Polls, Surveys, and Statistics Relating to Islam and Muslims 1995 to 2007

compiled by Sheila Musaji

updated 12/30/2007

1995

Barna Research Poll - 71% of born again Christians view impact of Islam as negative, 24% of non-Christians view Islam’s impact as negative.  American adults, Christians and non-Christians alike, regard Christianity and Judaism as having a positive influence on society. Islam, Buddhism, Scientology and Atheism received mixed reviews.  http://www.religioustolerance.org/reac_ter18a.htm

2001

American Muslim Poll (Zogby & Project MAPS) http://www.projectmaps.com/PMReport.htm

Faith-based initiatives: A poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed that: 68% of American adults are concerned that faith-based programs might lead to too much government involvement with religion.  60% are concerned that religious groups funded with public money would proselytize recipients of social services, as allowed in President Bush’s faith-based initiative program.  78% were opposed to another major component in Bush’s proposal which would have allowed religious groups to discriminate in hiring staff by only hiring people who share their beliefs.  Most approve in principle of government funding of social programs run by religious groups. http://www.religioustolerance.org/sep_c_st5.htm

2002

ABC News Poll on Islam, http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/World/sept11_islampoll_030911.html Four months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 14 percent believed mainstream Islam encourages violence; today it’s 34 percent. Similarly, 43 percent now think Islam does not teach respect for the beliefs of non-Muslims — up sharply from 22 percent.

BBC Poll of British Muslims A big majority - 70% - do not believe the assertion - made repeatedly by President Bush and Tony Blair that the war on terrorism is not a war on Islam..  http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/archive/politics/islam_poll.shtml

Beliefnet poll - 2002-FALL: The Ethics and Public Policy Center, a Washington think-tank, and Beliefnet, a religious Internet web site, commissioned a poll of 700 Fundamentalist and other Evangelical Protestant leaders. The poll was conducted by the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, and was financed by a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Results were released on 2003-APR-7. Half of the religious leaders responded; this is a very large return for a mail-in poll. The poll showed that:  77% had an unfavorable view of Islam; 13% had a favorable view.  72% believe that Islam opposes pluralism (in the sense of religious diversity) and democracy, 72% believe that the Sharia legal systems violate human freedom.  10% agreed with President George W. Bush that Islam is “a religion of peace.” 70% believe that Islam is a religion of violence.  17% believe that Muslims and Christian pray to the same God.  2% believe that all the world’s great religions are equally true and good.  http://www.religioustolerance.org/reac_ter18a.htm

Hamilton College Muslim American Poll http://www.hamilton.edu/news/MuslimAmerica/MuslimAmerica.pdf

Public Opinion Poll on Islam in the U.S. http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/terrorism/terror_pubopinion9.htm

Public Opinion Poll on Islam Abroad http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/terrorism/terror_pubopinion8.htm

2003

A National State of Confusion http://archive.salon.com/opinion/feature/2003/02/06/iraq_poll/index_np.html

ADL Poll Shows Only 43% of Americans Feel Israel Is Threat to World Peace, http://www.ahram.org.eg/acpss/eng/ahram/2004/7/5/EGYP13.HTM

Majority Disapprove of War Strategy http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1076460,00.html

PEW Forum on Religion and Politics, http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=30

PEW Poll on Views of Affirmative Action http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=184

PEW Poll on Bush’s Ratings http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=210

PEW Poll: America’s Image Erodes in Europe http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=175

2004

A Year After Iraq War: Mistrust of America in Europe Ever Higher, Muslim Anger Persists, PEW Research Center, http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=206

Anti-Semitism Falls in Europe But Hostility to Israel Grows http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=7256

BBC Poll - America Is A Bigger Threat Than Terrorism http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3613217.stm

Bias Against Muslims Up 70%, CAIR POLL http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61488-2004May2.html

Big Drop in Support for Iraq War http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/04/29/MNGOM6CPLJ1.DTL

British Muslims Desire to Integrate Wanes as War Perceived as War on Muslims http://politics.guardian.co.uk/polls/story/0,11030,1170210,00.html

Cornell University poll Cornell found that found 44 percent of Americans favor at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6729916/ and http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/media_and_society_research_group_msrg_survey/ And nearly 30 percent responded favorably to the ideas of requiring Muslims to register with the federal government, having undercover agents infiltrate Muslim organizations, and permitting the government to engage in racial profiling.  http://hnn.us/roundup/comments/9239.html

Detroit Mosque Study: Muslim Views on Policy and Religion http://ispu.us/reports/the_detroit_mosque_study.html and http://www.altmuslim.com/family_comments.php?id=P1210_0_16_0_C

Do Americans Care About the Environment http://www.americanpolitics.com/20040322Bisbort.html

80% in Iraq Distrust Occupation Authority http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22403-2004May12.html

Environment http://www.pollingreport.com/enviro.htm

Europeans Like bush Even Less Than Before http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/europe/09euro.html

Foreign Affairs and Defense Issues http://www.pollingreport.com/defense.htm

Georgetown University American Muslim Poll http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=1310

German poll shows rising unhappiness with Muslims in Europe http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-12/19/article04.shtml

Hamilton College Muslim American Poll, http://www.hamilton.edu/news/MuslimAmerica/MuslimAmerica.pdf

Law and Civil Rights http://www.pollingreport.com/civil.htm#First

Mistrust of U.S. Growing Overseas, PEW Poll http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=20040319061449889

Profile of Muslim community, CUNY, http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/aris_part_two.htm

Priorities of American Voters http://www.pollingreport.com/prioriti.htm

Race and Ethnicity http://www.pollingreport.com/race.htm

Religion http://www.pollingreport.com/religion.htm

Rift Widens Between U.S. and the Rest of the World http://www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=98482&owner=(IHT)&date=20030604123919

Separation of Church & State Public Opinion Polls http://www.religioustolerance.org/sep_c_st5.htm

Terror Backlash Hits Bush’s Votes http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1179531,00.html

Terrorism http://www.pollingreport.com/terror.htm

U.S. Majority still Believes in Iraq’s WMD and Al Qaeda Ties, Jim Lobe http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0422-09.htm

U.S. Seen as an Occupying Force by Iraqi’s http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0429/dailyUpdate.html

2005

Gallup poll, conducted in 10 nations that comprise 80 percent of the world’s Muslim population, found an average of only 31 percent of respondents per nation believed US objectives were centered on establishing democracy, Reuters reported.  http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-12/10/article01.shtml

PEW Global Attitudes Poll Islamic Extremism: Common Concern for Muslim and Western Publics - How Muslims and non-Muslims view each other http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=248

Review of Religious Research Study shows changing Evangelical views on Islam.  Through conducting an analysis of popular evangelical books published before and after 9/11, the study finds that most of the post-9/11 literature draws sharper distinctions between Islam and Christianity, as well as asserting that Islam is essentially violent.  http://www.religionnews.com/press02/PR121405.html

2006

ABC News PollPublic views of Islam are one casualty of the post-Sept. 11, 2001 conflict: Nearly six in 10 Americans think the religion is prone to violent extremism, nearly half regard it unfavorably, and a remarkable one in four admits to prejudicial feelings against Muslims and Arabs alike.  http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1700599

American Family Association Islam and America Poll http://www.afa.net/

CAIR Poll Shows U.S. Muslims Diverse, Integrated, Politically Active http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/poll_shows_us_muslims_diverse_integrated_politically_active/

CAIR Poll of American Public Opinion on Islam and Muslims 2006 http://www.cair.com/cairsurveyanalysis.pdf

Canada: Poll Shows Negative Perception of Islam http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1153779011301&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1112101662670

CBS News Poll Shows Perception of U.S. Muslims Growing Worse http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/12/national/main1494697.shtml

Gallup Poll: Iran Has Replaced Iraq as Country Americans Think Is Greatest Enemy http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/breaking_news/13953083.htm

Gallup Poll in 9 Muslim Countries Shows High Percentage Favor Women as Leaders http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060330-024731-6523r

Gallup Poll Shows Most Muslims Reject Terrorism http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-05-02-voa82.cfm

Gallup Poll: 4 in 10 Americans Prejudiced Against Islam http://poll.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=24073

Gallup Poll: 39% of Americans Think Muslims Should Carry Special ID http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002984956

ICM Poll shows 90% of British Muslims are loyal to Britain, 99% believed the 7/7 attacks were wrong, and 80% want troops pulled from Iraq http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2006-02/19/article04.shtml

PEW Survey of British Muslim attitudes - twice the number of British Muslims show concern about the rise of Islamic extremism - 43% - as Muslims elsewhere in Europe, but more Muslims want the British government to fight Islamic extremism than non-Muslims (56% to 49%), including a 48% support for surveillance of mosques (approximately equal to non-Muslims). http://pewglobal.org/commentary/display.php?AnalysisID=1010

Poll Says 68% of Israeli Jews Would Refuse to Live in Same Building as an Arab http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/697458.html

Poll Shows Britons See Islam as Threat to the West http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2006-08/25/06.shtml

Poll: Evangelical Protestant Christians Most Distrustful of Muslims http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32604

Poll: U.S. in Iraq Greater Danger to Stability Than Iran http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060613/ap_on_re_us/america_s_image

Populus Poll on British Muslim attitudes - 74% feel fellow citizens view them with suspicion, 56% want the government to do more to combat extremism http://www.populuslimited.com/poll_summaries/2006_07_04_Times_ITV.htm

Sumary of Polls Showing Increasing Negative Views of Islam and Muslims http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=82020&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

Survey of Australian schoolchildren shows bias against Muslims http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/schoolchildren-cast-judgements-on-muslims/2006/02/05/1139074109950.htm

University of Maryland, Program on International Public Attitudes Poll said 46 percent of Americans think that “bombing and other attacks intentionally aimed at civilians” are “never justified,” while 24 percent believe these attacks are “often or sometimes justified.” - Americans are more approving of terrorist attacks against civilians than any major Muslim country except for Nigeria. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0223/p09s01-coop.html

Washington Post/ABC Poll Says 46% of Americans View Islam Negatively http://www.zaman.com/?bl=hotnews&alt=&trh=20060309&hn=30679

Zogby Poll: Over 70 Million Americans Support New 9/11 Investigation http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20060522/bs_prweb/prweb388743_4

UPI/Zogby International Poll: No consensus on status of Jerusalem

Gallup Poll Predicts History Will Judge Bush Harshly

UN report shows terrorism political not religious.

CAIR poll examines Muslim voting patterns.

Zogby Poll: One Third of U.S. Voters Believe in Christian Zionism

BBC poll: World against torture, Israel in favor.  Poll of 25 countries reveals that the majority of world’s population opposes torturing prisoners suspected of terror involvement. In Israel, over half of Jewish population supports using torture to get information from terrorists, while most Muslims oppose it

New CNI Poll Shows Americans Wary of Israel Lobby

CAIR poll: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT MIDEAST CEASE-FIRE

CBS Poll:  Shows Perception of U.S. Muslims Growing Worse

2007

BBC Global Poll Finds that Religion and Culture are Not to Blame for Tensions between Islam and the West http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/bbciswest/

Environics poll shows lack of contact leads to intolerance and Islamophobia http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=750907fd-b93d-48b1-838e-5749edd9588e

Gallup Poll Shows Islam and Democracy Not Incompatible http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-01-23-voa67.cfm

Gallup Poll showing religious background of those opposed and in favor of Iraq war http://whtt.org/index.php?news=2&id=1241

Islamic Human Rights Commission Poll on Islamophobia in the Media http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-01-25T182650Z_01_L25857138_RTRUKOC_0_UK-ISLAM-MOVIES.xml The commission’s study, based on soundings taken from almost 1,250 British Muslims, also found that 62 percent felt the media was “Islamophobic” and 14 percent called it racist.

Israel and Iran share most negative opinions in 27 country poll by World Public Opinion http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/home_page/325.php?nid=&id=&pnt=325&lb=hmpg2 - the same poll also found that religion and culture are not to blame for tensions between Islam and the West http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brglobalmultiregionra/317.php?nid=&id=&pnt=317&lb=brglm - and in 33 out of 37 countries people believe that the Iraq War has increased global terrorism http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brglobalmultiregionra/172.php?nid=&id=&pnt=172&lb=brglm

Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN shows that 63% of Americans oppose a war with Iran http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/15825

CNN Poll examining religious views in the United States.  59% of Christians are more likely to describe themselves as Christian first and American second (12% higher than the recent PEW Poll of American Muslim attitudes).  53% of Christian Americans are now less likely to see the possibility for peace between Islam and Christianity and 53% think conflict is inevitable between the two religions, up from 45 percent in 2003.  57 percent say they believe the Book of Revelations’ description of the violent end of the world, where all but Christians perish. Nearly one in five believes it will happen in their lifetime.  This is not surprising since 42% of Americans saw themselves as “Christian first” as opposed to “American first” according to a Pew Global Attitudes Project national survey conducted in 2006.

World public opinion poll:  losing Muslim hearts and minds, suggests that even allied Muslim countries believe the U.S. wants to weaken and divide the Islamic world.

PEW Research poll on American Muslim attitudes http://pewresearch.org/assets/pdf/muslim-americans.pdf - 61% believe a way can be found for Israel & Palestine rights to coexist, one troubling statistic: 8% of US Muslims - and 15% of US Muslims under 30 - believe that suicide bombings can be often or sometimes justified in the defense of Islam.  comments:  Hassan Zillur Rahim

‘State of the First Amendment 2007’ Survey Shows Americans’ Mix of Opinion on Fundamental Freedoms.  Nearly two-thirds say nation’s founders intended a ‘Christian nation’

poll on American Jewish attitudes towards the Middle East. 

World Public Opinion Poll Finds Mixed Views About Bhutto’s Return

Zogby poll on prejudice in America.  More than 3/4 of young Arab Americans report discrimination. 

AAI/APN Poll: Jewish & Arab Americans Both Want Two-State Solution

AAI/ZOGBY Poll:  Muslims Across Globe Concerned About Crisis in Darfur

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RESOURCES

Muslim Voices Against Extremism and Terrorism - Resources (collections of articles and references)
- Part I Fatwas
- Part II Statements by Organizations
- Part III Statements and Articles by Individuals
- Part IV A Few Quotes
- Part V The Muslim Majority Who Don’t Get Publicity
- Selective Hearing of Muslim Voices Against Extremism
- Sunni Shia Resource - collection of articles

- Polls, statistics, and surveys relating to Islam and Muslims
- Resources for Responses to Islamophobia and Allegations Against Islam and Muslims
- Claim That All Terrorists are Muslims Ignores History collection of incidents and responses
- Islamophobia - Alarming Statements 1 - 2000 and before
- Islamophobia - Alarming Statements 2 - 2001-2005
- Islamophobia - Alarming Statements 3 - 2006-2007
- Mosques that have experienced vandalism or violent incidents
- Islamophobia - Incidents