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Washington:
More than half of
Muslim-Americans in a new poll say government anti-terrorism
policies single them out for increased surveillance and
monitoring, and many report increased cases of name-calling,
threats and harassment by airport security, law enforcement
officers and others.
In all, 52 percent of
Muslim-Americans surveyed said their group is singled out for
terrorist surveillance. Almost as many — 43 percent — reported
they had personally experienced harassment in the past year,
according to the poll released Tuesday.
That 43 percent share of people
reporting harassment is up from 40 percent in 2007, the first time
Pew polled Muslim-Americans.
Asked to identify in what ways they
felt bias, about 28 percent said they had been treated or viewed
with suspicion by people, while 22 percent said they were called
offensive names. About 21 percent said they were singled out by
airport security because they were Muslim, while another 13
percent said they were targeted by other law enforcement
officials. Roughly 6 percent said they had been physically
threatened or attacked.
On the other hand, the share of
Muslim-Americans who view US anti-terror policies as “sincere”
efforts to reduce international terrorism now surpasses those who
view them as insincere — 43 percent to 41 percent. Four years ago,
during the presidency of George W. Bush, far more viewed US
anti-terrorism efforts as insincere than sincere — 55 percent to
26 percent.
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