Majority of Muslims supports death for anyone leaving Islam

More than nine-in-ten (94%) Muslims in Lebanon express negative opinions of al Qaeda, as do majorities of Muslims in Turkey (74%), Egypt (72%), Jordan (62%) and Indonesia (56%). Only in Nigeria do Muslims express positive views of al Qaeda; 49% have a favorable view and just 34% have an unfavorable view of bin Laden’s organization.

When asked for their views about democracy, majorities in most of the Muslim communities surveyed say that democracy is preferable to any other kind of government. This view is especially widespread in Lebanon and in Turkey, where at least three-quarters of Muslims (81% and 76%, respectively) express a preference for democratic governance. Support for democracy is less common in Pakistan, but a plurality (42%) of Muslims in that country prefer democracy to other types of government; 15% of Pakistani Muslims say that, in some circumstances, a non-democratic government can be preferable, and 21% say that, for someone like them, the kind of government their country has does not matter.

•Eight-in-ten Muslims in Pakistan say suicide bombing and other acts of violence against civilian targets in order to defend Islam from its enemies are never justified; majorities in Turkey (77%), Indonesia (69%) and Jordan (54%) share this view. Support for suicide bombing has declined considerably over the years. For example, while 74% of Muslims in Lebanon said these violent acts were at least sometimes justified in 2002, just 39% say that is the case now; double-digit declines have also occurred in Jordan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia.

Majorities of Muslims in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Nigeria say they would favor making harsh punishments such as stoning people who commit adultery; whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery; and the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion the law in their country. In the other predominantly Muslim countries surveyed – Turkey, Lebanon and Indonesia – most Muslims oppose these measures.

About eight-in-ten Muslims in Egypt and Pakistan (82% each) endorse the stoning of people who commit adultery; 70% of Muslims in Jordan and 56% of Nigerian Muslims share this view. Muslims in Pakistan and Egypt are also the most supportive of whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery; 82% in Pakistan and 77% in Egypt favor making this type of punishment the law in their countries, as do 65% of Muslims in Nigeria and 58% in Jordan.

When asked about the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion, at least three-quarters of Muslims in Jordan (86%), Egypt (84%) and Pakistan (76%) say they would favor making it the law; in Nigeria, 51% of Muslims favor and 46% oppose it. In contrast, Muslims in Lebanon, Turkey and Indonesia largely reject the notion that harsh punishments should be the law in their countries. About three-quarters of Turkish and Lebanese Muslims oppose the stoning of people who commit adultery (77% and 76%, respectively), as does a narrower majority (55%) of Muslims in Indonesia.

Opposition to whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery and to the death penalty for people who leave Islam is even more widespread in these three countries; 86% of Muslims in Lebanon, 82% in Turkey and 61% in Indonesia are against making harsh punishments for robbery and theft the law in their countries, and 93%, 91% and 64%, respectively, object to the death penalty against those who leave the Muslim religion.

Stephanie wrote:Nothing like a bit of spin, is there? I'm sure Mr. Shenker displayed the utmost journalistic integrity when providing analysis of this poll.

I encourage you all to read the results for yourself, but here are some highlights from the actual Pew poll:

More than nine-in-ten (94%) Muslims in Lebanon express negative opinions of al Qaeda, as do majorities of Muslims in Turkey (74%), Egypt (72%), Jordan (62%) and Indonesia (56%). Only in Nigeria do Muslims express positive views of al Qaeda; 49% have a favorable view and just 34% have an unfavorable view of bin Laden’s organization.

When asked for their views about democracy, majorities in most of the Muslim communities surveyed say that democracy is preferable to any other kind of government. This view is especially widespread in Lebanon and in Turkey, where at least three-quarters of Muslims (81% and 76%, respectively) express a preference for democratic governance. Support for democracy is less common in Pakistan, but a plurality (42%) of Muslims in that country prefer democracy to other types of government; 15% of Pakistani Muslims say that, in some circumstances, a non-democratic government can be preferable, and 21% say that, for someone like them, the kind of government their country has does not matter.

•Eight-in-ten Muslims in Pakistan say suicide bombing and other acts of violence against civilian targets in order to defend Islam from its enemies are never justified; majorities in Turkey (77%), Indonesia (69%) and Jordan (54%) share this view. Support for suicide bombing has declined considerably over the years. For example, while 74% of Muslims in Lebanon said these violent acts were at least sometimes justified in 2002, just 39% say that is the case now; double-digit declines have also occurred in Jordan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia.

Majorities of Muslims in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Nigeria say they would favor making harsh punishments such as stoning people who commit adultery; whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery; and the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion the law in their country. In the other predominantly Muslim countries surveyed – Turkey, Lebanon and Indonesia – most Muslims oppose these measures.

About eight-in-ten Muslims in Egypt and Pakistan (82% each) endorse the stoning of people who commit adultery; 70% of Muslims in Jordan and 56% of Nigerian Muslims share this view. Muslims in Pakistan and Egypt are also the most supportive of whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery; 82% in Pakistan and 77% in Egypt favor making this type of punishment the law in their countries, as do 65% of Muslims in Nigeria and 58% in Jordan.

When asked about the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion, at least three-quarters of Muslims in Jordan (86%), Egypt (84%) and Pakistan (76%) say they would favor making it the law; in Nigeria, 51% of Muslims favor and 46% oppose it. In contrast, Muslims in Lebanon, Turkey and Indonesia largely reject the notion that harsh punishments should be the law in their countries. About three-quarters of Turkish and Lebanese Muslims oppose the stoning of people who commit adultery (77% and 76%, respectively), as does a narrower majority (55%) of Muslims in Indonesia.

Opposition to whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery and to the death penalty for people who leave Islam is even more widespread in these three countries; 86% of Muslims in Lebanon, 82% in Turkey and 61% in Indonesia are against making harsh punishments for robbery and theft the law in their countries, and 93%, 91% and 64%, respectively, object to the death penalty against those who leave the Muslim religion.

Keli wrote:Stephatima,
Remember that, according to the Times Square bomber, Muslims lie for Allah. The fact remains that "a majority of Muslims believe" that apostates should be killed--their good book says to kill them!

Keli

ziggy wrote:

Keli wrote:Stephatima,
Remember that, according to the Times Square bomber, Muslims lie for Allah. The fact remains that "a majority of Muslims believe" that apostates should be killed--their good book says to kill them!

Keli

And so then how do we know that they weren't "lying for Allah" in their answers to this poll, too?

Stephanie wrote:How many violent acts does the god of your bible condone? Didn't your god rain down fire & brimstone on Sodom & Gohmorra? Didn't he flood the entire planet killing every land creature that wasn't on the ark?

Keli wrote:

Stephanie wrote:How many violent acts does the god of your bible condone? Didn't your god rain down fire & brimstone on Sodom & Gohmorra? Didn't he flood the entire planet killing every land creature that wasn't on the ark?

Back to our topic, can you name one contemporary Christian or Jewish sect which has a MAJORITY of adherents who believe that an apostate should be killed?


People who live under boulders shouldn't throw glass mosques.

Ich bin Ala-awkbarf! wrote:

Keli wrote:

Stephanie wrote:How many violent acts does the god of your bible condone? Didn't your god rain down fire & brimstone on Sodom & Gohmorra? Didn't he flood the entire planet killing every land creature that wasn't on the ark?

Back to our topic, can you name one contemporary Christian or Jewish sect which has a MAJORITY of adherents who believe that an apostate should be killed?


People who live under boulders shouldn't throw glass mosques.

Muslim apostates should die because they have insulted Allah and trampled on the Koran! They should be stoned--not only their glass houses. Ala-awkbarf!

Stephanie wrote:

Ich bin Ala-awkbarf! wrote:

Keli wrote:

Stephanie wrote:How many violent acts does the god of your bible condone? Didn't your god rain down fire & brimstone on Sodom & Gohmorra? Didn't he flood the entire planet killing every land creature that wasn't on the ark?

Back to our topic, can you name one contemporary Christian or Jewish sect which has a MAJORITY of adherents who believe that an apostate should be killed?


People who live under boulders shouldn't throw glass mosques.

Muslim apostates should die because they have insulted Allah and trampled on the Koran! They should be stoned--not only their glass houses. Ala-awkbarf!

I'm telling ya, it isn't healthy.

Stephanie wrote:You're kidding me, right? Do you think of anything else any more, or is this it?

Stephanie wrote:I disagree with the notion that god got bored and created everything in a week. I disagree with the notion that there is some all powerful, all knowing being somewhere that cares about what Stephanie Butcher or Terry Hagedorn is doing, or who they're doing it with. I disagree that homosexuality is a "sin". I don't think that if there is a god he plays favorites. I don't believe religion should determine US foreign policy. I don't think Muslims are all evil, in fact, I don't think all of any particular demographic is good or bad. I don't think the future of the planet and/or the species is preordained. I don't believe in "prophecy".

Did you know Jews don't believe in hell? I find that interesting.