Is the public mood turning against the burqa?
Is the public mood turning against the burqa?
Banning the burqa
When we asked 2,000 UK adults about the possibility of outlawing the burqa, two thirds (68%) agreed that the garment should should be banned in public places, including 71% of Londoners, with only 14% disagreeing.
When we drilled down further into the public’s thoughts, we found that 66% of Britons thought the burqa is a predominantly cultural rather than religious requirement, and six in ten (62%) agreed that what people wear in public places is a legitimate topic of public debate and discussion.
Rights a concern for some Brits
However, there was roughly a quarter of adults who seemed to have serious reservations, with 24% saying a ban would actually give the women who wear it less freedom, and 26% saying that it would be a serious breach of their rights.
There also appeared to be quite stark generational divides in opinion, with two in five (40%) young Brits (aged 18-34) agreeing that a ban would be a breach of rights, compared to only 16% of those aged 55 and over.
Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,004 UK adults aged 18+ from 4th to 7th July 2014. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.
