1 in 3 Muslim students approve killing for Islam

If ignorance and poverty are responsible for the growth of extremist views in the Islamic world, someone needs ask Muslim students, privileged enough and bright enough to attend some of the United Kingdom's best universities, why one-in-three of them endorses killing in the name of Islam.

The report of this finding, based on a poll of 600 Muslim and 800 non-Muslim students at 12 universities in the UK, and conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Center for Social Cohesion, will be released tomorrow as "Islam on Campus."

Among its findings of Muslim beliefs:

• 40 per cent support introduction of sharia into British law for Muslims
• One-third back the idea of a worldwide Islamic caliphate based on sharia law
• 40 per believe it is unacceptable for Muslim men and women to associate freely
• 24 per cent do not think men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah
• 25 percent have little or no respect for homosexuals.
• 53 per cent believe killing in the name of religion is never justified (compared with 94 per cent of non-Muslims), while 32 per cent say it is
• 57 percent believe Muslim soldiers serving in the UK military should be able to refuse duty in Muslim countries
• More than half favor an Islamic political party to support their views in parliament
• One-third don't think or don't know if Islam is compatible with Western views of democracy

"Significant numbers appear to hold beliefs which contravene democratic values," Hannah Stuart, one of the report's authors, told the London Times. "These results are deeply embarrassing for those who have said there is no extremism in British universities."

The report echoes one released last year by the Policy Exchange which found 37% of all Muslims aged 16-24 would prefer to live under a sharia system.

In addition to polling of 1,400 students, the researchers visited more than 20 universities to interview students and listen to guest speakers brought on campus. The report notes radical Islamic preachers regularly deliver inflammatory speeches that target homosexuals and border on anti-Semitism.