Thaindian News

Washington, Jan 21 (ANI): A survey has found a high level of anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States, with 53 percent Americans not being in favour of Islam.

The Gallup poll also found that people who are reported going to religious services more than once a week are less likely to harbour a bias against Muslims.

The poll is the latest large-scale survey to find a high level of anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States, The Washington Post reports.

The Gallup poll asked Americans about their views of Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism and found that 53 percent see Islam unfavorably.

There is no consistent data over time about Americans’ views on Islam or Muslims.

Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, said that Americans’ attitudes toward Muslims generally seem to be improving but that “changes are not dramatic.”

In the Gallup poll, respondents who said they feel “a great deal” of prejudice toward Jews are very likely to report feeling the same level of bias toward Muslims.

Mogahed, who is on a board that advises President Obama on faith-based issues, said the Gallup poll was prompted partly by Obama’s outreach to Muslim-majority societies and a desire to understand more about what shapes Americans’ views on Islam.

In a note accompanying the poll results, Gallup makes the argument that Americans’ prejudice against Muslims is at least partly fuelled by misinformed beliefs.

For example, people who believe Muslims worldwide oppose equal rights for men and women tend to be much more likely to report prejudice against Muslims. (ANI)