‘Muslims, don’t be part of the problem’
THERE HAVE been some objections to the methodology used in this Henry Jackson Society survey. However, its the central premise – that a higher proportion of British Muslims, compared to the wider public, hold toxic views – has been repeatedly confirmed by previous studies.
The 2023 Community Security Trust (CST) report, for example, found that 122 antisemitic incidents out of 4,103 across the UK contained references to discourse relating to Islam and Muslims. This represents 3 per cent of the total number of cases where the perpetrator made such explicit comments. In contrast, 6 per cent of the population say they are Muslim, and the CST figures point to a stubborn problem of antisemitism within segments of that community.
Or take the 2017 report by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research which was undertaken with the CST. Its findings were clear: “A clear majority of the British population is not antisemitic in any way. However, the greater the level of antipathy towards Israel, the more likely they are to register on the antisemitism index; indeed, of those scoring four or more on the anti-Israel index, it is more likely than not that they hold some antipathy towards Jews.”
The report also found that “both antisemitic and anti-Israel attitudes among Muslims are higher in prevalence than in the general population in all groups of Muslims exhibiting some degree of religiosity”.
There will be no doubt Muslims who say there is no such problem, or that it is a minor issue that is being overblown. There will be others who say that the “Islamophobia industry” is manufacturing such issues.
I have this to say to them: For nearly 30 years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has buffeted our country, leading to both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. You are either an ally in the fight against hate or you are not. If you choose to shout “Islamophobia” whilst spouting antisemitic statements then you forfeit the right to be taken seriously in society and deserve to be reported for your hate.