Americans have favorable view of Muslims - Study

Most U.S. citizens have a favorable view of American Muslims, and almost half believe that Islam stands against violence more than other religions, according to a study recently released at an international interfaith conference.

The findings raise hopes that Muslims will be eventually accepted and integrated into the American society as followers of other religions have been, said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which conducted the study.

Mr Lugo noted that Catholics and Jews were once objects of "widespread and often institutionalized discrimination" in the United States, but by 2005, three-quarters of U.S. citizens viewed these faith groups favorably.

However, Mr Lugo said that more personal friendship and education are needed to improve the way Americans perceive Islam and enhance the chances for interfaith relations.

The study also found that 60% of Americans think that terrorist attacks represent a conflict with "a small radical group," not "the people of Islam."

The recent findings "strongly suggest that the United States has the capacity to overcome historical religious divisions and prejudices," he said.

The Pew study was presented at the International Conference on Faith and Service in Washington, which featured conciliatory messages from Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders, as well as Indonesian scholar and special envoy Alwi Shihab; and Karen Hughes, the State Department's undersecretary for public diplomacy.

The attendees at the conference also expressed concerns over the Afghan man who is facing a possible death sentence in his country for converting from Islam to Christianity.

The Holy Qur’an clearly states that there "shall be no compulsion in religion" and that people of all faiths should be allowed practice their religion freely, said Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, president of the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

"It is a travesty of Islamic law and Islamic thought" that these principles are violated today.

Source: Washington Times