British Muslims Hold Divergent Views on Iran and Global Powers, Survey Reveals
A new poll has uncovered significant differences in how British Muslims perceive international relations compared to the wider UK population. The survey, conducted by JL Partners for Policy Exchange, shows that British Muslims are five times more likely to hold a positive view of the Iranian regime than the general public.
Stark Contrast in Attitudes Toward Iran
The representative survey of 2,223 adults and 1,031 Muslims in the UK found that almost two in five Muslims (approximately 40%) hold a favourable view of Iran. This contrasts sharply with just eight per cent of the wider public who share this perspective. The polling was carried out between 2 and 13 March, shortly after Iran's security forces brutally cracked down on protests, with multiple estimates suggesting the death toll exceeded 30,000.
When examining net favourability ratings, British Muslims show a +22 rating toward Tehran's hardline dictatorship, while the general population registers a -42 rating. This represents a substantial difference of 64 points between the two groups.
Hostility Toward US and Israel
The research further reveals that British Muslims are "notably more hostile" toward the United States and Israel than the general public. While neither country enjoys widespread popularity among the UK population—with net negative favourability ratings of -16 for the US and -22 for Israel—British Muslims demonstrate significantly stronger negative sentiments.
British Muslims recorded net negative favourability ratings of -41 toward the United States and -52 toward Israel. The survey found that 50 per cent of British Muslims considered US and Israeli strikes on Iran to be "definitely wrong," compared to just 17 per cent of the general public.
Warmer Attitudes Toward China and Russia
Beyond the Middle East conflict, the poll indicates that Muslims in the UK are generally "less hostile" toward countries often opposed to British values, particularly China and Russia. Among the general public, China receives a favourability rating of -22, while Vladimir Putin's Russia scores deep into negative territory at -52.
In contrast, British Muslims demonstrate a net positive +22 view of Beijing and a slightly positive +2 view of Moscow. Dr Rakib Ehsan, author of the report "Worlds Apart: British Muslim Attitudes on the Iran Conflict," commented that these findings reveal "a broader scepticism of Western geopolitics" among British Muslims.
Divergent Information Sources
The research also highlights significant differences in how British Muslims and the general public obtain information about the Iran conflict. While the wider population largely relies on traditional broadcast news sources, British Muslims show a strong preference for alternative media platforms.
Almost a quarter of British Muslims get their news on the conflict from Qatari-owned Al Jazeera. Furthermore, 26 per cent of Muslims in the UK obtain information from Instagram, and 27 per cent from TikTok. These figures drop dramatically to just 10 per cent and 11 per cent respectively for the wider public.
British Muslims are also more likely to use WhatsApp for information on the Iran conflict (14 per cent compared to 5 per cent of the general public) and to consult podcasts or YouTube commentators (9 per cent compared to 3 per cent).
Implications for Modern Britain
Dr Ehsan emphasized that the data demonstrates modern Britain is "anything but on the same page" regarding international perspectives. "As well as being notably more hostile towards the United States and Israel, British Muslims hold much warmer feelings towards Iran than the wider public do," he stated.
The report suggests that the relatively youthful British Muslim population differs substantially from the general public in their media consumption habits, relying more heavily on "non-legacy" sources in the social media sphere. This divergence in both attitudes and information sources presents significant implications for social cohesion and political discourse in contemporary Britain.
