Nearly half of UK adults think Islam is ‘incompatible’ with British values

Nearly half of UK adults this Islam is ‘incompatible’ with British values (Picture: Getty)

Almost a third of UK adults think Islam encourages Muslims to carry out acts of violence against non-Muslims, a survey suggests.

It found nearly half (48 per cent) think the religion is ‘incompatible’ with British values.

The poll, which questioned 2,077 people of different ages, genders and regions, showed how ‘misunderstood’ the religion is in the UK, said the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Two thirds (67 per cent) of the public agreed most Brits have a negative view of Islam, while 58 per cent believe Islamophobia is widespread in the UK.

The results come as the country’s largest Muslim convention, the Jalsa Salana, will take place on Friday in Hampshire with more than 30,000 expected to attend.

Two thirds think the public has a negative view of Islam (Picture: Getty)

Following the survey, Rafiq Hayat, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, has encouraged people of all faiths to get to know Muslims better at the convention.

‘Islam actually places an emphasis on integration and contributing to the society you live in, which is what the 35,000 Muslims who’ll be gathering at the UK’s largest Islamic convention aim to show – that loyalty to your country is in fact a part of your faith,’ said Mr Hayat.

‘We are saying that if people want to know if Islam really does promote violence, they should come and meet the thousands at the convention where they can have frank but respectful conversations.’

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: ‘The Government will always stand up for people of all faiths and backgrounds and we are clear that religious hatred has no place in our society.

‘We’ve put millions into protecting our diverse places of worship and we continue to work with a range of communities to ensure we’re alive to – and can act upon – any concerns.

‘But we can’t be complacent and will do everything in our power to ensure that everyone feels safe and valued in modern Britain.’

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