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Whilst the bulk of the British population approve of the bombing campaign in principle, the British muslim population does not. Two weeks ago, a newspaper in the UK carried out a survey - here are the results:
Sunday Times surevy. Total number interviewed - 1170
1. Do you believe the US is right to bomb Afghanistan?
Yes - 15% (182 respondents)
No - 83% (996 respondents)
Don't know - 2% (22 respondents)
2. Should the US stop its bombing of Afghanistan?
Yes - 96% (1124)
No - 4% (41)
Don't know - 0% (5)
3. Do you believe the US should suspend its bombing of Afghanistan during Ramadan?
Yes - 94% (1100)
No - 5 % (63)
Don't know - 1% (7)
4. Do you believe the United States' efforts to capture or kill Osama bin Laden are justified?
Yes - 36% (418)
No - 61% (711)
Don't know - 3% (41)
5. Do you believe Tony Blair, the prime minister, is right to support the United States in its war against the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden?
Yes - 24% (284)
No - 73% (850)
Don't know - 3% (36)
6. Do you believe Osama bin Laden is justified in any way to mount his war against the United States?
Yes - 40% (468)
No - 56% (654)
Don't know - 4%(48)
7. Do you believe there was any justification for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon on September 11?
Yes - 11% (125)
No - 88% (1032)
Don't know - 1% (13)
8. Do you believe that the bombing campaign in Afghanistan will lead to worsening relations in Britain between Muslims and non-Muslims?
Yes - 86% (1009)
No - 12% (144)
Don't know - 2% (17)
9. Do you believe Britons who decide to fight with the Taliban are justified in doing so?
Yes - 40% (463)
No - 57% (664)
Don't know - 3% (43)
10. Which is more important to you: a) to be Muslim b) to be British?
Muslim - 68% (794)
British - 14% (166)
Don't know or the same - 18% (210)
This depth of feeling against the war on the muslim side (questions 9 and 10 being especially noteworthy) and the reverse feeling on the part of the rest of the population has led to strong tensions amongst the population.
"...a gang of masked Muslim youths attacked St Philip's parish church in the Girlington area of Bradford. They let off fireworks inside, burnt the altar cloth and left prayer books strewn across the floor. They also threw stones at the vicar and chased him as he tried to escape in his car.
On the same night in Leeds, a gang of Muslim youths vandalised vehicles and threatened white residents. They chanted "Get out of Afghanistan" and ordered drivers to say "Osama Bin Laden rules". Some who refused had their cars pelted with bricks and fireworks thrown through their windows.
In Manchester, 50 asylum-seekers, many of them Afghans, had to be evacuated last week after a gang of armed men rammed their hostel in a stolen car.
The Forum Against Islamophobia & Racism (Fair) also has a list of offences. It describes one at the Islamic Centre of the South West in Exeter in which racists singled out the Muslim revulsion of pork: "Ten pigs' heads were deliberately dumped in the centre's car park." "
The question now is, what happens to race relations in the post-Taliban world?...
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