Figures that challenge sterotypes bigtime

The BBC reports on a Gallup poll that challenges popular images of British Muslims.

BBC NEWS | UK | Survey reveals Muslim attitudes.  It leads out:

European Muslims have much more loyalty to the countries they live in than is generally believed, a survey says.  The report by Gallup and the Coexist Foundation says 77% of British Muslims identified with the UK, compared with 50% of the general public. ...

More loyal that the rest of us!  From conversations with various Muslims in recent weeks I can believe it. 

"European Muslims want to be part of the wider community and contribute even more to society," she said.

Then whats the problem?

But whereas the vast majority of British Muslims (82%) felt Muslims were loyal citizens, the general public remained suspicious of them.

Very simply, it seems, we are a part of the problem.

The press release from Gallup has a lot more in it: U.S, Canada Show More Interfaith Cohesion Than Europe.

And there is more again on the project webpage: The Gallup Coexist Index 2009:  A Global Study of Interfaith Relations.   In the short summary it starts with a few more myths that can be shattered:

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It also shows that European Muslims are striving to be more involved, with 96% of German Muslims saying that mastering the national language is necessary for integration, 87% of French Muslims saying finding a job is important, and 84% of British Muslims expressing the need to celebrate national holidays.

There is a lot to think about in just these figures. I will read the report.