In non-Muslim majority countries, fears of Islamic extremism are closely associated with worries about Muslim minorities. Western publics believe that Muslims in their countries want to remain distinct from society, rather than adopt their nation's customs and way of life. There is a widespread perception in countries with significant Muslim minorities, including the U.S., that resident Muslims have a strong and growing sense of Islamic identity. In France, Germany and the Netherlands, those who see a growing sense of Islamic identity among resident Muslims overwhelmingly view this as a negative development.
There is evidence that these concerns are associated with opposition to Turkey's entry into the European Union. Overall, nearly two-thirds of French (66%) and Germans (65%) oppose Turkey's EU bid, as do a majority of the Dutch (53%). Support for Turkey's admittance to the EU is most extensive in Spain (68%) and Great Britain (57%).
Hostility toward Muslims is much lower in Great Britain, the United States and Canada than in other Western countries surveyed.
But anti-Semitism is pandemic in the Islamic world. People in predominantly Muslim countries have mixed views of Christians and strongly negative views of Jews. In Lebanon, which has a large Christian minority, 91% of the public thinks favorably of Christians. Smaller majorities in Jordan and Indonesia also have positive views of Christians. However, in Turkey (63%), Morocco (61%) and Pakistan (58%), solid majorities express negative opinions of Christians.
In Lebanon, all Muslims and 99% of Christians say they have a very unfavorable view of Jews. Similarly, 99% of Jordanians have a very unfavorable view of Jews. Large majorities of Moroccans, Indonesians, Pakistanis and six-in-ten Turks also view Jews unfavorably.
In most of Europe as well as North America, majorities or pluralities judge some religions as more prone to violence than others, and those that do mostly have Islam in mind. Similarly, in India, among the 39% who see some religions as more violent than others, nearly three-in-four (73%) point to Islam, while 17% designate Hinduism. In predominantly Muslim countries, many agree that some religions are more prone to violence than others, but those who think this mostly have Judaism in mind.
View the whole report here.
Article comments
1 - balletshooz
You have hit on one issue that is problematic. By and large the muslim world has the same anti-semetism that was pushed in germany in WWII. Therefore, even if they all realize al qaeda is not a good thing for them, they will still support violence and/or the destruction of Israel. Since the US and many other countries will not support the destruction of Israel, there will always be that issue to help them pander to anti-semites to get money and support for terror.
2 - Eric Olsen
I agree this is an area of great concern and it will take time and effort for attitudes to change. Many, including much of the Islamic plitical and religious leadership, still sees benefit to pushing anti-Semitism. This will have to be changed for there to be a shift in public attitudes
3 - billy
i hate to say it, but terrorists get the same political benefit from whipping up anti-semetism that republicans get from whipping up anti-gay sentiment. there is an absolute parallel there.
4 - Eric Olsen
as a general principle, that's true, but as a general principle MUCH of politics involves scapegoating
5 - GPW
Eric, this is good news. But when you start running the numbers on 15% of Turks, 25% of Pakistanis, 39% of Lebanese, and 57% of Jordanians, that's still a lot of people who support Islamic extremism. Any speculations on what caused the drop in numbers?
6 - Dave Nalle
>>i hate to say it, but terrorists get the same political benefit from whipping up anti-semetism that republicans get from whipping up anti-gay sentiment. there is an absolute parallel there.<<
And the same political benefit that Democrats get from scaring old folks about social security reform or by telling parents school vouchers will only help the rich, or by telling low income people that tax cuts all went to the wealthy.
Anyone can lie and spread hate when they place their political agenda above the welfare of the people.
Dave
7 - Tao Jonez
thanx big E fer the numbers.
and ta Dave to the N, big difference between faking shit up and fucking it up with scapegoats.
whipping up fear is bad enuff, and i ain't about that, but as soon as ya lay that fear on somebody in particular, they burn fucking crosses on yer lawn, know what i mean?
and that shit ain't right, no matter where it comes from
it's mindless hatin' and firing that hate at somebody in the mionority, always a minority, that lets fuckheads turn normally good peeps into raging mobs
beleive it
8 - carmine
This is a super super post. I had hoped this was so, but your post brings it home. Thomas Friedman has been saying this for some time, but I was beginning to think it was just wishful thinking. The anti-Jewish sentiment is disheartening but not unexpected, and continues to justify our unwavering support for Isreal, which will no doubt continue until Muslim religious hatred of Jews begins to lessen. Wow. Thanks.
9 - Hal Pawluk
Dave: And the same political benefit that Democrats get from scaring old folks about social security reform or by telling parents school vouchers will only help the rich, or by telling low income people that tax cuts all went to the wealthy.
The difference is that these are all true rather than Rovian lies.