Suicide Bombers Losing Support Among Muslims
MUSLIMS' SUPPORT OF ATTACKS IS WANING blared the headline in my local newspaper yesterday morning. All I can say is, it's about time! Click here to read the full story.
In Muslim countries support for suicide bombings against civilians has dropped sharply since 2002, according to a 2007 survey conducted by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. Approximately 1,000 citizens in each country were asked if they felt suicide bombings of civilians were justified to defend Islam:
Muslims supported the attacks when they were aimed at the US and other foreign nationals, seeing bombers as virtuous Davids taking aim at the far more powerful Goliaths. Suicide bombings were cheered acts of patriotism. But now that they've become victims themselves, now that they've lost sons and daughters, mothers and fathers to suicide bombers, many Muslims view the attacks as the reprehensible violence they are. Imagine that! Violence isn't so virtuous when it blows up in your own face.
In Muslim countries support for suicide bombings against civilians has dropped sharply since 2002, according to a 2007 survey conducted by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. Approximately 1,000 citizens in each country were asked if they felt suicide bombings of civilians were justified to defend Islam:
- Countries where support dropped by slightly more than 50%: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan
- Countries where support dropped by 50%: Jordan
- Countries where support dropped by slightly less than 50%: Tanzania, Nigeria, Turkey
"Muslim public opinion, as the result of increased suicide bombings, has come to realize the poisonous and murderous nature of this kind of attack," said Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Arab and Muslim politics at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.
Muslims supported the attacks when they were aimed at the US and other foreign nationals, seeing bombers as virtuous Davids taking aim at the far more powerful Goliaths. Suicide bombings were cheered acts of patriotism. But now that they've become victims themselves, now that they've lost sons and daughters, mothers and fathers to suicide bombers, many Muslims view the attacks as the reprehensible violence they are. Imagine that! Violence isn't so virtuous when it blows up in your own face.
Labels: Middle East, suicide bombers, violence
