Four in Ten Britons Hold Negative Views on Muslim Immigrants

Recent polling commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community reveals that Muslim immigrants are the least favored religious group among British people, with 41 percent viewing their impact on the UK negatively, significantly higher than for other religious groups such as Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, or Christian immigrants. Over half of respondents believe Islam is incompatible with British values, and many hold misconceptions, including that the religion promotes violence and that Muslim women are pressured into wearing the Hijab. Younger generations show more positive attitudes toward Islam, with nearly half of 18–24-year-olds seeing it as compatible with British values, contrasting sharply with older demographics. The findings come amid a rise in far-right politics and Islamophobia in the UK, highlighted by recent far-right riots and a near 50 percent increase in anti-Muslim incidents. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has called for acknowledgment of public concerns about immigration while promoting social cohesion, and Muslim leaders urge greater understanding and engagement to counter fear and prejudice. The Ahmadiyya community is hosting the UK’s largest Muslim convention, the Jalsa Salana, which will welcome skeptics and aims to foster dialogue, with the Union flag raised alongside the Islamic flag as a symbol of shared values.