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10 February 2011

Over half of French Muslims say they will marry only another Muslim

France’s Muslims, regularly accused by the country’s right-wing politicians of not adapting to the culture here, are torn between tradition and modernity when it comes to relationships and marriage, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Done for an online dating service, the poll found huge opposition to both polygamy and arranged marriages.

But a strong majority of respondents said they were opposed to premarital sex and a bare majority said they wouldn’t marry someone of another faith background.

…. “In a country dominated by the principle of liberal lifestyle choices they are largely free of the religious or cultural dictates that legitimize polygamy and arranged marriages.”

But the poll suggests that their value system remains “impregnated” with a moral code which views sex as legitimate only within a marriage and which strongly influences marriage partner choices.

The poll found that 84% opposed the legalization of polygamy in France, while 83% reject the notion that parents should choose spouses for their children.

Roughly three out of four (73%) are against sex outside marriage, while 53% said they were unwilling to marry a non-Muslim. [National Post] Read more [via Islam in Europe]