I read this the first time it was posted, but I don't object to its return.
The existence or otherwise of moderate muslims certainly seems to be a hot
topic on the right (I'm aware that Harris claims to be a liberal), and
that suggests an agenda of sorts. From what I've read on the net and in
Lawrence's posts, the tendency appears to be to downplay the existence of
moderate muslims and boost the numbers and importance of extremists.
Now the following looks exclusively at British muslims. I understand that
Lawrence and others would prefer us to limit the analysis to the middle
east, but considering that most if not all terrorist attacks after 9/11
have been conducted by home grown terrorists, I think it's worthwhile.
In a recent(ish) poll conducted for the Telegraph (London) and ITV, 73 per
cent of British Muslims would go to the police if they believed that
someone they knew or knew of might be planning a terrorist attack.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/23/npoll23.xml&page=1
Whilst this implies that the remainder, 27 per cent, would not go to the
police, it isn't equivalent to the number who would themselves committ an
attack. According to the poll, six per cent, if not prepared to carry out
terrorist acts, are ready to support those who do. In which case those who
would consider themselves active terrorists (clearly would not say in any
case), but also must be much less.
An alternative poll conducted by NOP
http://www.imaginate.uk.com/MCC01_SURVEY/Site%20Download.pdf
and commented upon here
http://www.ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/291
shows that 94% of respondents disagreed that Muslims should live
separately from non-Muslims but at the same time, given the choice 36%
would prefer to have fellow Muslims as neighbours.
Quoting directly from the polling report: NOP also asked if British
Muslims thought that relgious leaders who supported terrorism should be
removed - 68% agreed, with 22% disagreeing. Cross-referencing these
results, NOP characterised 9% of the Muslims they surveyed as “hardcore
Islamists” - people who thought that it was perfectly okay to speak in
support of terrorism, but thought people should be prosecuted for
insulting Islam. This small minority tallies with NOP’s other questions on
terrorism - 9% of respondents said it was acceptable for religious or
political groups to use violence, 13% of people said they understand why
young British Muslims might become suicide bombers.
And a February 2006 ICM Poll
http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/reviews/2006/Sunday%20Telegraph%20-%20Mulims%20Feb/Sunday%20Telegraph%20Muslims%20feb06.asp
which says that 60 per cent of muslims are more alienated from British
society over the previous year and that 46 per cent believe that muslims
have become more radical in that period. Conversely, 80 per cent might
believe that western society may not be perfect, but muslims should live
within it and not seek to bring it to an end.
Another ICM poll, this one in the wake of the July bombings:
http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/reviews/2005/Guardian%20-%20muslims%20july05/Guardian%20Muslims%20jul05.asp
On who was to blame (in each case I've picked out 'a lot'):
Blair for invading Iraq: 58%
Muslim Imams and other leaders for failing to root out extremists: 26%
Muslim community for not doing enough to root out extremists: 18%
Non-Muslims in Britain for racist and Islamophobic behaviour: 28%
The bombers themselves: 70%
The bombers handlers: 70%
There are a stack more polls to look through - ICM are especially active -
but the general consensus appears to be that:
1. There certainly are moderate muslims and they make up the vast majority
in Britain.
2. The feeling against the war in Iraq is dominant.
3. Only a small minority would consider violent action in support of their
beliefs.
4. A sizeable majority would inform on anybody they believed was planning
a terrorist strike.
Now, because Lawrence is currently operating an apartheid system based on
perceived intelligence, I understand that he won't even read this let
alone comment on it directly. Perhaps therefore, other list members could
include relevant quotes in their comments so that he can get the gist.
Simon
Resident thick person
