The results of the first ever systematic poll of American Muslims showed that President George W. Bush received a 58 percent approval rating for his handling of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The results of the survey also show that two-thirds of the American Muslims surveyed agree with the Bush administration’s assertion that the U.S. war is not an attack on Islam.
The results of the poll, which is part of larger study sponsored by the Georgetown University Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, were released on Dec. 19, 2001.
“The poll clearly shows the determination of the Muslim community,” said Zahid Bukhari, co-director of Project MAPS: Muslims in American Public Square. “Although [the community] took the heat after Sept. 11, more than 50 percent experienced incidents of backlash, the community is yet very much eager to fully participate in the American public life. The American Muslims have great potential to become a moral voice in the society.”
National polling firm and project co-sponsor Zogby International conducted phone interviews with 1,781 persons in the United States who identify themselves as Muslim. The interviews took place between Nov. 8 and Nov. 19, 2001. The list of contacts was created by matching the zip codes of 300 randomly selected Islamic centers against their respective local telephone exchanges. The listings of common Muslim last names were then identified from these telephone exchanges and contacted.
The results of the poll also reflect an additional sample of black Muslims taken from in-person interviews between Dec. 7 and Dec. 9. These interviews were conducted in New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Detroit. These additional surveys were taken to account for Afro-American Muslims with Anglo-American or non-Muslim last names who were not contacted for phone interviews. The results of this sample were calculated to reflect 20 percent of the American Muslim population.
The poll results reflect a 2.4 percent margin of error.
The executive summary of the report states that “[t]his survey demonstrates an eagerness of American Muslims to fully participate in American public life. This eagerness is tempered by the experience of discrimination since Sept. 11 and by negative portrayals of Muslims in the media.”
Despite the 58 percent approval rating given to the president, three-fifths of the American Muslim population feel that the terrorist attacks could have been prevented, and 68 percent feel that the military action could lead to increased instability in the Middle East region. More than three-fourths of those surveyed said that U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East was responsible for the attacks, with two-thirds of American Muslims suggesting that a change in U.S. Middle East policy is the best way to wage the war against terrorism.
The poll shows that a majority of American Muslims (58 percent) feel that the attitude of Americans towards Muslims and Arabs since Sept. 11 has been unfavorable. Over half of those surveyed also said that individuals, businesses or religious organizations in their community have experienced discrimination since Sept. 11. John Esposito, director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, said, “This opinion poll ? provides important new insights into the demographics, voting habit and participation of Muslims in American public life.”
Bukhari said that the center has, in general, received only positive feedback on the poll results.
“We generally received positive responses that it was a very thorough and systematic study. Some American Muslims were surprised at the results, but this is natural for any first time study,” Bukhari said.
He said that Project MAPS plans to conduct further polls on the American Muslim community if adequate funding is received.
