Danes are among the most critical of Islam, according to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Some 79 percent of Danes responded in a poll that they considered more interaction with the Muslim world as a threat. The worry was shared by a large majority in other European countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, where up to 67 percent of the population feared more Western interaction with Muslim communities.The message of the report was clear: there was a widening gap between the West and Islam. 'There is an alarmingly low optimism regarding dialogue between the two worlds,' said Klaus Schwab, founder of the WEF, to Berlingske Tidende newspaper.
The WEF had conducted surveys in 21 countries (half of which were Muslim) throughout 2007. And the general picture was one of distrust.
The Danes' and other Europeans' views on interaction with the Islamic world as a threat was, according to the report, due to a 'growing fear' of the 'Islamic threat' against their European identities. This assumption was based on 'increased immigration from predominantly Muslim regions' the report said.
The WEF report can be found here: as a 156 page PDF file.