The majority of Britons are tolerant of Islam and Muslims but a strong minority isn’t, a new poll has revealed.

The ComRes survey of over 2,000 people was conducted between October 15-16 and was commissioned by Muslim group MEND.

The survey found that:

• 58% of British adults agree Islamophobia is a real problem in today’s society.

• 48% agree prejudice against Islam makes it difficult to be a Muslim in this country.

• 47% say Britain is becoming less tolerant of Muslims.

• 38% say they would not be concerned if a member of their family married a Muslim.

• 43% say they would be concerned if a mosque was built in their neighborhood.

• 43% say Western liberal society can never be compatible with Islam.

In terms of who is to blame for Islamophobia in the UK:

• 58% blame the media.

• 59% blame Muslims abroad.

• 45% blame Muslims in the UK.

• 61% blame far right groups such as the EDL.

The poll comes a few weeks after Home Office figures revealed there has been a surge in hate crime against Muslims in England and Wales.

In 2017/18, just over half (52%) of religious hate crime offences were targeted against Muslims (2,965 offences). This is a much greater proportion than the proportion of the population in England and Wales who identify as Muslims (4.8 per cent of the population). The total number of hate incidents reached a record 94,098, from April 2017 to March 2018 – a rise of 17% from the previous year. Just over three-quarters of those – a total of 71,251 – were classified as “race hate” which was most probably also experienced by many Muslims…

Source: 5pillarsuk.com