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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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17 April 2007

Press Release: UK – IHRC Response to Gallup Poll of Muslims

Today’s findings by Gallup regarding Muslims in Britain reflect earlier findings by the Islamic Human Rights Commission’s (IHRC) own research in the British Muslims’ Expectations of the Government (BMEG) series (1).

BMEG has shown that an overwhelming 91.4% of British Muslims respect the law to varying degrees with the highest disregard for British law coming from those who considered themselves to be secular, cultural Muslims and who did not care about Islamic values.

Unfortunately, what IHRC’s research has also shown is that while a majority of Muslims respect British, a majority also felt that British law failed to respect them (2).

The Gallup findings also confirm IHRC’s own findings that almost 80% of British Muslims see little or no contradiction between being a good British citizen and being a practising Muslim (3), many citing their faith as a reason for their loyalty.

IHRC is very concerned that although these realities have been highlighted in numerous reports, negative stereotyping of Muslims remains at a very high level. This has a direct knock-on effect on community relationships as shown in a recent Populus poll which found that only 33% of the general population said they had Muslims as close personal friends. By contrast, almost 90% of Muslims polled said they had close friends who were non-Muslim.

IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh stated:

“What this research indicates is that community cohesion can only be created effectively through educating the wider population at large about the realities rather than false and negative stereotyping.”

For more information, please contact IHRC on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44) 7958 522 196 or email info@ihrc.org

Notes to Editor:
(1) The British Muslims’ Expectations of the Government series was begun in summer 2004 and is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

(2) IHRC’s report in the British Muslims’ Expectations of the Government series deal with the issues of citizenship and the justice system. Please contact the office info@ihrc.org for a review copy of: ‘Law and British Muslims: Domination of the Majority or Process of Balance?’. A report by Saied R. Ameli, Arzu Merali, Beena Faridi, and Karin Lindahl for the Islamic Human Rights Commission. Publication date: 18th May 2006, ISBN 1-903718-32-5, 101 pp, or visit the website for a summary:

https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=1865
OR
PDF https://www.ihrc.org.uk/file/BMEG_VOL5.pdf

(3) Dual Citizenship: British, Islamic or Both? — Obligation, Recognition, Respect and Belonging 18 November 2004 ,Saied Reza Ameli and Arzu Merali for the Islamic Human Rights Commission. Publication date: 18th November 2004, 84 pp, £8.50, ISBN 1-903718-25-2. Please contact the office info@ihrc.org for a review copy, or visit the website for a summary:

https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=1284
OR
PDF https://www.ihrc.org.uk/file/BMEG_VOL1.pdf

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org.uk