Tiny Minority of Extremists Myth (Islam)

The Tiny Minority of Extremists Myth refers to an argument made by Muslims and liberals that "most Muslims live peacefully" and only a "tiny minority of extremists practice violence".

Terrorism

• ICM Poll: 20% of British Muslims sympathize with 7/7 bombers^[1]

• NOP Research: 1 in 4 British Muslims say 7/7 bombings were justified^[2][3]

• Channel Four (2006): 31% of younger British Muslims say 7/7 bombings were justified compared to 14% of those over 45.^[4]

• People-Press: 31% of Turks support suicide attacks against Westerners in Iraq.^[5]

• YNet: One third of Palestinians (32%) supported the slaughter of a Jewish family, including the children:^[6][7]

• World Public Opinion: 83% of Egyptians approve of attacks on American troops.
  • 26% of Indonesians approve of attacks on American troops.
  • 26% of Pakistanis approve of attacks on American troops.
  • 68% of Moroccans approve of attacks on American troops.
  • 90% of Palestinians approve of attacks on American troops.
  • 72% of Jordanians approve of attacks on American troops.
  • 52% of Turks approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (39% oppose)
  • A minority of Muslims disagreed entirely with terror attacks on American troops.
  • About half of those opposed to attacking Americans were sympathetic with al-Qaeda’s attitude toward the U.S.^[8]

• Pew Research (2010): 55% of Jordanians have a positive view of Hezbollah
  • 30% of Egyptians have a positive view of Hezbollah
  • 45% of Nigerian Muslims have a positive view of Hezbollah (26% negative)
  • 43% of Indonesians have a positive view of Hezbollah (30% negative)^[9]

• Pew Research (2010): 60% of Jordanians have a positive view of Hamas (34% negative).
  • 49% of Egyptians have a positive view of Hamas (48% negative)
  • 49% of Nigerian Muslims have a positive view of Hamas (25% negative)
  • 39% of Indonesians have a positive view of Hamas (33% negative)^[10]

• Pew Research (2010): 15% of Indonesians believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified.
  • 34% of Nigerian Muslims believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified.^[11]

• 16% of young Muslims in Belgium state terrorism is "acceptable".^[12]

Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden and ISIS

• Pew Research (2007): 5% of American Muslims have a favorable view of al-Qaeda (27% can’t make up their minds). Only 58% reject al-Qaeda outright.^[13]

• Pew Research (2011): 5% of American Muslims have a favorable view of al-Qaeda (14% can’t make up their minds).^[14]

• Pew Research (2011): 1 in 10 native-born Muslim-Americans have a favorable view of al-Qaeda.^[15]

• al-Jazeera (2006): 49.9% of Muslims polled support Osama bin Laden^[16]

• Pew Research: 59% of Indonesians support Osama bin Laden in 2003
  • 41% of Indonesians support Osama bin Laden in 2007
  • 56% of Jordanians support Osama bin Laden in 2003^[17]

• Pew Global: 51% of Palestinians support Osama bin Laden
  • 54% of Muslim Nigerians Support Osama bin Laden^[18]

• MacDonald Laurier Institute: 35% of Canadian Muslims would not repudiate al-Qaeda^[19]

• World Public Opinion: Muslim majorities agree with the al-Qaeda goal of Islamic law.
  • (Egypt: 88%; Indonesia 76%; Pakistan 60%; Morocco 64%)^[20]

• ICM Poll: 13% of Muslim in Britain support al-Qaeda attacks on America.^[21]

• World Public Opinion: Attitude toward Osama bin Laden:
  • Egypt: 44% positive, 17% negative, and 25% mixed feelings
  • Indonesia: 14% positive, 26% negative, 21% mixed feelings (39% did not answer)
  • Pakistan: 25% positive, 15% negative, 26% mixed feelings (34% did not answer)
  • Morocco: 27% positive, 21% negative, 26% mixed feelings
  • Jordanians, Palestinians, Turks and Azerbaijanis. Jordanians combined for: 27% positive, 20 percent negative, and 27 percent mixed feelings. (Palestinians 56% positive, 20% negative, 22 percent mixed feelings).^[22]

• Pew Research (2010): 49% of Nigerian Muslims have favorable view of al-Qaeda (34% unfavorable)
  • 23% of Indonesians have favorable view of al-Qaeda (56% unfavorable)
  • 34% of Jordanians have favorable view of al-Qaeda
  • 25% of Indonesians have "confidence" in Osama bin Laden (59% had confidence in 2003)
  • 1 in 5 Egyptians have "confidence" in Osama bin Laden^[23]

• Pew Research (2011): 22% of Indonesians have a favorable view of al-Qaeda (21% unfavorable)^[24]

• Gallup: 51% of Pakistanis grieve Osama bin Laden (only 11% happy over death)
  • 44% of Pakistanis viewed Osama bin Laden as a martyr (only 28% as an oulaw)^[25]

• Zogby International 2011: “Majorities in all six countries said they viewed the United States less favorably following the killing of the Al-Qaeda head [Osama bin Laden] in Pakistan”^[26]

• Populus Survey: 18% of British Muslims would be proud or indifferent if a family member joined al-Qaeda.^[27]

• Policy Exchange (2006): 7% Muslims in Britain admire al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.^[28]

• Informal poll of Saudis in August 2014 shows 92% agree that Islamic State (ISIS) "conforms to the values of Islam and Islamic law."^[29]

• Hurriyet Daily News / Metropoll (2015): 20% of Turks support the slaughter of Charlie Hebdo staffers and cartoonists.^[30]

• al-Jazeera Poll (2015): 81% of respondents support the Islamic State (ISIS).^[31]

• The Polling Company CSP Poll (2015): 33% of Muslim-Americans say al-Qaeda beliefs are Islamic or correct.(49% disagree)^[32]

• The Polling Company CSP Poll (2015): 38% of Muslim-Americans say Islamic State (ISIS) beliefs are Islamic or correct.(43% disagree)^[33]

• ICM (Mirror) Poll 2015: 1.5 Million British Muslims support the Islamic State, about half the total population.^[34]

• Clarion Project Study (2015): 11.5% of Arabs support ISIS, or about 42 million.^[35]

• Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (2015): Two-thirds of Palestinians support the stabbing of Israeli civilians.^[36]

• Social Trends Survey (2016): 21% of Turks says ISIS 'represents Islam"; 10% would not categorize it as a terrorist organization.^[37]

• ICM (2014): 16% of all French Muslims support ISIS, including 27% of those aged 18-24.^[38]

• al-Jazeera Website Survey (2015): 81% of respondents approve of "regional conquests: by ISIS.^[39]

• Doha Institute (ACRPS) 2014: 10% of Egyptians have a positive (or somewhat positive) view of ISIS as do 10% of Saudis, 13% of Tunisians and 13% of Syrian refugees. On average, 72% of the Arab world has a negative view of ISIS.^[40]