Washington, August 26: Favourable opinions of Islam in the US have declined since 2005, with 35 per cent Americans believing that it encourages violence more than any other religions, according to a new poll.
The poll conducted by the Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Between August 19-22 among 1,003 adults, finds that Favourable opinions of Islam have declined since 2005.
But, there has been virtually no change over the past year in the proportion of Americans saying that Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence.
Opinions about whether Islam is more likely than other religions to promote violence have fluctuated since 2002, but not drastically. In 2009, 38 per cent said that Islam encourages violence more than other religions do. While in new poll 35 per cent said that it does.
Amid controversy over the proposed construction of an Islamic cultural centre and mosque near the former site of the World Trade Centre, 51 per cent Americans agree with those who object to the building of the centre. 34 per cent people are with the supporters of the project.
Although, 62 per cent say that Muslims should have the same rights as other religious groups to build houses of worship in their local communities.
Currently, 30 per cent say they have a favourable opinion of Islam while slightly more (38per cent) have an unfavourable view; nearly a third (32 per cent) offer no opinion. In 2005, slightly more expressed a favourable opinion of Islam than an unfavourable opinion (by 41 per cent to 36 per cent).
-PTI