ATLANTA, Georgia – Muslims in many parts of the Islamic world overwhelmingly reject al Qaeda, support a large role for their faith in government and believe democracy is preferable to any other kind of political structure, according to a new survey released by Pew Research Centre’s Global Attitudes Project.
The study also found falling support for suicide bombings, as well as mixed attitudes towards Hamas and Hezbollah, Islamic groups designated as terrorist organisations by Western governments but which operate extensive social services networks in parts of the Muslim world.
The survey, conducted this spring in Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey, found that only in Nigeria did Muslim populations have anything approaching a favourable view of al Qaeda, with 49 per cent expressing positive views and 34 per cent holding an unfavourable opinion.
At the same time, majorities of Muslims in every country but Turkey said they were concerned about Islamic extremism in the world and their own countries.
Democracy was favoured by a majority of Muslims in every country but Pakistan, although even there it received the largest share of responses. Lebanese Muslims were most favourable toward democracy, followed by those in Turkey, Jordan, Nigeria, Indonesia and Egypt.
Support for suicide bombing had also fallen by double digits since 2002 in every country except Turkey, where it was never well-received among Muslims, according to the study.
The survey also found support for gender segregation in the workplace in Pakistan, Egypt and Jordan and positive views of harsh punishments for various crimes in Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan. (CNN)