Washington: Favourable opinions of Islam
in the US have declined since 2005, with 35 per cent Americans
believing that it encourages violence more than any other
religions, according to a new poll.
The poll conducted by the Pew Research Centre for the
People and the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public
Life, Between August 19-22 among 1,003 adults, finds that
Favourable opinions of Islam have declined since 2005.
But, there has been virtually no change over the past
year in the proportion of Americans saying that Islam is more
likely than other religions to encourage violence.
Opinions about whether Islam is more likely than other
religions to promote violence have fluctuated since 2002, but
not drastically. In 2009, 38 per cent said that Islam
encourages violence more than other religions do. While in new
poll 35 per cent said that it does.
Amid controversy over the proposed construction of an
Islamic cultural centre and mosque near the former site of the
World Trade Centre, 51 per cent Americans agree with those who
object to the building of the centre. 34 per cent people are
with the supporters of the project.
Although, 62 per cent say that Muslims should have the
same rights as other religious groups to build houses of
worship in their local communities.
Currently, 30 per cent say they have a favourable
opinion of Islam while slightly more (38per cent) have an
unfavourable view; nearly a third (32 per cent) offer no
opinion. In 2005, slightly more expressed a favourable opinion
of Islam than an unfavourable opinion (by 41 per cent to 36
per cent).
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 19:28