記者∕作者：謝雯伃
一項研究發現，英國許多年輕穆斯林認為，警方和媒體將他們「妖魔化」；在911事件和2005年倫敦爆炸案發生後，他們就面臨了必需時時表現忠誠的壓力。

由伊斯蘭智庫「政策研究中心」（Policy Research Center）所進行的這份報告，目的是要讓年輕的穆斯林能夠發出自己的聲音，對抗旁觀者的無端臆測。

這份報告表示，年輕的英國穆斯林被媒體形塑成社會的威脅，通常都要費盡心力說服別人，他們能夠同時既是英國人、也是穆斯林。

公眾對於移民、國家主義和種族融合等議題的辯論，常讓這些年輕穆斯林覺得被攻擊；而英國現今在伊拉克和阿富汗的角色，只會增加他們的壓力。

「英國的年輕穆斯林不但面臨大眾質疑他們的忠誠，還被迫在國內和國際事件上，展露他們的自我認同。」

報告指出，奉公守法英國年輕穆斯林，常被人要求證明他們的宗教是和平的。

報告中說：「當大眾迷思和刻板印象凌駕於確切資訊之上時，所造成的殺傷力最大；年輕的穆斯林因此被描繪成廣大英國社群穩定安全的威脅。」

根據2001年最後的統計資料，在英國有大約160萬名穆斯林，佔總人口的2.8％。非官方的預估顯示，現在英國的穆斯林人口可能已經超過2百萬人。

大多數的穆斯林來自南亞，特別是巴基斯坦和孟加拉，這個現象是英國殖民的遺緒。

政治辯論

隨著英國進入自第二次世界大戰後最嚴重的經濟衰退，移民議題在政治議題的順位不斷往上升。極右派的英國國家黨（British National Party, BNP）6月首次於歐洲議會中贏得2席，都是因為大眾對工作和住宅問題的恐懼。

民調與一年前選舉相比大大落後的英國首相布朗，多次為他的移民政策辯護，他也稱BNP為「納粹同路人」。

儘管英國警方試圖要與穆斯林社區打交道，報告中顯示，許多年輕穆斯林並不相信警方，反而覺得被騷擾。

這份報告指稱，在2005年7月倫敦遭到自殺炸彈攻擊，造成52人死亡之後，穆斯林在街上被攔下來盤查的頻率，出現了戲劇性地上升。倫敦炸彈攻擊案是由4名英國籍的穆斯林所進行，其中有3名是巴基斯坦裔。

這份報告指出，煽情的媒體在爆炸案之後所進行的報導，創造了穆斯林在英國的負面刻板印象。

該份報告中，一名不具名的年輕穆斯林表示：「他們看到一名亞洲人的過失，然後一竿子打翻一船人。」

（路透）

Many young British Muslims feel demonized by the police and the media and say they have come under pressure to prove their loyalty since the September 11 attacks and the 2005 London bombings, a study has found.

The report for the Policy Research Center, an Islamic think tank, was intended to give young Muslims their own voice to counter assumptions made by outsiders.

It said young Muslims had been portrayed in the media as a threat to society and often struggled to convince people that they can be both British and Muslim at the same time.

Public debate over immigration, nationalism and integration has left them feeling under attack, while Britain's role in Iraq and Afghanistan has only increased the pressure.

"As well as facing questions and challenges to their loyalty, young Muslims ... are being pressed to define their identity in light of national and international events," the report said.

Young Muslims are too often asked to prove that their religion is peaceful and they are law-abiding, the report said.

"This is especially damaging when myths and stereotypes surmount accurate information, resulting in young British Muslims being portrayed as a threat to the wellbeing of the wider British communities," it said.

There are 1.6 million Muslims in Britain, 2.8 percent of the population, according to the last census in 2001. Unofficial estimates suggest the number could now be well above 2 million.

Most have roots in south Asia, particularly Pakistan and Bangladesh, a legacy of Britain's colonial rule.

POLITICAL DEBATE

With Britain in its worst recession since World War Two, immigration has risen up the political agenda. The far-right British National Party won its first two seats in the European Parliament in June, helped by fears over jobs and housing.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, trailing in the polls with an election less than a year away, has repeatedly defended his immigration policy and has called the BNP "Nazi sympathizers."

Despite attempts by police chiefs to engage with the Muslim community, the report found many young British Muslims did not trust the police and felt harassed.

The report blamed a dramatic rise in Muslims being stopped and searched in the street after the July 2005 suicide bombings, which killed 52 people in London. Four British Muslims, three of Pakistani origin, carried out those attacks.

The report said sensationalist media reporting after the bombings created negative stereotypes of Muslims in Britain.

"They see one Asian person's mistakes and the rest of the community ... has to pay for it," one unnamed young Muslim was quoted as saying in the report.

(Reuters)