CAIRO – Eight years after the 9/11 attacks, American Muslims are still discriminated against other than any religious groups in the United States, a new poll has found.
"The fact that Americans believe Muslims face a lot of discrimination is a substantial finding,” said Michael Dimock, an associate director at the Pew Research Center.
“It is sort of like the public looking at itself in the mirror and there is some empathy for a group facing discrimination."
The survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that Americans see Muslims as more discriminated than any other religious groups.
Nearly 58 percent said that Muslims are subject to a lot of discrimination, far more than Jews, Christians and atheists.
American Muslims, estimated at between six to seven million, have been in the eye of storm since the 9/11 attacks.
They have become sensitized to an erosion of their civil rights, with a prevailing belief that America was targeting their faith.
The nationwide poll of 4,000 also found that two-thirds of respondents see Islam is different from their faith.
The poll said that 65 percent see Muslims and their faith are either very different or somewhat different from their faith.
Only 17 percent said that Islam and Muslims are similar or very similar of their faith.
Peaceful Islam
The Pew survey, however, showed that more Americans see Islam as a peaceful religion.
The poll found that 45 percent of respondents see Islam does not encourage violence among believers like any other faiths.
Only 38 percent said that Islam encourages violence more than other religions.
The poll found that conservative Republicans are the most political group to express a negative view of Islam.
Fifty-five percent of conservative Republicans see Islam more likely than other faiths to encourage violence
Fifty-three percent of evangelical Protestants, who remain a key base for the Republican Party, are significantly more likely than other religious groups to say Islam is inclined toward violence.
"Within other religious groups, fewer than four-in-ten people express this opinion (39 percent of white mainline Protestants, 38 percent of white Catholics, 33 percent of the religiously unaffiliated and 30 percent of black Protestants)," Pew said.
The survey also showed a better knowledge of the American about Islam and Muslims.
The poll found that 45 percent of Americans say they personally know someone who is Muslim.
Fifth-three percent of respondents know the name Muslims use to refer to God (Allah).
The poll also found that 52 percent of Americans know the name of Islam’s sacred book (The Qur’an).
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