Young British Muslims more seized by Islam: Poll
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): A growing number of young Muslims in Britain are inspired by political Islam and in favour of Sharia law, Islamic dress for women and faith schools, according to a study.

The survey of 1,003 Muslims by pollsters Populus for the independent Policy Exchange think-tank also suggested there was greater support for militant Islamist groups among the young.

The lead author of the report, Munira Mirza says that the results suggested British government policy was to blame for sharpening divisions between Muslims and non-Muslims.

"The emergence of a strong Muslim identity in Britain is, in part, a result of multi-cultural policies implemented since the 1980s which have emphasised difference at the expense of shared national identity and divided people along ethnic, religious and cultural lines," she said.

According to the Internet and phone poll, 37 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds said they would prefer to live under Sharia law compared to just 17 percent of the over-55s.

The same number of young Muslims said they would prefer to send their children to Islamic state schools while 74 percent said they preferred Muslim women to wear the hijab headscarf in public.

Among the over-55s, the figures were 19 percent and 28 percent on the same questions.

A small overall minority (seven percent) said they "admire organisations like Al-Qaeda that are prepared to fight the West". The figure was highest among younger people (13 percent) but just three percent among older people.

In general, more over-55s felt they had as much, if not more, in common with non-Muslims in Britain than with Muslims abroad (71 percent), but that fell to 62 percent among 16- to 24-year-olds.

Mirza said: "There is clearly conflict within British Islam between a moderate majority that accepts the norms of Western democracy and a growing minority that does not.

"Religiosity amongst younger Muslims is not about following their parents' cultural traditions but rather their interest in religion is more politicised."●