British Council issues report on attitudes towards Scottish Muslims

Wednesday, 18 August 2010 17:54

The British Council has published a report on Muslim integration in Scotland. The report sheds empirical light on the presumption that Scottish Muslims are better integrated into Scottish society than Muslims in other parts of the UK.

The study shows that Muslims are the least favourably viewed among faith groups in Scotland with 21% of people admitting to holding ‘somewhat unfavourable’ or ‘very unfavourable’ views towards Muslims.

The study also finds:

Muslim loyalty to Scotland is viewed more favourably among respondents than figures showing perceptions of Muslims’ loyalty to the UK – 46% of people believe Scottish Muslims to be loyal to Scotland, whereas two thirds of Britons question Muslims’ loyalty to the UK, according to a Gallup poll done last year

More than half of those surveyed agreed that most Muslims in Scotland are integrated into everyday Scottish life, (58%) while just over a quarter (27%) disagreed

Two thirds of people (66%) agreed the attempted bombing of Glasgow airport has made Scots more intolerant towards Muslims

Almost twice as many respondents agree that the Christian religion is compatible with life in Scotland as agree that the Islamic religion is compatible (80% compared with 42%)

The study reveals interesting attitudes towards conceptions of integration among different socio-economic groups.

Those in socio-economic groups D and E tend to hold views that verge towards assimilation expressing the dominant view that Muslims should completely adopt Scottish customs while those from socio-economic groups AB, believe integration should be a two-way process involving compromise, contribution and respect from both groups.

On the role of the media in aiding or hindering integration, the study reveals that:

‘Both Muslims and non-Muslims thought the media, particularly tabloid newspapers, were predominantly negative towards Muslims and were the main source of misconceptions about Islam...It was felt that if the media were to report and portray Islam and the Muslim way of life in a more positive way, this would help integration.’

Read the full report here.

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