Be Very Afraid: Nearly half of Americans wou ld restrict MuslimAmericans Civil Rights

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=341659


[ABC News]In U.S., 44 Percent Say0 Restrict MuslimsPoll: Nearly Half of All Americans Support Restricting Rights of 
Muslim Americans
[The Associated Press]
ITHACA, N.Y. Dec 17, 2004 — Nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S. government should restrict the civil 
liberties of Muslim Americans, according to a nationwide poll. 
The survey conducted by Cornell University also found that Republicans and people who described themselves as highly 
religious were more apt to support curtailing Muslims' civil liberties than Democrats or people who are less religious. 
Researchers also found that respondents who paid more attention to television news were more likely to fear terrorist 
attacks and support limiting the rights of Muslim Americans. 
"It's sad news. It's disturbing news. But it's not unpredictable," said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim 
American Society. "The nation is at war, even if it's not a traditional war. We just have to remain vigilant and 
continue to int:er.face."

The survey found 44 percent favored at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. Forty-eight 
percent said liberties should not be restricted in any way. 
The survey showed that 27 percent of respondents supported requiring all Muslim Americans to register where they lived 
with the federal government. Twenty-two percent favored racial profiling to identify potential terrorist threats. And 
29 percent thought undercover agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and volunteer organizations to keep tabs on their 
activities and fund-raising. 
Cornell student researchers questioned 715 people in the nationwide telephone poll conducted this fall. The margin of 
error was 3.6 percentage points. 
James Shanahan, an associate professor of communications who helped organize the survey, said the results indicate "the 
need for continued dialogue about issues of civil liberties" in a time of war. 
While researchers said they were not surprised by the overall level of support for curtailing civil liberties, they 
were startled by the correlation with religion and exposure to television news. 
"We need to explore why these two very important channels of discourse may nurture fear rather than understanding," 
Shanahan said. 
According to the survey, 37 percent believe a terrorist attack in the United States is still likely within the next 12 
months. In a similar poll conducted by Cornell in November 2002, that number stood at 90 percen.t. 
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