NPR: Muslim Support for Suicide Bombings Plunges

Muslim Support for Suicide Bombings Plunges

A new Pew Global Attitudes Project survey shows that support in many Muslim nations for suicide bombings is way down. But the dark lining in this silver cloud is that concern about the Sunni-Shiite divide is widespread.

As part of a larger survey of 47 nations on global attitudes toward a variety of issues, Pew researchers asked residents of 16 predominantly Muslim nations if suicide bombing is justifiable.

Muslims in eight of these countries were asked this question in 2002, and only one country has seen an increase in support since then: Those in Turkey who believe suicide bombing is often or sometimes justified moved from 13 percent to 16 percent. In other Muslim countries, the percentage plummeted: In Lebanon it fell 40 points to 34 percent; in Jordan it was down 20 points to 23 percent; and 9 percent of Pakistanis approve, down from 33 percent five years ago.

In the eight new nations surveyed, the percentages were in a similar range, from 8 percent to 39 percent, except in the Palestinian territories, where 70 percent approved.

A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that the drop in support for this kind of terrorist action might provide the West an opportunity for reconciliation with the Muslim world.

But the survey also bears the marks of an emerging problem -- the growing animosity between the Shiite and Sunni branches of Islam. In many of the countries where people were surveyed, a majority expressed concern about this sectarian feud.

5:17 PM ET | 07-25-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Anyone who claims to be a Muslim needs to reject all kinds of terrorist actions, simply because of the value Islam places on Life. Obviously this is easier said than done!
Support for suicide bombers may further decrease if Muslims around the world were not feeling (or being persuaded by extremists) that the West was 'fighting' them and their religion (ex: Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, Iraq invasion, Palestine...)

Sent by Lamine | 7:16 PM ET | 07-25-2007

Like having a pool table in the basement, suicide bombings were fun at first but after awhile it got boring. No seriously, after the Muslim world saw that they were the main victims, they started to rethink the idea.

Sent by Sean McManamon | 11:42 PM ET | 07-25-2007

I believe it's not the case that the Muslim population as a whole (globally) is in some debate over whether or not suicide bombings are justified.

Not all Muslims accept terrorist idealogy, because it is just that, an idealogy. If the neoconservatives could galvanize the poor, uneducated, jobless masses then perhaps we would view their movement as considerable global security risk (I'm not saying I don't view them that way).

It's not the issue of "making" or suggesting that people think differently, but recognizing the problems that exist, in which groups like Al Qaeda exploit. Instead of using military intervention as a prelude to peace and democracy, perhaps trade and support of infrastructure for developing nations is a better option for curtailing violent extremism. In this way, radical groups such as Al Qaeda and Hamas would lose dramatically support, over time. In this example, allowing young Muslims to have a choice in their future, where stability and security can occur could foster a less palatable view of the extremism Al Qaeda promote.

Of course thats just one side of the coin, or more realistically, one side of the dodecahedron.

Sent by E.L. Gulbranson | 1:56 AM ET | 07-26-2007

Lamine said: "Support for suicide bombers may further decrease if Muslims around the world were not feeling (or being persuaded by extremists) that the West was 'fighting' them and their religion (ex: Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, Iraq invasion, Palestine...)"

Are you saying that Muslims are being fooled by "extremists" into believing in the war in Iraq, the torture in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo or the occupation of Palestine?

Sent by Mark | 2:11 PM ET | 07-26-2007

I supect, Mark, that what Lamine is pointing out that our invasion of Iraq, the torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo and our support for Israel's policies against the Palestinians are all interpreted by a significant part of the Islamic population as evidence that their religion is under attack. All four of these examples are made to order for the purposes of Al-Qaeda's propaganda machine. It's kind of like the CIA's attempts to kill Castro: the more we attack using immoral methods or with suspicious motives, the more it appears in the muslim world that the radical clerics are right.

Sent by John R. Otten | 3:12 PM ET | 07-27-2007

I have been very surprised (and glad) that we have not seen suicide bombings subsequent to 911 in the U.S. so far. Why? Our security systems are not so good that we can prevent someone from killing themselves and taking others with them - it's a lot easier to prevent a terrorist act when the perpetrator wants to survive.

I wonder if this is because that, despite idealogic differences, most people living in the U.S. have hope that they can have happy moments and make something out of their lives. It's hard to convince someone not mentally ill to kill themselves when they have hope.

In the Palestinian territories and other areas, hope is squeezed down to nothing for many young men in particular - no job and no hope of a job; no land and no hope of owning it; and in that culture it follows that you can't marry if you can't support a family.

When you have no hope, it is a lot easier to make a large final gesture - particularly if it looks like it will bring benefits to your family.

If this is the case, there are significant implications for our foreign policy. Decrease the impetus - decrease the problem. We are not aiming at the right target.

Sent by Laura | 2:23 PM ET | 07-28-2007

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