When four British-born Muslims blew themselves up on the London transit system on July 7, 2005, many Britons were convinced that their country’s model of assimilation had failed. The attacks, coupled with a war on terror that seems to reveal an ever-widening gulf between Islam and the West, sparked talk of a crisis of integration, seen most clearly in the acute alienation of the country’s Muslim youth.

But for all the talk of crisis, a new Gallup World Poll finds that more binds the British majority with its religious minority than not. The greatest challenge of all may be in moving beyond minor, symbolic controversies in order to pave a path toward a shared future.

Identity Crisis

A 2006 Pew poll of the British public found that British Muslims, when asked to cite the source of their primary identity, overwhelmingly chose their faith, while the majority of the British public chose their country. The finding set off alarm bells in a nervous Britain still reeling from the 7/7 attacks and was widely cited as proof that the country suffers from a crisis of integration.

Similarly, our 2007 Gallup poll illustrates the importance of religion in the lives of London Muslims. The vast majority of Muslims say religion is an important part of their lives, compared with only slightly more than a third of the general public.

Next>> For God and Country

For God and Country

But the debate over identity can be misleading. Our data show that religious and national identities need not be mutually exclusive. Muslims identify strongly both with their faith and their country. In fact, Muslims display a stronger identification with Britain than the general public, suggesting that the talk of an integration crisis may be too hasty. Simply because Muslims identify strongly with their religion does not translate into a lack of patriotism.

Next>> Veil of Suspicion

Veil of Suspicion

Alternately portrayed as a sign of docility or defiance, the Muslim face veil has come to represent much of what divides Islam from the West. Britain’s foreign minister touched off a flurry of controversy last year when he asked one of his constituents to remove her veil in his presence. Prime Minister Tony Blair later called the garment “a symbol of separation.” Now, new legislation being debated in Britain might ban Muslim girls from wearing it in public schools. Although only a tiny minority of British Muslim women wear the veil, our data demonstrate that the Muslim community and the public disagree strongly over whether removing the veil is a necessary step toward being a part of British society, or a demand that imposes unjustly on a person’s freedom of religion.

Next>> Integral Agreement

Integral Agreement

But the face veil aside, our poll found that Muslims and the public have remarkably similar views on what it means to integrate. The importance of mastering English, finding a job, getting a better education, and participating in politics are values agreed upon by Muslims and the public alike. Perhaps even more surprising: A majority in each group also agrees that reducing the fervor of one’s religious practice isn’t necessary to blend in.

Next>> Democratizing the Debate

Democratizing the Debate

But don’t Muslims distrust their government? The data say otherwise: Not only do a majority of Muslims express confidence in the national government, the integrity of elections, the judicial system, and even the police, but they are also slightly more likely than the general public to do so. This finding presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Muslims seem more likely to have higher expectations for democracy, which could lead to alienation if they perceive they aren’t being treated equally because of their faith.

Next>> Breaking the Impasse

Breaking the Impasse

The divide over the veil has unfortunately framed integration in Britain as a zero-sum game: Who will give up more? Who should make the first move? A majority of Muslims believe that the general public should be more accommodating and accepting of their religious customs, while the public believes the reverse.

This impasse masks the many areas of common ground between the British public and the Muslim community. The way forward is to approach integration as a process requiring extra effort by all, not painful trade-offs for one side. Muslims should not be forced into a false choice between Islam and integration. That would only risk turning an overblown crisis into a reality.

Dalia Mogahed is a senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies. Zsolt Nyiri is regional research director for Europe at the Gallup World Poll.

Next>> Methodology

Methodology

All surveys were designed and funded entirely by The Gallup Organization.

London Muslims:

Field period for this data: November 29, 2006 to January 18, 2007
Probability sample in neighborhoods where Muslim penetration was 5% or more
All interviews conducted in home, face-to-face
Target: total adult population, ages 15+
500 interviews in London
Associated sampling error: +/- 5%

British Public:

Field period for this data: December 18, 2006 to January 9, 2007
Random digit dialing
Phone interviews
Target: total adult population, ages 15+
1,200 interviews nationwide
Associated error: +/- 3%