PEW RESERACH CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND THE PRESS
Views of Muslim-Americans Hold Steady After London Bombings
Fewer Say Islam Encourages Violence
The July 7 terrorist bombings in London drew considerable public attention and raised fears of another attack in the United States, but these concerns do not translate into less favorable opinions of either Muslim-Americans or Islam. And compared with 2003, fewer now say that Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence (36% now, 44% in July 2003).
The latest nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, conducted among 2,000 adults between July 7, the day of the first terrorist attacks in London, and July 17, finds a majority of Americans (55%) saying they have a favorable opinion of Muslim-Americans. That is roughly the same proportion that expressed positive opinions of Muslim-Americans in Pew surveys conducted in July 2003 and March 2002, and significantly higher than the 45% holding favorable views in March 2001, prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Views of Muslim-Americans Hold Steady After London Bombings Fewer Say Islam Encourages Violence View complete report <http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=252>