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Released: May 18, 2007

Zogby International: What Muslims are Really Thinking

Zogby announces special release of years of extensive polling among Muslim Americans

Zogby International’s extensive and groundbreaking survey work of Muslim Americans is now available at Zogby International, highlighting dramatic changes in the mindset of this important demographic group in the years since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The trends discovered by a series of Zogby polls over time show that Muslims are a politically active group. A high proportion of registered Muslim voters (95%) plan to vote in national elections, and of that group, 88% are very likely to vote. In light of that, political horserace questions were particularly interesting in our 2004 survey of this group, especially the dramatic shift away from the Republican Party and President Bush versus the 2000 election.

In the post-9/11 world, the Zogby polling found Muslim identity is key in voting decisions.

Nearly seven-in-ten Muslim voters say being a Muslim is important in their voting decision. Yet Muslims are not yet fully engaged, politically

And Muslims clearly intend to be a part of the political system long-term: 86% say it is important for them to participate in politics—seven times as many as who say it is not important. This holds across all geographic regions. By similar numbers, Muslims say it is important to them for their children to participate in politics. And Muslims are a generally well-informed group: nearly two-thirds (64%) say they follow what’s going on in government and public affairs most of the time. This varies little on geographic or partisan lines, though those who call themselves progressive are more likely than other groups (81% versus a range of 59% to 67%) to say they do so most of the time.

The Zogby survey in 2004 found that American Muslims were at a political and social crossroads. In the few short years since 2001, they have undergone massive political shifts as the U.S. engaged in two Middle East wars. Muslim Americans have become a relevant part of the political landscape, Zogby polling shows.

Add to this desire to be a part of the political system the fact that three-in-five American Muslims are dissatisfied with the way things are going in American society today, and Muslims become a clearly-potent political entity. And, despite their negative view of the direction of the country, a majority of American Muslims say this is a good time to be a Muslim in America.

Extensive reports on Zogby’s pioneering 2001 and 2004 surveys of Muslim Americans are available below: