British Muslims divided over assisted dying law, poll reveals
Poll highlights Muslims’ strong opposition to assisted dying law, driven by faith and ethical concerns
LONDON (MNTV) – Muslims in England and Wales are significantly more likely than other faith groups to oppose proposed assisted dying legislation, according to a survey by Savanta for Hyphen.
The poll found 43% of Muslims were against the bill, compared to 15% of non-Muslims.
Among non-Muslims, 19% of Christians, 15% of followers of other religions, and 8% of non-religious individuals expressed opposition.
Support for the legislation among Muslims stood at 34%, well below the 69% of non-Muslims, including 64% of Christians, who backed the bill.
The remaining respondents were undecided or neutral.
Labour MP Naz Shah attributed the diverse responses to broader societal uncertainty, explaining her own opposition as rooted in safeguarding concerns.
“While public opinion is very important, the truth is that we have to legislate for the wider society,” she said to Hyphen.
Religious beliefs and ethical concerns
For Muslims opposing the bill, religious beliefs were a key factor, cited by 70% as one of their reasons — significantly higher than the 41% of Christians and 26% of other religious groups who said the same.
Among them, 21% of Muslims cited faith as their sole reason, compared to just 7% of Christians.
Dr. Mansur Ali, senior lecturer in Islamic studies at Cardiff University, explained the theological basis for Muslim opposition.
“Life is sacred in Islam,” he said to Hyphen.
“Our lives are not our own; they belong to Allah. Faith shapes Muslims’ views on medical ethics and beyond.”
Practical and systemic concerns
Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed expressed ethical and practical reservations, highlighting inadequacies in palliative care.
“We have an overstretched NHS and limited palliative care provisions,” he said to Hyphen.
“This compounds suffering unnecessarily.”
Shah criticized the bill’s safeguards as insufficient, raising fears of coercion.
“The panel could grant approval without even meeting the patient in person. That, for me, is an issue,” she said.
Ali warned of potential pressure on vulnerable groups, echoing concerns raised in Canada, where assisted dying laws have expanded significantly.
“A right to die can quickly become a duty to die,” he cautioned.
Impact on voting behavior
The survey revealed that 55% of Muslim respondents were likely to change their vote based on candidates’ views on assisted dying, compared to 38% of non-Muslims.
Younger Muslims expressed slightly less opposition but were similarly influenced by candidates’ positions.
“This issue reflects Muslims’ values and their engagement with political processes,” Ali said.
“But we must consider broader priorities when voting.”
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