Staff reporter, Daily Dawn, Dawn TV report
London: 4 in 10 British citizens believe that Muslim immigrants hurt Britain, according to a survey.
Four in 10 British citizens believe that Muslim immigrants hurt Britain, and more than half believe that Islam is incompatible with British values, according to a survey.
An imam has described the findings as “extremely worrying”, saying that they are a reflection of “high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment” in Britain.
The survey was conducted by the “Ahmadiyya Muslim Community” ahead of the community’s largest annual gathering in the UK. 40,000 followers of the faith are expected to attend the gathering. The gathering is called the “Annual Jalsa”.
Organizers say that this year’s convention will also be open to those who have doubts about Islam and questions about the faith.
A YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in the UK in mid-July asked people whether they thought different groups of immigrants, depending on their religion, had a generally positive or negative impact on Britain.
A prayer service in a London parkA prayer service in a London park
41% of voters in the UK said Muslim immigrants had a negative impact, but the rate of such sentiments was much lower for other religious groups.
41% of voters said Muslim immigrants had a negative impact, but the rate of such sentiments was much lower for other religious groups. Around 15% of voters said Hindu immigrants, 14% Sikh immigrants, 13% Jewish immigrants and seven % Christian immigrants hurt Britain.
Only a quarter (24%) of respondents believed that Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on Britain, less than any other religion.
Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said they thought Islam was incompatible with British values, while 25% said they did not know.
Sabah Ahmadi, 30, known online as “Young Imam”, said he believed that people’s fear “is born out of a lack of understanding of Islam.”
“It’s sad to think as a British Muslim that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs,” he said. This is unfair because the vast majority of Muslim immigrants in Britain are making a positive contribution.”
The survey results show that young British citizens are less likely to feel that Muslim immigrants have a negative impact and that Islam is incompatible with British values.
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