UK: British Muslims most patriotic

UK: British Muslims most patriotic

The report itself hasn't been published online yet, but it would be interesting to see what questions were asked. This article doesn't bode well, since feeling British doesn't mean you also accept British values.

This is not the first study to show that British Muslims are more assimilated. But these studies
seem to define 'patriotism', 'integration' or 'assimilation' in new ways.


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Muslims in Britain are the most patriotic in Europe — but more than a quarter in some parts of the country still do not feel British, according to a new study.


The report, funded by George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist, found that on average 78% of Muslims identified themselves as British, although this dropped by six points in east London.


This compares with 49% of Muslims who consider themselves French and just 23% who feel German.


The findings, based on more than 2,000 detailed interviews, suggest that Muslims may be better integrated in Britain than in other parts of the European Union.


The report will reopen the debate about the merits of multiculturalism, a policy that has actively promoted cultural and religious differences among minorities in Britain but has been criticised as a barrier to integration by Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.


France prides itself on its secular notion of citizenship and has banned Muslim pupils from wearing the hijab, or headscarf, in classrooms. Yet the study, by the Open Society Institute, found only 41% of Muslims in Paris see themselves as French.


The report appears to contradict previous research in the UK suggesting some Muslims are failing to embrace British values.


(more)


Source: Times Online