Anti-US feelings soar among Muslims

The "war on terror" has radicalized Muslims around the world to unprecedented levels of anti-US sentiments, according to the largest survey of Muslims ever to be conducted. Seven percent believe that the events of 9/11 were "completely justified." In Saudi Arabia, 79 percent had an "unfavorable view" of the US. Gallup's Center for Muslim Studies in New York carried out surveys of 10,000 Muslims in 10 predominantly Muslim countries. One finding was that the wealthier and better-educated the Muslim was, the more likely he was to be radicalized. The surveys were carried out in 2005 and 2006. Along with an earlier Gallup survey in nine other countries in 2001, they represent the views of more than 90 percent of the world's Muslims. A further 1,500 Muslims in London, Paris and Berlin are involved in a separate poll to be published in April. The findings come in a climate of growing mistrust between Islam and the West. Another recent survey in the US found that 39 percent of US citizens felt some prejudice towards Muslims. The Gallup findings indicate that, in terms of spiritual values and the emphasis on the family and the future, US citizens have more in common with Muslims than they do with their Western counterparts in Europe. A large number of Muslims supported the Western ideal of democratic government. Fifty percent of radicals supported democracy, compared with 35 percent of moderates. Religion was found to have little to do with radicalization or antipathy towards Western culture. Muslims were condemnatory of promiscuity and a sense of moral decay. What they admired most was liberty, its democratic system, technology and freedom of speech. While there was widespread support for sharia, or Islamic law, only a minority wanted religious leaders to be making laws. Most women in the predominantly Muslim countries believed that sharia should be the source of a nation's laws, but they strongly believed in equal rights for women. "They [pundits and politicians] often charge that religious fervor triggers radical and violent views," said John Esposito, a religion professor, and Dalia Mogahed, Gallup's Muslim studies director, in one analysis. "But the data say otherwise. There is no significant difference in religiosity between moderates and radicals. In fact, radicals are no more likely to attend religious services regularly than are moderates." They continue: "It's no secret that many in the Muslim world suffer from crippling poverty and lack of education. But are radicals any poorer than their fellow Muslims? We found the opposite: there is indeed a key difference between radicals and moderates when it comes to income and education, but it is the radicals who earn more and stay in school longer." In fact, the surveys found that the radicals were more satisfied with their finances and quality of life than moderates.