Yougov survey of Muslims attitudes to recent terror events

[handlemecarefully]

There's an interesting survey on YouGov. Can't do a link to the specific page but can do a link to the site, from there under the sub heading 'Poll Reports', select:

Yougovresults
then Political reports
then the 25/7/05 report Muslims

It's very interesting stuff (and rather troubling for a number of reasons, e.g. asian community feeling very much under seige, not perceiving equality of treatment etc, not believing that British politicians truly respect Islam....but also I was rather taken aback by one third of respondents attitudes to the question "Which of these views comes closest to your own - Western society is decadent and immoral, and Muslims should seek to bring it to an end...")

yougov site

What should we make of it all? Is there anything we can do as tiny insignificant individuals to influence anything (she asks earnestly)

NQC - I appreciate that there have been miscarraiges of justice in the UK legal system (mostly 'mistakes' such as Prof Meadow's evidence convicting people, rather than deliberate trumping up of evidence etc). However, I think it is quite a different scenario to expect a trial from the outset to be unfair. The latter conjures up in my mind a belief that there will be a kangaroo court (which is a smokescreen not true justice),where the outcome of guilt or innocence is pre-determined...

That's interesting Dinosaur...

I do rely on mumsnet to educate me (meant sincerely)

I don't think the UK would have a kangaroo court, although I can understand how someone would think that. But people are (understandably) very eager to work out who did these things and to punish them - many people were happy when they thought that shot man was one of the bombers. If anyone gets to trial on these things, everyone involved will be really looking forward to the whole thing being "over".

hmc, no to be honest, I wouldn't have 100% faith they would have fair trial. My faith in the legal system has taken a battering over the last few years. I can see why others' confidence would be dented too.

Also bear in mind, that the questions are fairly broad too - in that 44% you'll have the absolutely cynical who will believe that it'll be kangaroo court scenario, right down to the people who have a nagging doubt that it'll just be rushed through a bit too quick, reliance on circumstancial evidence etc - with every spectrum in between.

Odds are, if someone is unfairly charged, it will be someone who has a background in extremism and/or crime, so many people will feel not that bothered if they turn out to be innocent of the bombings.

I have not very much faith in forensic evidence, unfortunately. Police do sometimes fake evidence, particularly when they're 100% sure the person in question is guilty, but they need more evidence that can be used in court. Also, forensic evidence is sometimes alarmingly unscientific - I've read that fingerprints are not necessarily as reliable as we are all led to believe, for example. It's more of an art than a science, IYSWIM.

dinosaur, I'm just guessing what might happen, based on some miscarriage of justice stuff I know about from the past, particularly in North America.

It's understandable, the police look at people who've been charged/convicted in the past for things.

I don't know much about miscarriages of justice here, particularly ones that predate my immigration.

Bb up now so haven't had time to read this yet. If I were married I think DP woudl be filing for divorce!

Who needs a kangaroo court when you have a shoot to kill policy?

I agree Blu, I'm a beige athiest who (while appreciating the priviledge) feels somewhat ambivalent about 'being british'.

Sorry about the spelling Dinosaur