UK Muslims want hard-line Sharia law

February 19, 2006

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FOUR in 10 UK Muslims want hard-line Sharia Law introduced in parts of Britain, an ICM poll revealed today.

One in five also expressed sympathy with the "feelings and motives" of the July 7 suicide bombers who killed 52 innocent people in London.

However, while British Muslims come over as alienated from mainstream society, 91% said they feel "loyal" to the UK.

The survey, for the Sunday Telegraph, follows a fresh protest in Trafalgar Square by thousands of Muslims against the cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.

Sadiq Khan, the Labour MP appointed to the task force set up after the 7/7 attacks, called the findings "alarming".

"Vast numbers of Muslims feel disengaged and alienated from mainstream British society," the MP told the paper.

Sharia Law, which is practised in large parts of the Middle East, specifies stonings and amputations as routine punishments.

Religious police are responsible for bringing suspects before special courts.

Sharia should be introduced in "predominantly Muslim" areas of Britain, according to 40% of the 500 Muslims polled. Almost the same number, 41%, opposed the move.

Problem

While 20% said they felt sympathy for the London suicide bombers' motives, another 75% said they did not. Just 1% backed the attacks.

Almost two-thirds believed video images of British troops beating Iraqi youths, uncovered last week, were representative of a wider problem in the war-ravaged country.

Exactly half predicted the soldiers responsible will not be "appropriately published".

Many felt their community had become "more radical" in the past year, with 60% saying British Muslims are "more alienated" and that more women were covering their faces and bodies in public than in 2004.

Exactly half said relations between white Britons and and Muslims were growing worse. Fewer than one in five believed relations were improving.

Only just over half said the conviction of militant Islamic cleric Abu Hamza for incitement to racial hatred was fair.

Tooting MP Mr Khan said: "We must redouble our efforts to bring Muslims on board with the mainstream community.

"For all our efforts made since last July, things do not appear to have got better."

:: ICM interview 500 British Muslims age 18 and over from February 14-16.

Should Sharia law be introduced to parts of the UK? Have your say.

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Vincent, Manchester (19/02/2006 at 11:00)

If these people want to live under a sharia system no problem - they know where to go.

Colin W, Stockholm (19/02/2006 at 11:20)

So according to these poll 40% want Muslim law to be introduced into Britian. Old Enoch Powel is looking to have been proven right after all, how berated he was at the time when he said that once the ethnic minorities gained sufficient number si Britian they would start to dictate terms.

grover, Ontario Canada (19/02/2006 at 13:36)

Islamic population asked for Sharia law and after a lot of debate, the government said NO. There is no guarantee of protection for women under Sharia law so the women would have to obey their husbands - remember it is now 2006 and life has changed.

Thrutchmeister, Derbyshire (19/02/2006 at 13:55)

Forgive me... but I was under the impression that we already had a law system in this country? If people want a Sharia law, let them go to any country they wish, where they practice it. I am obviously a massive racist bigot because I am actually talking sense! I am looking to leave this country to ensure that my family do not have to grow up in this atmosphere any longer... I wonder how any of the countries that I am researching would like it if I wanted to take my own law with me? I am very getting weary of this clap-trap.

A Kadir, Luton (19/02/2006 at 13:55)

Shari'ah law has been unjustly represented in the middle-east where the puppet western rulers twist the Shari'ah to suit their own agenda.

Shari'ah is far more than what meets the eye in the middle easy, and a further study of the Shariah will reveal that it is the most compatible and powerful system for the world!

Abbi, Leeds (19/02/2006 at 15:38)

If 4 out of 10 muslims would like to see sharia law, I suggest they return to a country where it is applied.

Marianne Smits-Jansen, Roermond, The Netherlands (19/02/2006 at 16:31)

This is the reward for always having been so tolerant towards an intolerant religion. We have not had a poll like this over here, I wonder what the result here would be. But I don't think as bad as the English one, our newspapers published the Danish cartoons, and we have not had all these protests from the muslim people. So on this issue I think we did better.

Nigel Robertson, Melton Mowbray (19/02/2006 at 16:40)

The best thing about the rising profile of Islam is that, as Christians contemplate how obviously it is a pathetic superstition purely about power, they cannot in fact present any more credible basis for their own faith. Then we can start to recognise faith in general as a bad, false thing that divides people.

Billy Huss, Prestwich (19/02/2006 at 16:46)

I wonder how many of the people who say they want the Sharia law to apply here have actually experienced it. If many haven't, perhaps they'll be off to Sudan or somewhere similar to try it out.

John, Salford (19/02/2006 at 16:49)

Its only time before this doe's happen . I think its time we emigrated to a country with a more western lifestyle.

Ricky G, Whitefield (19/02/2006 at 17:03)

"Sharia Law, which is practised in large parts of the Middle East, specifies stonings and amputations as routine punishments."
Hmmm....it's a bit like going back to the stone ages.
This Islamic religion and belief is also sexist, racist and homophobic. The women are held sub-serviant to the males, the religion forbids homosexuality with punishment - and the religion wants Islam to rule the word and to destroy "non-believers" to such an extent that the London Bombers have the sympathy of many Muslims.
The Muslims that belive in the above should be kicked out of the UK as they are hypocrits - enjoying the freedom of the West while subscribing to this oppressive religion

Norm Davis, Liverpool (19/02/2006 at 17:25)

Sharia Law was enacted 2000 years ago. We are supposed to be more civilised now. Suggest radical Muslims be deported back to their country of origin and practice their religious beliefs there.

hammed, manchester (19/02/2006 at 18:08)

i did not think there is a fence around great britain people are not locked in and are free to leave if they don't like it.

James, Manchester (19/02/2006 at 18:25)

When in Rome, do as the Muslims do eh?

Just shows what most of the "mainstream moderates" are really thinking.

We better wake up before this country ends up like the Balkans.

Pamela, Crumpsall (19/02/2006 at 19:17)

The Problem is that the government stupidly dropped Multi-racial integration in favour of multi-culturalism so now instead of a mixed society we have a large number of ghettos. This ineveitable leads to resentment from the white community and more alienation from the islamic section of society. Black people are more integrated and accepted in society because of integration rather than multi-culturalism.

Either we have an integrated multi-racial society or we have problems. And the only people to benefit from problems will be extremist right-wing parties.

VINNIE, CLEVELAND, OHIO USA (19/02/2006 at 20:00)

Absolutely not. If these people want to live under such barbaric laws they should move to where these laws exist already. The British way of life has been eroded so much already. British laws for British people.

T.McQueen, Ontario (19/02/2006 at 20:25)

Most definitely NOT.
It would be like stepping back about 1300 years.
A time when the vast majority of people were so poor, ignorant and extremely superstitious.
A time when the few 'educated' were generally clerics, who along with the so-called 'nobility' controlled all the power. This power was used to keep the ignorant masses kept in check by brute force. The ordinary people were living in abject fear of 'authority' and became so brainwashed by the clerics that their belief in a supreme being was fostered by terror, rather than by love and compassion.
A request for the introduction of Sharia Law for Muslim communities was rejected by the Canadian government last year.
It has no place in a modern educated society.

Mike, Stockport (19/02/2006 at 21:43)

If moslems want to invoke sharia law they should emigrate to a country where it is in force. Imagine the UK trying to invoke British law in Saudi Arabia !! They should try to integrate. If they cannot they should move on. Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi. Let them make the first move by allowing non moslem women to drive. You will wait a long time. It will never happen.

Annie, Chorlton (19/02/2006 at 22:51)

Don't be so totally ridiculous! This is the United Kingdom.

Since when has a country's national laws been replaced by religious ones?

It's utterly preposterous, and, ultimately, reprehensible for Muslims to suggest it.

This rubbish just encourages the right wingers, and if they want riots on the streets, they are going the right way about it, sadly.

John Miller, Manchester (19/02/2006 at 23:08)

No way!

Peter, Melbourne, Australia (ex Manchester & Crewe) (19/02/2006 at 23:46)

Absolutely not! It's bad enough that such a law still exists in other parts of the world, introducing it in the UK would be heading back to the days of the Inquisition.

Anna, Didsbury, Manchester (20/02/2006 at 02:08)

For certain I'm one of those who would be stoned to death, or worse, under Sharia law. I avoid travel to countries with such laws. That affects my employability. Unfortunately it seems those like me are powerless to stop the increase of such areas. When one realises that there isn't a single human right that our incredibly compliant UK parliament cannot legislate away in a few days, with no notice, if it wishes, there soon seems cause to worry. The government is current legislating to require that the facts that would distinguish us to religious police must be on their databases, and retained forever. And we cannot stop that either, and maybe we are heading to not even being able to voice our fears and opposition. Two of the banned Danish cartoons were solely about Islam sometimes treating some people in a discriminatory manner - specifically women. Apparently the British media believe even saying that is too inflammatory, because none have published either of those. Is that scary? It is to me.

Ray O'Neill, Portland,Oregon,USA (20/02/2006 at 02:14)

If they the Muslims wish to live in Britain then they should come under the rules and laws of the Judicial system, not the sharia law.If they want this then they should go back to whatever country they came from and expect that law of which they are governed to solve their problems.When a Britain goes to a Muslim country he is expected to abide by the rules and law of that country. The Muslim community in Britain expect to be treated in a different way, this should not be so and I think if the British government give into this way of thinking then we Brits are in for a bit of a rough awakening. Follow British law and like it or go home.

Tubby Scruff, Alas..now in my Bentley (20/02/2006 at 09:16)

Then I would suggest they go and live in a country that will provide them with Sharia Law.

Helen Williams, Whitefield (20/02/2006 at 09:28)

Those Muslims that want hard-line Sharia Law can always buy a one way ticket and hop on a plane to an Islamic state - buy that would mean giving up their Western freedoms!!!

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