Muslim's Population Grown By More Than 500,000 To 2.4 Million In Four Years

Britain's Muslim population has reached 2.4 million in just four years time, according to official research collated for The Times.

The population multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society; more than 500, 000 in four years. In the same period the number of Christians in the country fell by more than 2 million.

Experts said that the increase was attributable to immigration, a higher birthrate and conversions to Islam during the period of 2004-2008.

Professor Coleman said that Muslims would naturally reap collective benefits from the increase in population. "In the growth of any population...its voice is regarded as being stronger in terms of formulating policy, not least because we live in a democracy where most people in most religious groups and most racial groups have votes. That necessarily means their opinions have to be taken and attention to be paid to them."

Muhammad Abdul Bari, general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, predicted that the number of mosques in Britain would multiply from the present 1,600 in line with the rising Islamic population. He said the greater platform that Muslims would command in the future should not be perceived as a threat to the rest of society.

"We each have our own set of beliefs. This should really be a source of celebration rather than fear as long as we all clearly understand that we must abide by the laws of this country regardless of the faith we belong to," he said.

(But they don't "celebrate" other beliefs in Islamic countries)