U.S. Poll: Large Minority Fear, Mistrust Muslims
Nearly four in 10 Americans admit having feelings of prejudice against Muslims living in the U.S. – and are in favor of having Muslims carry a special ID, a new Gallup poll reveals.
Also, 22 percent of those surveyed said they would not like to have a Muslim as a neighbor.
Among the findings of the late-July USA Today/Gallup poll:
# 31 percent of respondents said they would feel nervous if they noticed a Muslim man on their airplane flight, and 18 percent would feel nervous about a Muslim woman flying with them.
# Less than half – 49 percent – feel that Muslims living in the U.S. are loyal to this country.
# 34 percent believe American Muslims are sympathetic to the al-Qaida terrorist organization.
# 40 percent of respondents said they believe Muslims in the U.S. are not respectful of other religions, and 44 percent said Muslims are too extreme in their religious beliefs.
# A slight majority – 52 percent – believe Muslims are not respectful of women.
# 39 percent said the U.S. should require Muslims to carry a special ID, and 57 percent believe they should undergo more intensive security checks at airports.
# 39 percent said they "have at least some feelings of prejudice against Muslims,” 59 percent said they did not, and 2 percent had no opinion.
Opinions are different, however, among Americans who are personally acquainted with a Muslim, the poll disclosed.
For example, only 10 percent of those who know a Muslim said they would not want one as a neighbor, and 24 percent believe Muslims should carry a special ID – compared to 50 percent among those who don’t know a Muslim.
Nearly four in 10 Americans admit having feelings of prejudice against Muslims living in the U.S. – and are in favor of having Muslims carry a special ID, a new Gallup poll reveals.
Also, 22 percent of those surveyed said they would not like to have a Muslim as a neighbor.
Among the findings of the late-July USA Today/Gallup poll:
# 31 percent of respondents said they would feel nervous if they noticed a Muslim man on their airplane flight, and 18 percent would feel nervous about a Muslim woman flying with them.
# Less than half – 49 percent – feel that Muslims living in the U.S. are loyal to this country.
# 34 percent believe American Muslims are sympathetic to the al-Qaida terrorist organization.
# 40 percent of respondents said they believe Muslims in the U.S. are not respectful of other religions, and 44 percent said Muslims are too extreme in their religious beliefs.
# A slight majority – 52 percent – believe Muslims are not respectful of women.
# 39 percent said the U.S. should require Muslims to carry a special ID, and 57 percent believe they should undergo more intensive security checks at airports.
# 39 percent said they "have at least some feelings of prejudice against Muslims,” 59 percent said they did not, and 2 percent had no opinion.
Opinions are different, however, among Americans who are personally acquainted with a Muslim, the poll disclosed.
For example, only 10 percent of those who know a Muslim said they would not want one as a neighbor, and 24 percent believe Muslims should carry a special ID – compared to 50 percent among those who don’t know a Muslim.