Asians 'are still loyal to Britain'

War on Terrorism: British Asians

An overwhelming majority of British Asians are steadfast in their loyalty to the UK despite the current bombing campaign against Afghanistan, according to a Mori poll published by Eastern Eye newspaper on Thursday.

The 554 Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians who took part in the face-to-face interviews, before and after the fall of the Taliban in Kabul, voiced a strong commitment to Britain.

The spirit of loyalty was almost equal across the generations. Ninety per cent of British Asians remain devoted to the country and although 64 per cent of Asian Muslims opposed the US-led strikes against Afghanistan, 87 per cent of this group admitted national allegiance to Britain.

Eastern Eye hoped its findings would help to undermine the popular misconception that young Asians have become a "problem group" after the race riots in Oldham and Bradford in the summer.

The poll, conducted last month in 38 parliamentary constituencies with an Asian population of more than 9 per cent, also revealed that 54 per cent approved of Allied action to bring down the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.