Public Opinion in the Muslim World

WorldPublicOpinion.org and the START Consortium at the University of Maryland recently released a study on perceptions of al Qaeda, Islamist movements, and U.S. policy in the Muslim world. The report reflected public opinion in Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Azerbaijan, and Nigeria.

While the survey demonstrated a disapproval of al Qaeda’s tactics of attacking civilians it did show a high level of agreement with the organization’s goals – “to change U.S. behavior in the Muslim world, to promote Islamist governance, and to preserve and affirm Islamic identity.” Additionally, majorities felt that Islamist groups should be allowed to organize political parties and participate in elections, rejecting the notion that Islamists should be excluded because they are not genuinely democratic.

Furthermore, less than half of participants believed that the U.S. is sincerely trying to promote democracy, with many saying that “the U.S. favors democracy only if the government is cooperative” or “the U.S. simply opposes democracy in the Muslim countries.”  A majority of participants also agreed that the U.S. is hostile toward Islam and seeks to divide the Muslim world.

To read the full report click here.