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Muslims face rising suspicion in Europe(high disapproval poll numbers)
TImes Online ^ | 12/19/04 | John Elliott

Posted on 12/19/2004 8:55:22 AM PST by Pikamax

Muslims face rising suspicion in Europe John Elliott

EUROPE’S reputation as a tolerant haven for people of all religions may be under threat. Muslims are apparently being viewed with high levels of disapproval, a survey has revealed.

Sweden emerges as the most pessimistic west European nation; 75% of Swedes questioned said there is “definitely a lot” or “rather a lot” of disapproval of Muslims.

Britain is relatively tolerant. Just 39% of respondents said they believed that a significant number of people were opposed to Muslims.

The survey was conducted in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the Madrid train bombings to examine religious attitudes. Researchers asked 1,000 people in 19 European countries: “Do you think nowadays there is a lot of, a little of, or no disapproval of Muslims living in European society”.

In Holland, 72% said there was a lot of disapproval of Muslims and in Denmark the figure was 67%. On average, 52% of people interviewed across western Europe believed that there was large-scale unhappiness about Muslims.

An estimated 13m Muslims live in the 25 countries of the European Union. On top of fears over Al-Quaeda attacks, tensions have risen in countries such as Holland where Theo van Gogh, the radical film-maker, was stabbed to death by an Islamic extremist. This was followed by at least 13 arson attacks on mosques, churches and Islamic schools across the country.

The study also suggests that anti-semitism has increased; 30% of those questioned believed that it had risen in their country over the past five years, 35% thought there had been no change and 14% believed it had fallen. In Britain 34% of those asked believed there was more anti-semitism while 49% felt there had been no change and 17% thought it had declined.

Mark Hofmans of GfK Worldwide, the German market research company that prepared the report with The Wall Street Journal, said he had been surprised by the results.

“Most shocking were the results about anti-semitism and attitudes towards Muslims, which were much more negative than we expected and widespread, too,” he said.

Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, deputy director of the Islamic Foundation, a Leicester-based centre that promotes understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims, said the study “reflects the general perception now prevalent in our society”.

He added: “Anyone who has the wellbeing of society uppermost in his mind cannot but feel deeply concerned at these findings. Being a Muslim I am worried that Europe is replacing its anti-semitism with yet another cancer — Islamophobia. There is nothing worse than the feeling that you are not trusted or are viewed with suspicion by your neighbours and fellow citizens.”

He added that Muslims viewed Britain more positively than other countries in Europe: “We feel we are much better treated here than anywhere else — the society as a whole is much fairer than the other European countries.

“In France for example (Muslim girls) are denied wearing the hijab in schools and in Germany, while the Turkish population have been living there for more than 30 years, they are still treated as guest workers and not allowed to be part of mainstream society.”

Azher Basharat, 35, a shop worker and devout Muslim from Forest Gate, east London, said: “Things have got a little worse since September 11, but in the main things are fine. People in Britain are very tolerant.

“What has changed, though, is that some people look at us with greater suspicion. You can see it in their faces — they look a little uneasy. I’ve not been attacked or anything, though — and I can’t remember anyone saying anything racist or Islamophobic to me.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: europeanmuslims; eurotrash
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To: Cobra64

Most people in NJ that speak like that are originally from Staten Island.


61 posted on 12/19/2004 11:27:38 AM PST by muslims=borg (Take the violence out of Islam and whats left ?)
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To: TravisK

Where'd you go? Why not answer some of the many reponses you inspired?


62 posted on 12/19/2004 11:31:33 AM PST by monkeywrench
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To: Pikamax
How much common sense does it take to realize the "moderates" are in perfect approval of their terrorists brothers?

The comparison could be made in that the average German in WW2 might not kill you, but he would sure turn you over to the SS or other proper authorities for disposal. Even children turned in their parents in Nazi Germany.

History repeats itself, I certainly don't think it smart or sane to allow Islam to step into the shoes of Nazism. Major civilizations throughout history have fallen to ignorant third world barbarians due to tolerance. But we never learn from history because we think it can't happen to us. So did Babylon, Alexandra, etc.
63 posted on 12/19/2004 11:33:22 AM PST by MissAmericanPie
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To: TravisK
The jews were often blamed for riots, murder, intolerance, and animalistic behaviour, the same thing we do to the Islamic population.

Are you a freaking moron? The Jews never committed any riots, intolerance or animalistic behavior, whereas there are countless examples of people professing Islam engaged in atrocities.

Now ye troll, beg for mercy from...

...ZOT in boots!

64 posted on 12/19/2004 11:34:43 AM PST by Alouette (9 kids, 0 abortions, no kidding)
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To: Lazamataz

To me, Islam = Neo-Nazi always has, always will...born and invented from dead dry sand, borrowing selected pieces of genuine religions, created as a War Banner to exhort legions to Kill Rape Loot Murder, bloody incestual banner of recrudescent Neo-Naziism .


65 posted on 12/19/2004 11:34:46 AM PST by chemainus
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To: monkeywrench
Where'd you go? Why not answer some of the many reponses you inspired?

Hey, go easy on TravisK.

It's hard to find a Klan meeting on Sunday.

66 posted on 12/19/2004 11:35:19 AM PST by Lazamataz ("Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown" -- harpseal)
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To: Lazamataz

He don't like us Joooooooos too much.
=====
Patience, Laz... Trav is Koran is now hard at work trying to figure
how to tell us he Loves the Joooooooz Tomb very much !!! ;-))


67 posted on 12/19/2004 11:39:11 AM PST by GeekDejure ( LOL = Liberals Obey Lucifer !!!)
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To: Pikamax
High disapproval poll numbers! The Euro-rats have them now!

*choke*

68 posted on 12/19/2004 11:40:47 AM PST by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Lazamataz

It's sure easy to find these trolls infesting this site on weekends, though. I wonder who he was signed on as before?


69 posted on 12/19/2004 11:41:36 AM PST by monkeywrench
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To: Pikamax

This seems to be a poll where they asked people what other people think. Doesn't seem like a particularly reliable method to me.


70 posted on 12/19/2004 11:42:57 AM PST by Sofa King (MY rights are not subject to YOUR approval.)
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To: TravisK

No, Christianity and Islam are polar opposites. This online 900 page book proves it beyond doubt. Compare Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, or other religious "saviors" to this pirate who could not read or write:

"Islam rises and falls on Muhammad. He is the religion's sole prophet, Islam’s solitary example, Allah’s lone conduit. Without Muhammad, Allah, the Qur’an, and Islam would be unknown. Yet the picture the Islamic scriptures paint of this man is not flattering; his words aren’t believable. According to the Qur’an and Hadith, Muhammad was a thief, rapist, and terrorist. It’s hardly the example you’d want your neighbor to emulate.

http://www.prophetofdoom.net/


71 posted on 12/19/2004 11:48:51 AM PST by OK
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To: winodog
It is a little scary to read some of the stuff we write about islam.

It's a little scary to read some of what is written here, but only to 2 groups of people:

Those who know nothing about islam.

Those who are apologists for islam.

Anyone who has done even modest amounts of research into the death cult is well aware of the dangers we are facing.

The poster you were replying to, didn't get to stick around long enough so I don't know which category he fell into. If he's lurking now, maybe he'll try to educate himself into the ways of mohammedanism before he blames those of us who know perfectly well the evil that we all face.

72 posted on 12/19/2004 11:49:48 AM PST by texasbluebell
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To: cricket
Quite a decent analysis, although it stops well short of advocating any of the only three possible solutions (N.B. I do **not** mean palliatives here).

Nothing terribly new in it for most FReepers, I daresay.

73 posted on 12/19/2004 11:52:27 AM PST by SAJ
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To: OK

Jesus Christ was the son of God and yet he was more humble than this mere "prophet".


74 posted on 12/19/2004 11:55:30 AM PST by Sofa King (MY rights are not subject to YOUR approval.)
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To: TravisK
How much do you know about Islam? It's the same thing as Christianity for the most part.

Ah, I see this was a delusional fool.

75 posted on 12/19/2004 11:56:25 AM PST by texasbluebell
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To: monkeywrench
Where'd you [TravisK] go?

Sent packing.

76 posted on 12/19/2004 11:57:48 AM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: DJ Taylor
"Being a Muslim I am worried that Europe is replacing its anti-semitism with yet another cancer — Islamophobia."

of course, the follow-up is "we (muslims) must work harder to get anti-semitism back to #1"

77 posted on 12/19/2004 11:59:17 AM PST by freedumb2003 (When does the Revolution start? I'm going for a bike ride for a while. Please fill me in later.)
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To: Admin Moderator

Good!


78 posted on 12/19/2004 12:00:14 PM PST by monkeywrench
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To: TravisK

"The jews were often blamed for riots, murder, intolerance, and animalistic behaviour, the same thing we do to the Islamic population."

The key word here is "blamed". The jewish population in Germany was not violent, whereas Islam is. This is an important fact. The real hatred for the jews came from jealousy; Germany was in a major economic hole, and the jewish population was disproportionately successful when the seeds of anti-semitism were being sowed. Islam, on the other hand, earned it's hatred on 9/11. To ignore or deny that distinction is to completely fail to address the issue with any grain of rationality or truth whatsoever.


79 posted on 12/19/2004 12:03:42 PM PST by Sofa King (MY rights are not subject to YOUR approval.)
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To: TravisK

Islam is an evil death cult.


80 posted on 12/19/2004 12:55:12 PM PST by tkathy (The Bluenecks need to get over it.)
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