In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
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MEDIA RELEASE CONTACT:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Faiz Rehman, Communications Director
December 21, 2001 (202) 789-2262 ext 205
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Project MAPS Releases Results of American Muslim Poll
WASHINGTON, DC, December 21, 2001: Project Muslims in American Public
Square (Project MAPS) released the results of its “first systematic
poll” of American Muslims at a press conference at the National Press
Club here.
The survey covers four areas relating to American Muslims:
demographics, religious practices, opinion and behavior on social and
political issues, and September 11th and its aftermath.
"The Poll clearly shows the determination of the Muslim community,"
said Project MAPS Co-Director Zahid Bukhari of Georgetown University's
Center for Muslim Christian Understanding. "Although it took the heat
after September 11, more than 50 percent experienced incidents of
backlash, the community is yet very much eager to fully participate in
the American Public life. American Muslims have great potential to
become a moral voice in the society." Dr. Sulayman Nyang is the other
Co-Director of the Project.
Zogby International, a polling and market research firm, was
commissioned by the Project and interviewed 1,781 persons nationwide
who identify themselves as Muslim from November 8 through November 19,
2001. The questionnaire was developed with the help of Dr. Ihsan Bagby,
Project MAPS team and the staff of Zogby International.
Professor John Esposito, Director of the Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding, said "This opinion poll, part of a major project
sponsored by the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and the PEW
Charitable Trust, provides important new insights into the
demographics, voting habits, and participation of Muslims in American
public life."
Following are the highlights of the survey:
Demographics
· Three quarters of surveyed American Muslims (74%) are under 50.
· Nearly three fifths (58%) are college graduates.
· Eighty-five percent are Arab, African, Afro-American or South
Asian.
· Half (50%) earn more than $50,000 annually.
· Seven in ten (69%) are married.
· Two fifths (39%) live in the East.
· Thirty six percent are born in the U.S.
· Three-fifths (60%) of those not born in the U.S. arrived here
after 1980. Over one- third (36%) arrived during 1980-1989, while 24%
arrived from 1990 to the present.
· The American Muslims surveyed were born in 80 countries,
including the U.S.
Voting Habits
· Two fifths of American Muslims (40%) are Democrats, 23% are
Republican and 28% are independent.
· Eight in ten (79%) are registered to vote.
· Of those registered to vote, 85% say they are very likely to
vote.
· Most Muslims not registered to vote say it is because they are
not citizens (53%); 71% say they intend to vote.
· The majority (55%) of Afro-American Muslims voted for Gore,
while the majority (54%) of Arab American Muslims and 49% of South
Asian Muslims voted for Bush. A majority of Pakistanis (56%) also voted
for Bush.
Political Opinions
· Over a third (36%) of American Muslims describe themselves as
moderate in terms of their political ideology; over one-quarter (27%)
say they are liberal to very liberal; one-fifth (21%) say they are
conservative to very conservative.
· One-third of American Muslims have visited political websites
(34%) or donated time or money to a political candidate (33%). Forty-
five percent have changed their lifestyle in support of a cause, like
the environment.
· Over two-fifths (43%) say it is very important to participate
in politics, and 54% of African American Muslims agree on its
importance.
· American Muslims favor big government solutions to issues like
health care (93% favor universal health care) and poverty (93% support
more generous government assistance to the poor).
· American Muslims are conservative on many social issues. They
support the death penalty (68%); oppose gay marriages (71%); support
making abortions more difficult to obtain (57%); oppose physician-
assisted suicide (61%), and support banning the sale and display of
pornography (65%).
· In addition, American Muslims support prayer (53%) and the
display of the Ten Commandments (59%) in schools, and they support
vouchers to send their children to private schools (68%).
Participation in Mainstream American Life
· American Muslims almost unanimously support donations to non-
Muslim social service programs, like aid to the homeless (96%), efforts
to become more involved in civic organizations (96%) and participation
in the American political process (93%).
· Over three-fourths (77%) of American Muslims are active in
organizations that help the poor, sick, elderly or homeless.
· Seven in ten (71%) are active at their Mosque or at other
religious organizations.
· Over two thirds (69%) are active in school or youth programs.
· Nearly half (46%) are active in a professional organization.
· American Muslims are less active in public affairs
organizations (33%), veteran’s organizations (24%) and labor unions
(17%).
· The majority (54%) do not consider America an immoral society.
· Seventy percent immigrant Muslims do not agree that America is
an immoral society, though, U.S. born Muslims (49%) and African
American Muslims (57%) are at odds with the morality of American
society.
· Most American Muslims (68%) do not feel the portrayal of
Muslims and Islam in the media is fair. Three in four (77%) do not
consider the treatment of Muslims and Islam in Hollywood fair.
Religious Practice
· Two-thirds (66%) of American Muslims offer some of the daily
prayers (salah). Nearly half (47%) say they offer all five prayers
daily. Slightly more than one-fifth (22%) say they make salah
occasionally or go for only Eid prayer, while 13% accept they never
pray.
· Half of American Muslims attended their mosque for Friday or
daily prayer in the preceding week (49%).
· Younger American Muslims aged 18-24 (62%) and African American
Muslims (69%) are more likely to be involved in activities at their
Mosque than American Muslims as a whole (48%).
· Eight in ten say the role of Islam and the importance of
spirituality in their daily lives is very important (79% each).
· The majority (57%) says mosques should express their views on
social and political questions.
· One-fifth (19%) of American Muslims are convert to Islam.
Reading about religion and influenced by a fellow Muslim are the main
reasons for conversion (38% and 22%).
Impact of September 11th
· President Bush earns an overall 58% approval rating from
American Muslims on his handling of the terrorist attacks on September
11. Also, two-thirds (66%) agree with the Bush administration’s
assertion that the war is being fought against terrorism, not Islam.
· Despite this approval, three-fifths (61%) feel the attacks
could have been prevented, almost two thirds (64%) feel the military
effort could lead to further terrorist attacks and over two-thirds
(68%) say the military effort could lead to a more unstable Middle
East.
· Half of the American Muslims (51%) support the military action
against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, while 43% oppose it.
· Over three-fourths (79%) say American foreign policy in the
Middle East led to the attacks, while two thirds (67%) suggest that a
change in America’s policy in the Middle East is the best way to wage
the war against terrorism.
· A majority of American Muslims (57%) says the attitude of
Americans toward Muslims and Arabs since September 11 has been
unfavorable.
· A majority (52%) of Muslims say individuals, businesses or
religious organizations in their community have experienced
discrimination since September 11. The most commonly kind of
discrimination has been verbal abuse, cited by one-quarter (25%) of
respondents.
Foreign Policy Issues
· A vast majority (84%) of American Muslims agrees that the US
should support a Palestinian state.
· Seventy percent agree that the US should reduce its financial
support to Israel.
· Three-fifth (61%) agrees, and one fifth (22%) disagrees, that
the US should reduce its support of undemocratic regimes in the Muslim
world.
· Almost two third (63%) agree with the Secretary of State’s
description that the Kashmir issue is the central issue between India
and Pakistan. One-fifth (21%) has no opinion on the issue.
To read more details about the survey, please visit Project MAPS’
website: www.projectmaps.com
A similar survey was conducted by the American Muslim Council in
August 2000. Zogby International was commissioned to conduct that
survey, too. To see details please click on the following link:
http://www.amconline.org/newamc/zogbysurvey/index.shtml
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