Anti-Muslim Sentiments Fairly Commonplace

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- Substantial minorities of Americans admit to having negative feelings or prejudices against people of the Muslim faith, and favor using heightened security measures with Muslims as a way to help prevent terrorism. Personally knowing someone who is Muslim -- which 41% of Americans say they do -- corresponds with more favorable attitudes on these questions. These are they key findings of a July 28-30, 2006 USA Today/Gallup Poll focusing on U.S. attitudes toward Muslims living in the United States.

Americans' personal discomfort with Muslims is reflected in survey questions dealing with their reaction to being near Muslims in different situations. Nearly one quarter of Americans, 22%, say they would not like to have a Muslim as a neighbor. Slightly fewer, 18%, say they would feel nervous if they noticed a Muslim woman flying on the same airplane as themselves, while significantly more -- 31% -- say they would feel nervous if they noticed a Muslim man on their flight.

Americans tend to disagree with the notion that Muslims living in the United States are sympathetic to al-Qaeda; still, fewer than half believe U.S. Muslims are loyal to the United States.

Muslims are widely perceived to be committed to their religious beliefs, but this is not necessarily a positive assessment. While 47% believe Muslims are respectful of other religions, nearly as many (40%) disagree. Also, 44% say Muslims are too extreme in their religious beliefs and a slight majority (52%) say Muslims are not respectful of women.

All of this adds up to a significant number of Americans being willing to admit they harbor at least some feelings of prejudice against Muslims. Nearly four in ten Americans (39%) say they do feel some prejudice while 59% say they don't.

The array of concerns about Muslims' loyalty to the United States and religious extremism may also help to explain why about 4 in 10 Americans favor more rigorous security measures for Muslims than those used for other U.S. citizens. This includes requiring Muslims -- including those who are U.S. citizens -- to carry a special ID, and requiring them to undergo special, more intensive, security checks before boarding airplanes in the United States.

Contact Bridges Fear

Considerable differences are seen in attitudes about Muslims according to whether one is personally acquainted with a Muslim. For instance, only 10% of those who say they personally know someone who is Muslim say they would not want a Muslim as a neighbor. This compares with 31% of those who are not acquainted with a Muslim -- representing a 21-point gap in views between the two groups. Other large gaps are seen in attitudes toward special security measures targeted at Muslims, and fear of sharing an airplane flight with Muslim men.

People under the age of 65 are much more likely than those 65 and older to report that they are acquainted with a Muslim.

As a result, seniors tend to be more negative in their attitudes about Muslims and more supportive of tighter security restrictions on them. Those aged 18 to 34 years tend to be the most pro-Muslim in their attitudes. However, difference in personal contact with Muslims does not explain these age differences entirely. Some strong generational differences exist -- particularly between those aged 18 to 34 years and those 65 and older -- that go beyond whether or not one knows a Muslim.

In addition to age, politics is also a factor in attitudes toward Muslims, with Republicans ascribing more negative political and religious qualities to Muslims, and being more opposed to having Muslim as neighbors than are Democrats and independents.

Survey Methods

These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,007 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted July 28-30, 2006. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

For results based on the 507 national adults in the Form A half-sample and 500 national adults in the Form B sample, the maximum margins of sampling error are ±5 percentage points.

12. Next, I'm going to read a list of various groups of people. If I read the name of a group that you would NOT like to have as neighbors, please say so. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

13. Now thinking specifically about Muslims, do you think each of the following applies -- or does not apply -- to Muslims living in the U.S.? How about they are -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

14. Suppose you were flying on an airplane and you noticed that a Muslim man was taking the same flight as you. Would this make you more nervous about flying, or would it not make any difference to you?

BASED ON 507 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A

15. Suppose you were flying on an airplane and you noticed that a Muslim woman was taking the same flight as you. Would this make you more nervous about flying, or would it not make any difference to you?

BASED ON 500 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B

16. Please tell me if you would favor or oppose each of the following as a means of preventing terrorist attacks in the United States. How about -- [ITEMS ROTATED]?

A. Requiring Muslims, including those who are U.S. citizens, to carry a special ID

B. Requiring Muslims, including those who are U.S. citizens, to undergo special, more intensive security checks before boarding airplanes in the U.S.

17. If you honestly assessed yourself, would you say that you have at least some feelings of prejudice against Muslims, or not?