CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

For release: September 15, 2010

6:30 pm (EDT)

Discrimination Against Muslims and Arabs in the U.S.

September 10-14, 2010

With the debate over the proposed Islamic cultural center and prayer room to be built near
Ground Zero stirring up heated debate on both sides, most Americans think it is at least
somewhat likely that Arab Americans, Muslims, and immigrants from the Middle East are being
singled out unfairly by people in this country. 34% think it is very likely, while another 37% think
it is somewhat likely.

Still, the recent debate does not seem to have made Americans think discrimination is more
likely to take place than before. The percentage of Americans that thinks anti-Muslim and anti-
Arab discrimination is very likely has not increased over the past two years, while the
percentage who says it is not likely has increased eight percentage points since August 2006, to
24% now.

Likelihood of Discrimination in U.S. Against Muslims and Arab Americans

Now 8/2006 9/2001
Very likely 34% 34% 50%
Somewhat likely 37 49 40
Not too/at all likely 24 16 9

When asked specifically about Muslims and the 9/11 attacks, 55% of Americans say they know
people who have negative feelings toward Muslims because of the attacks on the World Trade
Center, though just 21% say they themselves ever have negative feelings towards Muslims.

Negative Feelings towards Muslims Because of 9/11?

People you know Yourself
Yes 55% 21%
No 40 74

One in two Americans say they know someone who is Muslim, and those Americans are even
less likely than Americans overall to have negative feelings towards them. Only 15% of
Americans who know a Muslim personally and 11% who have a close friend who is Muslim say
they have negative feelings towards them.

Do You Have Negative Feelings towards Muslims Because of 9/11?

Total Know Muslim Close friend who is Muslim
Yes 21% 15% 11%
No 74 81 86
Among other demographic groups, men are slightly more likely to report anti-Muslim sentiments
than women, as are Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 compared with those both
younger and older. Regionally, Americans from the South are more likely to report negative
feelings towards Muslims than those in other parts of the country.

In terms of partisanship, Republicans (39%) are nearly four times as likely as Democrats (11%)
and nearly twice as likely as independents (20%) to report anti-Muslim feelings. Liberals (11%)
are less likely than moderates (18%) and conservatives (31%) to say they ever have negative
feelings toward Muslims, though they are the most likely to say they know other people who do.

Do You Have Negative Feelings

Towards Muslims Because of 9/11?
Yes No

Total 21% 74

Men 26% 69
Women 17% 78

18-44 16% 80
45-64 30% 67
65+ 23% 69

Northeast 22% 73
Midwest 14% 79
South 28% 67
West 17% 79

Republican 39% 54
Democrat 11% 85
Independents 20% 77

Liberal 11% 87
Moderate 18% 80
Conservative 31% 60
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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 990 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone
September 10-14, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard
land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus
or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL
Discrimination Against Muslims and Arabs in the U.S.
September 10-14, 2010

q88 How likely do you think it is now that Arab Americans, Muslims, and immigrants from
the Middle East are being singled out unfairly by people in this country -- very likely,
somewhat likely, not too likely or not at all likely?

**** TOTAL RESPONDENTS****

**** Party ID ****
Total Rep Dem Ind Aug06b
% % % % %
Very likely 34 20 46 34 34
Somewhat likely 37 41 35 38 49
Not too likely 15 20 14 12 11
Not at all likely 9 17 4 9 5
DK/NA 5 2 1 7 1

q89 These days, do people you know have negative feelings toward Muslims because of the
attack on the World Trade Center, or not?

Yes 55 59 55 54
No 40 37 42 40
DK/NA 5 4 3 6

q90 Do you ever have any negative feelings toward Muslims because of the attack on the
World Trade Center, or don't you?

Yes 21 39 11 20
No 74 54 85 77
DK/NA 5 7 4 3

q99 Do you personally know anyone who is Muslim? IF YES, ASK: Would you say they are a
close friend or not?

Know Muslim, close friend 23 15 26 25

Know Muslim, not close 27 29 22 29
Don't know any Muslims 49 55 51 45
Self or family is a Muslim 1 1 1 1
DK/NA 0 0 0 0

UNWEIGHTED WEIGHTED
Total Respondents 990

Total Republicans 261 248 (25%)

Total Democrats 346 345 (35%)
Total Independents 383 397 (33%)