Public Opinion in Britain Shifting
By C.S. Scott
The British public is angry in the wake of Islamic protests across Europe and the Middle East, over cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper, and expresses pessimism over future relations between the west and Islam. A Sunday UK Times poll of more than 1,600 British citizens unveiled some of the anger and disbelief in response to the protests and riots.
The vast majority of British citizens, 86 percent, believe the protests were "a gross overreaction" with 56 percent insisting it was the right of the Danish newspaper and others to publish the cartoons. Amid protests in London last week were banners celebrating the July 7 bombings in the London subway that killed 58 people, and others calling for beheadings (see photo to the left). When asked, 58 percent of Brits said the protests made them angry and 76 percent said the police should have arrested those carrying offensive banners.
Between the 7 July London bombings, the 21 July failed attacks, the trial and airing of evidence against radical cleric Abu Hamza, and now hatred filled riots it would appear there is a shifting of British public opinion and what they are willing to tolerate, which may or may not be indictive of western Europe in general.
The police and politicians are criticised more generally for not confronting Islamic extremism, with 80% of respondents saying the authorities show too much tolerance of Muslims who urge extreme acts. Two-thirds, 67%, think this is because senior policemen such as Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan police commissioner, are too Âpolitically correctÂ. Such views have been brought to a head by last weekÂs conviction of Abu Hamza, the Muslim cleric, for inciting religious violence and racial hatred. After reports that his activities had been known to the police for many years, 67% believe he should have been arrested much sooner, and 69% believe he should have been given a Âsignificantly longer sentence than seven years.
The support for a tough line extends to the anti-terrorism bill, which returns to the Commons next week. Tony Blair backed down on a proposal for terrorist suspects to be held for up to 90 days without charge, but 44% of people back the extension to 90 days, against 42% who say 28 days is an acceptable compromise. Where foreigners stir up racial and religious hatred, 81% of people think they should be sent back to their own countries, even if to do so would endanger their lives. There is widespread gloom about the future, with 87% expecting further attacks in Britain by Islamic groups on the scale of the July 7 bombings; and only 17% seeing a future in which there is peaceful coexistence between Muslims and others in Britain, while 67% think there will be a worsening of tensions. This is also true internationally. While 34% say western nations can coexist peacefully with mainly Muslim countries, 45% disagree.
Other Muslims in Britain condemned the messages displayed in the initial protests. Asghar Bukhari, chairman of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee, said the demonstration in London on Friday should have been stopped by police because the group had been advocating violence. On Saturday, more than 4,000 Muslims held a peaceful protest in London vowing to keep out extremists who advocated murder and violence.
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Oh well, So is Australia, Scandinavianavia, etc.
So Arab Muslim Goliath CRIMINAL propaganda machine really thought that their long years of tarnishing Israeli victims will "pay" off?
Ever heard of boomerangerang?
Question is, will Arab Muslims finally look themselves in the mirror (and not pointing fingers around) and start some real change?
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