One in four Muslims ‘backing Sharia law’

NEARLY one in four British Muslims would support Sharia law replacing UK law in some areas of the country, according to a new poll.

The survey, which will be featured in a Channel 4 documentary on Wednesday, also revealed that more than half of British Muslims do not agree that homosexuality should be legal and almost 40 per cent think wives should always obey their husbands.

The findings of the ICM poll of 1,801 British Muslims will be featured in What British Muslims Really Think, a new documentary fronted by Trevor Phillips.

It comes after the former head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission sparked controversy in 2015 with the documentary, Things We Won’t Say About Race That Are True.

The documentary promises to shed light on an uncomfortable split between views held by large numbers of British Muslims and the consensus in relation to a range of topics, including sexuality, freedom of speech and polygamy.

Speaking to the Sunday Times ahead of the programme’s broadcast, Mr Phillips said “the integration of Muslims will probably be the hardest task” the UK has ever faced.

A third of those polled said it was acceptable for a British Muslim to keep more than one wife, while 39 per cent said wives should always obey their husbands.

Nearly half of those questioned said it was unacceptable for a gay or lesbian person to teach their child, with the majority also opposed gay marriage.

Mr Phillips added: “I thought Europe’s Muslims would gradually blend into the landscape. I should have known better.

“Britain desperately wants us to think of its Muslims as versions of the Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, or the cheeky-chappy athlete Mo Farah.

“But thanks to the most detailed and comprehensive survey of British Muslim opinion yet conducted, we know that just isn’t how it is.”