UK: The vast majority of Muslims prioritize their religious identity over their national identity as British

Image: Jihad Watch

A report has revealed that the majority of British Muslims identify more with their religion than their nationality.

The study, conducted by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), which surveyed 815 British Muslims through interviews and data collection, found that 71 percent of participants consider themselves Muslims first. In comparison, only 27 percent primarily identify as British, English, or Scottish.

The research also showed that younger Muslims are significantly more likely to prioritize their religious identity, with 85 percent of those in their 20s identifying as Muslim before anything else. In contrast, 57 percent of older Muslims expressed a stronger sense of British identity.

One survey participant reflected, “People in their 20s, born here, express themselves freely as Muslims rather than British. But their parents, the immigrant generation, often still identify as British because they had to suppress their Muslim identity to fit in.”

Charlotte Littlewood, Director of Research for the IIFL, suggested that the main reason for this Muslim-first identity was not rooted in loyalty to Islam but in the feeling of not being welcomed as British.

Despite the perception of not being fully accepted, the survey found that nearly 80 percent of respondents believe the UK is more accommodating for Muslims than other European countries like France, Germany, or the Netherlands.

Additionally, a majority of British Muslims expressed a preference for living in the UK over a Muslim-majority country, citing the country’s cultural and religious diversity, which allows their religious practices to blend in more seamlessly.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)