UK: Muslims oppose war in Afghanistan, Taliban

UK: Muslims oppose war in Afghanistan, Taliban



A survey of British Muslim opinion for the BBC has revealed significant divisions over the conflict with the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan.


Three-quarters of those surveyed said it was wrong for the West to intervene militarily in Pakistan and Afghanistan.


At the same time, a similar number (78%) said they opposed Taliban attacks against Nato soldiers in Afghanistan.


Nine out of 10 of those surveyed said that they opposed Taliban fighters capturing territory in Pakistan.


ICM surveyed 500 Muslims in the UK over 16 years old between 15 and 20 June.


In the survey, 66% of respondents said they supported the authorities in their fight against al-Qaeda. Some 16% said they did not support the fight while 18% said they either did not know or had no opinion.


The survey found that 76% said it was wrong for the US and UK to militarily intervene in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Some 15% said it would be right while almost one in 10 said they did not know.


Survey results showing most respondents did not support western military intervention - but that most also did not support the Taliban


When asked what they thought about British-born Muslim soldiers serving in the two countries, just over half said it would be wrong but almost a third said it would be right.


Some 11% said it was legitimate for guerrilla fighters to target British or Nato forces in Afghanistan while 78% were opposed to such attacks.


However, some 95% said it was wrong for the Taliban to use suicide bombers in Pakistan and just 2% said it was right. A similar number opposed the Taliban seeking to capture territory in Pakistan or attacking state targets.


(..)


Turning to attitudes towards security within the UK, eight out of 10 respondents said they would alert the police if they suspected a Muslim was involved in al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism. One in 10 said they would not contact the police.


Almost a third of respondents said they thought the police, government and British society were anti-Muslim. A majority of respondents said they did not think that was the case.


(more)


Source: BBC (English)

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