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Britons oppose Muslim veils in schools
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor13.11.07
Strong opposition to the use of the Muslim veil in schools and face covering in public is revealed today in a new opinion poll for the Evening Standard.
Nearly 90 per cent of respondents say that Muslim teachers should not be allowed to wear a veil when teaching.
And 84 per cent say that Muslim pupils should not be allowed to wear a veil at school.
The survey shows the sharply divided views of Britons on Islam and the contribution of Muslims to life in the capital.
Among the most striking findings are that half believe that Islam is a "generally intolerant" faith and that Muslims are "isolated" from the rest of the community.
At the same time, about 40 per cent hold the opposite opinion, while seven out of 10 believe that Muslims make a positive contribution to the economy.
More than 70 per cent also say that they would be happy to vote for a Muslim as London Mayor.
There is strong opposition, however, to the censorship of images or words that might offend Islamic sensibilities and the idea of making Eid a public holiday.
Almost three-quarters of respondents also blame Islam for the 7 July bombings, although nine per cent say it played no role and a further 13 per cent say its influence was minimal.
The findings are contained in a survey of more than 700 "influentials" - a category including business leaders, innovators, politicians and other prominent individuals - carried out for the Standard by opinion pollsters YouGovStone.
It shows that while a quarter of those questioned have no Muslim friends, the remaining three-quarters do.
Despite this, concern about the extent of Muslim integration into British life is felt by a significant proportion of respondents.
On Islamic attitudes towards others, for example, 49 per cent say they regard the religion as a generally intolerant faith.
Although 44 per cent have the opposite opinion, the survey also reveals that 51 per cent think that the Muslim community is "somewhat isolated" or "mostly isolated" from the rest of society in the capital. Only four per cent of respondents believe that Muslims are "mostly integrated".
Views on the wearing of the niqab or any other full-face covering in public are still firmly against, with 58 per cent describing it as either entirely or somewhat unacceptable.
For example, one respondent states: "I would find it difficult to do business with anyone I could not see." Four out of 10 of those questioned, however, do not oppose the niqab.
Considerable opposition to high profile symbols of Islam also emerges in the poll findings.
More than 80 per cent say they oppose the notion of making Eid a public holiday and 54 per cent say they would be concerned if there were plans to build a mosque in their street.
Of these, about half say that they would actively oppose any such proposals.
On the Muslim contribution to society, 20 per cent say that Muslims contribute a "great deal" to the capital's economy, with another 51 per cent saying that they make a "fair amount" of impact on business.
Opinion on the Islamic impact on arts and culture is more divided, with 45 per cent saying that Muslims make "not very much" or no contribution, compared with 42 per cent who take the opposite view.
A more favourable verdict is reached on the Muslim role in academic and intellectual life, with 52 per cent of respondents taking a positive view, far more than the 33 per cent who suggest the impact is small or non-existent.
Half of those questioned think the media should avoid publishing material that would gratuitously offend Muslims but only five per cent favour any formal curbs and 82 per cent are opposed to censorship.
More than a third say there should be total freedom of speech regardless of the damage that this might cause to other people's feelings or to community relations.
Opinion on the introduction of quotas to boost Muslim recruitment to the Metropolitan Police is split, with 41 per cent opposed, 34 per cent in favour and 25 per cent having no view.
More than 70 per cent, however, say that they would back a suitably qualified Muslim candidate who stood for Mayor, compared with 16 per cent who say that they would not.
The majority of respondents also want immigration to be either greatly or slightly reduced, although the 55 per cent taking this view in respect of Muslim migrants is slightly lower than the overall figure of 61 per cent who want cuts to the numbers arriving from elsewhere in the world, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
On terrorism and extremism, 72 per cent of those surveyed say that Islam was to blame for the London bombings.
A total of 29 per cent also want political groups with fundamentalist Islamic agendas to be banned, although a far greater number - 58 per cent - say this should only be the case if a direct link to terrorism can be proved.
Several respondents caution about the danger of viewing Muslims as a single group with uniform attitudes, with one stating that: "On the question whether Islam is responsible for the 2005 attacks, it does not refer to fundamentalism. There is a very big difference."
Another expresses similar sentiments, saying: "It upsets me that some people view all Muslims with suspicion because of the actions of a few."
* The discussion continues in tomorrow's Standard. The Influentials debate takes place at the Royal Society of Arts tonight. Tickets are sold out but it will feature on www.standard.co.uk.
Reader views (9)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
For muslim women to wear a hijab at school, especially high school would allow them to be respected. Prevented from attracting teenage lust, since us Muslims we want to keep our dignity. Respect love within marriage.
- Kelilah, Surrey
I think muslims should take our cultures and tradtions into account seeing as they are in our country. This is the UK we wouldn't be allowed to walk round in a bikini in some of their countries. They should appreciate the fact we have welcomed them into our country. They are always free to leave!
- Sarah, Bristol, UK
When was the last time anyone saw a nun with her face covered?
- Marie Lamb, Stockport , England
Muslims should remember they have more freedom in this country. Start showing some appreciation and take on board English culture and traditions. They are of course always free to leave.
- Vincent, London, England
I'm a Muslim, I love England, it's my identity. I see a lot of fellow Muslims that detest this country, haven't made an effort to integrate, don't speak English very well. I don't speak Arabic unless I'm around people that do, it's not as if they're speaking another language so much, but more like they're from another planet! I think it is our duty to support the UK instead of constantly lobbying to have it become more Easternised. I can't 'go home' if I don't like it, this IS my home. I like it the way it is and think that British society is wonderful, not only in its identity and liberty but also in its tolerance in allowing me to persue my faith as a good Muslim.
- Faruke Atcha, Manchester
When is all this nonsense going to end, no one should be exempt for any reason, especially religion.
- Mike Hunt, London
Last night’s debate at the RSA was certainly interesting and entertaining even if little new light was shed on whether Islam is good for London or not. One thought I wanted to throw in concerns how the representative process works in this country.
If we really want all the different groups that live in our society to have a fair voice surely we should try to find an electoral system that gives them a chance to have their views represented.
The current first-past-the-post system simply disenfranchises most of the country. This wasn’t such a problem when the country was divided along clear left-right ideologies because both sides had a chance at power. This straightforward division has disintegrated leaving minority groups essentially left out.
I’m not saying electoral reform will solve the problems of Islamic extremism and whatever the failures of our system we should still be very proud of the freedoms this country gives to everyone. But it is one pro-active idea, which could be developed to help different groups feel like they have a stake in how the UK is run.
- Conway Wigg, London, UK
Of those who believe that Islam is a generally intolerant religion and blame Islam for the 7/7 bombings, have they really studied Islam or have they based their views on the aggressive and violent behaviour of a minority of Muslims, as they believe themselves to be? I invite them to study Islam, or any other religion for that matter, at the source and not the actions of the extreme minority. E.g. the Prophet Muhammed offered a group of Christian missionaries visiting him to use his mosque to pray when they wanted to say their prayers out of tolerance for their religion. The Quran states that persecution or making people constantly fear for their lives is much worse than killing. It also states that if someone kills someone it's as if he has killed the whole of mankind. Therefore, it is clear that the behaviour of this minority is totally against the teachings of Islam. The niqab is only one form of the veil and most Muslim women do not wear this form - many just wear a headscarf with their face showing. Why are the respondents opposed to this - do they object to Nuns wearing veils? Again it's just ignorance and people need to learn the true teachings and philosophy of Islam before forming their views. Islam teaches modesty in all walks of life and the does not specify that a woman has to cover her face - this is the person's own cultural choice. Islam's teachings is to protect the dignity of women and from the prying eye of a man.
- Zaheer Qamar, London, UK
This is an evolved Christian country where openness has been defended for decades. The use of such clothing negates all that we believe in when we have to deal face to face.
- W.D.Houghton, Penrhyn Bay, Wales
