In the most extensive research of British Muslims ever conducted, Policy Exchange in conjunction with the polling company ICM surveyed more than 3,000 British Muslims and held a number of focus groups across the UK to understand their attitudes towards a range of issues.
The report, ‘Unsettled Belonging: Britain’s Muslim Communities’, finds they broadly share the same views as the rest of the population. Despite the greater religiosity and social conservatism of British Muslims, their life-styles are largely secular with only limited interest in sharia finance or separate religious education. However, the report also highlights a mentality of victimhood in Muslim communities and a belief in conspiracy theories about 9/11.
It also finds that some of the best known organisations, such as the Muslim Council of Britain, have very little support among British Muslims.They are also much more comfortable than is commonly believed with government-led initiatives against radicalisation and almost half believe that Muslims should do more to combat extremism in their own communities.