It's funny, sometimes themes for blogposts just seem to come up in batches, I seem to be in a Paki/Muslim bashing mode over the last few days, but here I go again!
I came across a BBC Scotland article, HERE, on Muslim integration or not in Scotland and the salient facts are thus:
- Integration is easier for Muslims in Scotland than in England.
- Six out of 10 Scots believed Muslims were integrated into everyday Scottish life.
- Scots have a less favourable opinion of Muslims than other religious groups.
- One of the barriers to adapting to Scottish life was the country's drinking culture.
- As most social events in Scotland were seen to revolve around drinking alcohol, many Muslims felt they could not often fully integrate.
- Two-thirds (65%) of respondents had a favourable opinion towards Muslims. - three times as many as those with an unfavourable opinion (21%).
- However, Muslims were viewed less favourably than any of the other religious groups asked about.
- The survey, also found that 46% of those questioned think that Muslims living in Scotland were loyal to the country while 33% thought they were not.
- A total of 66% of Scots thought the attempted bombing of Glasgow Airport in July 2007 had made people in Scotland less tolerant of Muslims, while 48% thought Scotland would begin to lose its identity if more Muslims came to live there.
- There was a strong feeling among Muslims that integration in Scotland was largely one-way - with Muslims making the effort to adapt to Scottish life.
- However, among non-Muslim Scots, the dominant view was that that Muslims have to make more of an effort to interact and should completely adopt Scottish customs.
- Factors such as speaking in their own language and wearing traditional dress - particularly the veil - were seen as evidence that they were not integrating.
