratic Party, pointed to “a failure of moral courage in the vast majority of our liberal elites, legacy media and politicians to face the issue and tackle it.”
Historian and broadcaster Rafe Heydel-Mankoo added that “this new poll is consistent with other polls from previous years, and suggests the situation is getting worse not better.” He said:
Of course it goes without saying that many Muslims are well integrated members of British society. No one denies that, and it is to be celebrated. But to deny the reality of the existence of a vast number who aren’t is to be at best naive or wilfully ignorant.
For all its tough talk, the Conservative government has reneged on its duty to tackle this critical issue. Under a Labour government, things will only get worse, particularly if it proceeds with plans to criminalise criticism of Islam using the APPG’s [all-party parliamentary group’s] ludicrous definition of Islamophobia.
The Conservative government, meanwhile, insists that it is setting out “a series of measures which will promote social cohesion and counter religious hatred.”
