A SIGNIFICANT minority of British Muslims believe they are at war with the rest of society, the largest poll of Muslims in this country suggests.

The Populus survey for The Times and ITV News has found that more than one in ten thinks that the men who carried out the London bombings of 7/7 should be regarded as “martyrs”. Sixteen per cent of British Muslims, equivalent to more than 150,000 adults, believe that while the attacks were wrong, the cause was right.

But the poll also revealed a stark gulf between this group and the majority of British Muslims, who want the Government to take tougher measures against extremists within their community.

More than half (56 per cent) believe that the Government has failed to combat extremism, a higher proportion than the 49 per cent of the general population who agree.

Nearly half (49 per cent) of Britain’s 1.6 million Muslims also think it acceptable for the authorities to monitor what is being preached in mosques more closely.

Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, said it was as if some groups were living in a different country.

“These results show that there are people within the Muslim communities who are so far away from the mainstream of society, as well as the mainstream of British Muslims, that they think that they are at war with the rest of the community. Thankfully, we know that a vast majority of Muslims are not in that place,” he said.

Assistant Met Commissioner Tariq Ghaffur, Britain’s most prominent Muslim policeman, said: “The poll shows that we do have a minority of people within our community who do effectively pose a danger.

“The tipping point between someone feeling anger and alienation and then engaging in the kind of atrocities we saw last July or being exploited by somebody who wants to commit a terrible act is very, very small.”

Populus interviewed 1,131 Muslim adults aged 18+ by telephone and online between June 1-16 for the poll.

It found that half of Muslims believe that Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war was the principal reason for the London bombings. An equal number (49 per cent) believe that further suicide bombings in the UK are likely.

Among the population as a whole nearly four in five (78 per cent) think a further attack is likely.

Four out of five British Muslims (79 per cent) believe that their community has experience increased hostility since last July’s bombings and three quarters (74 per cent) say that Muslims are viewed with suspicion by fellow citizens.

More than nine out of ten Muslims (92 per cent) say their community makes a valuable contribution to British society.

Nearly half (49 per cent) of British Muslims think it is offensive that some non-Muslims feel anxious if they see someone they think is a Muslim on public transport carrying a backpack. However, 18 per cent say that they too feel anxious if they see someone who looks Muslim with a large bag or backpack.

Poll results

13% of British Muslims think that the four men who carried out the London Tube and bus bombings of July 7 2005 should be regarded as “martyrs”

7% agree that suicide attacks on civilians in the UK can be justified in some circumstances, rising to 16 per cent for a military target

16% of British Muslims say that while the attacks may have been wrong, the cause was right

16% would be “indifferent” if a family member decided to join al-Qaeda and two per cent would be proud

56% of British Muslims believe that the Government is not doing enough to fight extremism, more than the 49 per cent of the whole population who agree

50% think the intelligence services have the right to infiltrate Muslim organisations to gather information about their activities and the way they obtain funding

65% of British Muslims say that their community needs to do more to integrate properly with British society

35% say that they would feel proud if a close family member joined the police

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