Anti-Islam Trumps Islam in the West by Daniel Pipes, Posted November 27, 2013

As non-Muslims come to understand the Islamist challenge, anti-Islamic sentiments in the West are increasing, probably at a faster rate than Islamic practices. As anti-Islam trumps Islam, (I have concluded) opinions "will grow yet more hostile to Islamism over time. In this way, Islamist aggression assures that anti-Islamism in the West is winning its race with Islamism."

Correct prediction? To keep track, this weblog entry documents the course of Western public opinion on a bundle of topics connected to Islam, including democracy, immigration, jihad, Shari'a, and women. To start with, two polls:

Germany, as reported by the Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach in November 2012:

• 56 percent: striving for political influence
• 60 percent: revenge and retaliation
• 64 percent: violence
• 68 percent: intolerance toward other faiths
• 70 percent: fanaticism and radicalism
• 83 percent: discrimination against women

In contrast, only 7 percent of Germans associate Islam with openness, tolerance, or respect for human rights.

France, mostly from early 2013:

• 67 percent say Islamic values are incompatible with those of French society
• 70 percent say there are too many foreigners
• 73 percent view Islam in negatively
• 74 percent consider Islam intolerant
• 84 percent are against the hijab in private spaces open to the public
• 86 percent are favorable to strengthening the ban on the burqa

Australia, from the Roy Morgan Research Ltd in October 2013 and reported today:

• 38 percent: a growing Islamic population and Islamic immigration are bad for Australia
• 44 percent: strong, clear link between Islam and terrorism
• 50 per cent want the Shari'a banned
• 53 percent: ban the burqa from public spaces
• 57 percent: Concerned about Islam in the world today
• 70 percent: Australia is not becoming a better place because of Islam.

Comment: Negativity toward Islam is much less pronounced in Australia than France and Germany. Will it stay low or increase over time? I expect the latter. (November 24, 2013)

More articles and bio for Daniel Pipes…

Related Topics:  Muslims in the West, Public opinion polls

AP Home  About Us  Contact  Archive