Support for Bin Laden falls in Muslim Countries

[Craig]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050714/wl_nm/...ims_binladen_dc

 

Support for bin Laden falls in Muslim countries By Alan Elsner

Thu Jul 14, 2:05 PM ET

 

 

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Support for Osama bin Laden and suicide bombings have fallen sharply in much of the Muslim world, according to a multicountry poll released on Thursday.

 

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The survey by the Pew Research Center examined public opinion in six predominantly Muslim nations: Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan and Lebanon. It also examined views in nine North American and European countries as well as in India and China. In all, more than 17,000 people were questioned either by telephone of face-to-face.

 

"There's declining support for terrorism in the Muslim countries and support for Osama bin Laden is declining. There's also less support for suicide bombings," said Pew Center director Andrew Kohut.

 

"This is good news, but still there are substantial numbers who support bin Laden in some of these countries," he told a news conference.

 

In Morocco, 26 percent of the public now say they have a lot or some confidence in bin Laden, down from 49 percent in a similar poll two years ago.

 

In Lebanon, where both Muslims and Christians took part in the survey, only 2 percent expressed some confidence in the Saudi-born al Qaeda leader, down from 14 percent in 2003.

 

In Turkey, bin Laden's support has fallen to 7 percent from 15 percent in the past two years. In Indonesia, it has dropped to 35 percent from 58 percent.

 

However, in Jordan, confidence in bin Laden, who took responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and many other attacks, rose to 60 percent from 55 percent. In Pakistan, it went to 51 percent from 45 percent.

 

A similar picture emerged when respondents were asked whether suicide bombings were justifiable. In Morocco, 13 percent said they often or sometimes could be justified, down from 40 percent in 2004.

 

MORE JORDANIANS SUPPORT BOMBINGS

 

In Indonesia, 15 percent expressed that view, down from 27 percent in the summer of 2002. Support for suicide bombings also fell in Pakistan and dropped dramatically in Lebanon. However, support rose in Jordan, to 57 percent from 43 percent in 2002.

 

Kohut noted there had been devastating attacks on civilians in Indonesia, Morocco and Turkey in recent years and a rash of assassinations and bombings recently in Lebanon.

 

Both in western countries and the Muslim world, respondents expressed fears about Islamic extremism.

 

Seventy-three percent in Morocco and 52 percent in Pakistan saw Islamic extremism as a threat to their country. The figure was 84 percent in Russia, 78 percent in Germany, and an identical 70 percent in Britain and the United States. The poll was taken well before last week's bombings in London.

 

When asked what caused Islamic extremism, 40 percent in Lebanon and 38 percent in Jordan blamed U.S. policies and influence; in Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey, respondents were more likely to blame poverty, unemployment or poor education.

 

Despite terrorism fears, majorities in Britain, the United States, France, Canada and Russia and pluralities in Spain and Poland expressed favorable views about Muslims.

 

But in Germany and the Netherlands, opinion swung to an unfavorable view. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed in the Netherlands expressed an unfavorable view of Muslims. In Germany, 47 percent were unfavorable, compared with 40 percent who expressed favorable views.

 

Anti-Jewish sentiment was overwhelming in the Muslim countries. In Lebanon, 100 percent of Muslims and 99 percent of Christians said they had a very unfavorable view of Jews, while 99 percent of Jordanians also viewed Jews very unfavorably.

[Dodge]

Perhaps the radicals have almost blown all of themselves up?

[Flying_Mollusk]

Or maybe its just silly to try and pin down the opinion of a massive religion. Notice that in a lot of these countries, the rates of support are massivley different? Muslims arent one commonly thinking people. They are different in culture, background, and education, wealth, etc. More secular countries that have predominantly Muslims like Turkey tend not to care at all about these wackos and hence dislike them whereas countries where religion players a stronger role tend to emphasis more with... GASP...religious fighters.

 

Presenting numbers on Muslim support for Bin Laden is about as smart as presenting numbers on Christians support Jerry Falwell. Doesnt make much sense does it?

 

A better guage is how many Muslims would be willing to suspend their everyday common lives where they go to work, take care of their kids etc to go engage in support for Bin Laden. Of the millions in America, Id say its not even a significant fraction of a percent. Of the billions in the world Id say the same.

[MarlinsFan253]

Perhaps the radicals have almost blown all of themselves up?

855992[/snapback]

They are running out of idiots to brainwash with their "Kill yourself for Allah and receive 40 virgins in heaven" deal.

[japa]

here in the Netherlands there is certainly some hatred towards muslims, mainly because of their extreme views om some things (not all muslims) and because some violence they caused here last year

after last weeks London attacks it's believed the Netherlands will be next because we also sent some troops to iraq, sad thing is you can't really do anything about this

 

i don't really thinks this means a lot, although the support from the muslim people is falling, these extreme people like Bin Laden himself and his followers(there will always be sick people who are willing to sacrefice their lives for their religion) won't stop the violence until the Western countries leave them alone..I don't think they really care about the opinions of "normal muslims"

[legacyofCangelosi]

here in the Netherlands there is certainly some hatred towards muslims, mainly because of their extreme views om some things (not all muslims) and because some violence they caused here last year

after last weeks London attacks it's believed the Netherlands will be next because we also sent some troops to iraq, sad thing is you can't really do anything about this

 

i don't really thinks this means a lot, although the support from the muslim people is falling, these extreme people like Bin Laden himself and his followers(there will always be sick people who are willing to sacrefice their lives for their religion) won't stop the violence until the Western countries leave them alone..I don't think they really care about the opinions of "normal muslims"

856396[/snapback]

 

They dont care what the west does actually, they wont stop until people from south florida to china are practicing wahabism or are dead.

[FutureGM]

From what I have heard though, Pakistan is a country that overwhelmingly supports Bin Laden.

[legacyofCangelosi]

From what I have heard though, Pakistan is a country that overwhelmingly supports Bin Laden.

856509[/snapback]

 

Not to mention hes probably IN pakistan

[BullDurham]

Perhaps the radicals have almost blown all of themselves up?

855992[/snapback]

They are running out of idiots to brainwash with their "Kill yourself for Allah and receive 40 virgins in heaven" deal.

856355[/snapback]

 

It isn't 71 virgins, but 71 crystal-clear raisins!

 

Or is it 71 Virginians?

 

I could see it now: suicide bomber in heaven saying

"Where are my bitches?"

"Here are your raisins!"