According to the 26th British Social Attitudes survey, the largest of its kind, at least a third (34%) of the British public are negative about Muslims, not much more are neutral, and barely a quarter have positive feelings.
This is in stark contrast to the low level of any negative feelings (6% - 15%) and much higher positive feelings towards other religious groups.
Muslims themselves complain of “Islamophobia”.
Why is there so much dislike or suspicion of Islam and Muslims?
Some Muslims put it down to ignorance. All would be well if only the British knew more about Islam, if they had read the Koran (in the original Arabic, some say), had things explained to them in the right way.
There is another and better explanation. It is the effects that Islam and Muslims have on the world around us. The religion is judged by what comes out of it, and what its followers do, not by what experts and clerics claim it is about (often contradicting one another).
This post is a survey of typical reports and news items over recent months concerning Islam and Muslims. Judge for yourself.
The “War on Terror”, Terrorism, the Israeli/Palestinian issue and ongoing conflicts in Muslim countries are deliberately excluded.
We address the usual objections to media information here.
July 2010Domestic abuse rampant in modern, moderate Turkey
A teacher says no to burqa in a West Bengal Muslim university, isn’t allowed to teach
Parents in hot water over missed swimming lessons
Pew Survey: Pakistanis overwhelmingly favor killing apostates
Sonorous black Saudi cleric rescinds objection to fatwa against singing
Hamas bans lingerie displays in Gaza Strip
Claim of 'Islamic veil bus ban' thrown out
Sharia creeps into New Jersey courtroom – but gets short shrift on appeal
Police Muslim forum headed by Islamic extremist
Iran cuts off hands from five thieves
Two Muslim women thrown out of pool for wearing 'burkinis
Malaysian first wives and children oppose polygamy
BBC defends Qur'an incident in EastEnders
The burka empowering women? You must be mad, minister
Muslims ban Manchester United shirts over red devil image
Syria's niqab ban is part of a clash within Islam itself
White Christian Britons being unfairly targeted for hate crimes by CPS, Civitas claims
Iranian prosecutor urges Islamic dress checks
Muslim bus drivers refuse to let guide dogs on board
Gaza water pipe smoke ban for women
Americans must not be cowed by Muslim objections to cartoons
Pakistani couple face death by stoning threat after conviction for adultery
Majority of Brits want burkas banned
The fundamentalist-linked Labour politician and the extremist solicitor
French MPs vote to ban Islamic full veil in public
Muslims seek to add Islamic holidays to New York school calendar
Egyptian Islamists attempt to draw a veil over 'salacious' masterpiece
Council tells schools to rearrange exams and cancel swimming for Ramadan
Muslim woman sues Somerset Medical Center for religious discrimination
Muslims Attempt to Behead Apostate in Egypt
Iran imposes media blackout over stoning sentence woman
Iranian government bans new women's football kit
Widespread Support for Banning Full Islamic Veil in Western Europe
Chechnya's leader hails paintball attacks on women
Hizb ut Tahrir – we hate it here but let us stay
Iran issues list of approved Muslim hairstyles for men
Iran: Homosexual young man sentenced to death
What isn't wrong with Sharia law?
Alleging blasphemy, fanatics hack lecturer's hand
Stop the stoning of Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani
Morocco Continues to Purge Nation of Foreign Christians
June 2010
Homely Homemaking Homebodies? Why the Quran Commands Muslim Women: “Stay in Your Homes”
Saudi Textbooks: Still Teaching Hatred
Hard-line groups target Christianity with sharia law
KFC forced to ditch halal-only menus after disappointing sales
Ex-Muslim wants multiculturalism and ‘poisonous’ faith schools ditched
Pakistan to monitor Google and Yahoo for 'blasphemy'
Is a religious bus ban on my dog right?
Saudi women and men sentenced to flogging and prison for mingling at party
The Zakir Naik School of Comparitive Religion
Iran cleric says dogs "unclean" and not to be kept as pets
Norway: Sharia courts a possibility
Some Muslim practices cause poverty, Muslim religious leader says
New Report – Sharia Law in Britain – A Threat to One Law for All and Equal Rights
Conductor banned from wearing crucifix necklace
Bremner fears joke about Islam would mean death
A veil, a traffic ticket and deep unease in France over Muslims
Appeal for Afghan Christians, sentenced to death for their faith
Why is secularism incompatible with Islam?
Women’s Rights: Inspired by Muhammad?
Saudi convicts young man for kissing woman in mall
Surge for Dutch anti-Islam Freedom Party
Muslim teens enraged by pop star’s name
Study finds young, devout Muslims in Germany more prone to violence
Has al-Jazeera changed its style?
Belgium: Parents against halal food for their children
Islamic Foundation calls for death sentence if apostate fails to repent
May 2010
"Every Muslim Should Be A Terrorist”
Italy: Imam's consent needed for health-care
Muslims who support football world cup are deviants and hypocrites
Facebook rival launched in Pakistan after 'blasphemous' Prophet images published
Court rules company can fire woman for wearing headscarf
Authorities distribute 20,000 long skirts to enforce tight pants ban in Indonesia's West Aceh
Apple pulls iSlam Muhammad app
How Islamists Came to Dominate European Islam
Dutch Parliament Concerned About Muslim Brotherhood In The Netherlands
Muslim leader: find wives in Britain not Pakistan and India
Poll: 57 per cent of Swiss favour banning the burqa
Pakistan blasphemy laws used to justify 'murder': EU parliament
Morocco expelled Christians 'to prevent conflict'
France has first 'burka rage' incident
Central Council of Muslims in Germany Pulls Out Of Government Sponsored Integration Effort
Saudi woman beats up virtue cop
Woman in burkha held after MP is stabbed in stomach
Catholic school girl who refused headscarf for mosque trip labelled a truant
Muslim clerics in India issue a fatwa forbidding women to work for their living
Turks found worst integrated group amid widespread bigotry
City of Helsinki Pool Sponsoring Muslim Girls' Only Swimming Classes.......
The Iranian Regime's Efforts to Enforce the Wearing of the Hijab
Taxi refuses to take woman home with alcohol
South Park the last bastion of free thought
Fribourg cuts benefits for veil-wearers
Adulterer to be lashed, jailed in Sharjah
Italy: Third council to fine burqa wearers
Iran detains 80 youths for illegal "pleasure seeking
For Australia's sake, we need to ban the burqa
Saudi liberals see hope as clerics argue over gender segregation
Aceh Drafts Regional Ban on Non-Islamic Broadcasts
