WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new survey commissioned by an Islamic civil-rights group offers both good news and bad for American Muslims.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations released the nationwide poll of 1,000 respondents Oct. 4. It showed, among other things, that nearly one fourth of those surveyed held a negative stereotype of Muslims. In addition, from 26 to 29 percent of people interviewed agreed with one or more of a set of negative assertions about Muslims, such as “Muslims teach their children to hate.”
And 32 percent of all interviewees, when asked what comes to mind when they hear the word “Muslim,” responded with a negative image. Only two percent responded with a positive image. The remaining 67 percent were neutral.
However, CAIR's poll also showed that 67 percent of Americans believe Islamic terrorists are abusing the faith's teachings, and that 47 percent agreed that American Muslims were cooperating in the war against terrorism. Only 21 percent of respondents disagreed with that assertion.
Nonetheless, a small majority of respondents — 50 percent — said Muslims were not doing enough to condemn terrorism, while 46 percent disagreed with that statement.
CAIR officials said they commissioned the study — conducted between June 23 and July 2 by a California research firm — after releasing a civil-rights report in May that showed hate crimes against Muslims increased nationwide each year since Sept. 11, 2001.
“As a nation that values tolerance and equality, we need to recognize the growing anti-Muslim prejudice in our society and join together as Americans to combat this divisive phenomenon,” Omar Ahmad, CAIR's board chairman, said in a statement released with the study. “It is clear from the results of this survey that we have our work cut out for us in terms of educating other Americans about Islam and providing opportunities for positive interactions with the Muslim community.”
-30-