IN THE SHADOW OF 9/11
ISLAMIC CONGRESS POLLS CANADIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS:
* MORE THAN
ONE-THIRD ASSOCIATE 9/11 WITH ISLAM, BUT MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS
FEEL NEUTRAL TOWARD MUSLIMS
* MORE THAN
THREE-QUARTERS GET ALL THEIR INFORMATION ON ISLAM FROM THE MEDIA
* MORE THAN HALF FEEL POORLY INFORMED ABOUT ISLAM
* MOST DO NOT KNOW WHERE LOCAL MOSQUES ARE LOCATED
* MORE THAN HALF HAVE MUSLIM FRIENDS AND MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER WOULD
MARRY A MUSLIM
* ONLY 4 IN 100 RESPONDENTS WERE MUSLIM
In a recent Canadian Islamic Congress survey of Canadian university
students, a surprising 80% reported feeling neutral toward Muslims, while
10% expressed positive feelings and only 5% held negative opinions.
When asked to mention an event or word related to Islam, 38% said 9/11
(September 11, 2001). But more respondents (43%) mentioned religious
terms such as Ramadan, Mecca, etc. Those who mentioned other associations,
such as the war on Iraq, numbered 17%.
Those students who
obtained their information about Islam from the media was a staggering
78%, while only 7% became informed through friends or family. Islamic
organizations reached only 12% of those surveyed. This trend is further
reflected in results that show 56% considered themselves poorly informed
about Islam, 29% felt somewhat informed, and only 7% considered themselves
well informed.
When asked what proportion of the Muslim population are Arabs, 31% said
half, 41% said one-fifth, 2% said four-fifths and the remainder
said they didn't know.
More than half the
respondents (56%) reported that they have Muslim friends. When the same
respondents were asked if they would marry a Muslim man or woman, the
answers were nearly even; 27% said yes and 29% said no. The remainder
said they didn't know.
The vast majority of students
(85%) did not know the location of a local mosque in their home city.
Significantly, only 4% of the
respondents identified themselves as Muslim, indicating that the survey
results mainly reflect current feelings among non-Muslim university
students. The
survey was conducted among 1441 second and third year university
students, during the last winter term (January - May, 2003).
"Poll results are always tricky to assess," admitted Dr. Mohamed
Elmasry, who is both a university professor himself and national
president of the Canadian Islamic Congress. "But one thing is clear,"
he stressed. "Local mosques and national organizations like the CIC
must do a great deal more in reaching out to Canadians at large,
especially the youth. CIC is expanding its Islam Awareness Week for
2004 Inshalah."
"As Canadian Muslims, we are still living in the shadow of 9/11,"
observed CIC vice-president Mrs. Wahida Valiante, "and it may take us
years to recover."
CONTACTS:
Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
(519) 888-4567 Ext. 3753 (O)
(519) 746-7928 (H)
(519) 577-2267 (Cell)
Mrs. Wahida Valiante
(905) 881-8024