By IRNA,
London : Muslim converts in Britain could number up to 100,000 but are viewed by cynical observers as being connected to extremism, according to a new survey published Tuesday.
The report, by Faith Matters, showed that despite the negative images, there is a “vibrant and growing Muslim convert community that feels at ease living in the UK and being Muslim.”
The report estimated around 5,200 people adopted Islam over the last twelve months, including 1,400 in London alone. A survey of converts revealed nearly two thirds were women, more than 70 per cent were white and the average age at conversion was just 27.
“Nearly half the converts regard themselves as being of a Whit British white origin and many see themselves as individuals that can act as a bridge between Muslims and non-Muslims,” Faith Matters director Fiyaz Mughal said.
“They are a community that have much to offer to our country and to Muslims and non-Muslims and no doubt, they will play an increasing role around integration in the future,” said Mughal, a previous chair of the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats.
The report found that of media representations of converts to Islam, 60.9% of stories were linked to terrorism and 15% linked to fundamentalism.
“These negative portrayals are deeply problematic and further paint a negative picture of a vibrant community driven by social justice,” it said.
The estimate of between 90,000 and 100,000 is based upon a survey of mosques and the last 2001 census figures for England, Wales and Scotland. It also calculated that the average age of conversion was around 27 years old.
In a survey of 122 converts, 44% converted in 2001 or before, whilst 56% converted in 2002 or later. At the time of conversion, most help and advice were received from books (96% of cases), Muslim friends (85% of cases) and the Internet (64% of cases).
Over 50% said they received no help from mosques and 43% said their local mosque had no provision for converts. Two thirds also said that their family had a negative attitude to their conversion.
But more than nine out of ten disagreed with the statement that Muslims should keep themselves separate from non-Muslims,’ while 84% agreed with the suggestion that converts, especially the majority White British Ethnic Group, could act as a ‘bridge’ with non-Muslims.
Nearly all felt that some of the practices of born Muslims had more to do with culture rather than Islam.
Full Report: http://faith-matters.org/images/stories/fm-reports/a-minority-within-a-minority-a-report-on-converts-to-islam-in-the-uk.pdf