19 December 2001

Most Muslims in America Believe War is Not Against Islam

Washington -- Two thirds of Muslims in America agree with the Bush Administration's assertion that military action in Afghanistan is directed against terrorism, not against the Islamic faith, according to a Zogby International poll.

The poll was released December 19 at the National Press Club in Washington by Project MAPS: Muslims in the American Public Square. MAPS is part of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in Washington. The complete findings of the poll are available at the website www.projectmaps.com.

Of those polled, 58 percent approved of President Bush's handling of the September 11 terrorist attacks, but two thirds also felt that a change in U.S. Middle East policy was the best way to combat terrorism.

"With this project ... we were able to for the first time systematically get the opinion of the American Muslim population," said Zahid Bukhari, the director of Project MAPS. "The poll was a barometer of Muslim feeling and thought," he said.

Bukhari said the poll was motivated by the desire to answer questions such as: who are the Muslims in America; what is their opinion on social and political issues; how do they behave politically; what is their level of religiosity; and how are they dealing and reacting to the events of September 11?

"We now have some basic information with regard to Muslims demographically, their attitudes on issues. We now have a reputable study that has been done," said John Esposito, director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and professor at Georgetown University in Washington.

The polls will allow those who write and speak about Muslims in America to be more scientific and authoritative since they now have credible data to rely upon, said Sulayman Nyang, professor of African Studies at Howard University in Washington.

The poll covered areas such as American Muslim demographics, voting habits, political opinions on U.S. domestic and foreign policy, religious practice, participation in mainstream American life, and the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Project MAPS reported that 1,781 persons took part in the survey, which was conducted between November 8 and November 19. Zogby International randomly selected the Muslim individuals living near 300 Islamic centers nationwide to take part.