Islamic State Actually Has More Support In Britain Than In Arab Nations

The Islamic State group has substantially less support in Arab nations than it does in European countries, including Britain, according to a new report into attitudes towards the brutal jihadist group.

The Syria and Iraq-based group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, enjoys practically no popularity in Egypt, Lebanon, or Saudi Arabia, according to research by the Washington Institute. Saudi Arabia is one of five Arab nations which joined the US in airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria.

Just 3% of Egyptian expressed a positive opinion of the IS, only 5% of Saudis, and under 1% of Lebanese respondents showed any support for the group. It does not mean, the researchers point out, that there is absolutely no support for IS in those countries as the small percentages add up to around 1.5 million people in Egypt, 500,000 in Saudi Arabia, and a few thousand in Lebanon.

But the report is in stark contrast with an August poll on the same topic for ICM, which found that 7% of citizens responded favourably to IS in Britain. To put that result in context, just 5% of the British population are Muslim, meaning a vast number of those surveyed feeling either "very" or "somewhat" favourably towards IS were not Muslim.

In France, the figure was dramatically higher, with 16% of French citizens saying they have a positive opinion of IS, spiking at 27% for those who are aged 18-24. In Germany, it was far lower, with around 3% expressing a positive view.


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/16/islamic-state-arab-nations-britain-support_n_5995548.html?utm_hp_ref=uk



Not sure how she comes to the conclusion that because the figure was 7% here, based off the Muslim population being 5%, then they are vast amounts who are not Muslim. The only way to tell would be if the religion was declared as part of the survey, as who is to say more Muslims were not asked, but 7% is high still and concerning that such a percentage even exists in the west.

Still the support is staggering for around the world, if we take the view from polls.

WTF......

OK you guys might have a problem..... Why Do your own people think ISIS might be better than your gov'ts

there may be an statistical anomaly they are not reporting

The timing of the surveys may go some way to explaining the gulf in support. The ICM survey took place this summer, and was conducted prior to some of the group's most high-profile atrocities like the beheading of Western journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. The Washington Institute poll in the Arab nations took place in September.

Good question Veya, of which I do not have an answer, as this would require a further poll as to obtain the reasons why and agree there maybe be an issue around when it was asked, but still, as seen there is a support of not just this but other extremist groups.

well i would expect up to 5% of Muslims, but 5% of total population seems wrong..

your gov't must be really fucking up to make 1 in 20 people think the beheading bastards might be a better option

Caution, guys, we may have a case of journalist math here. Still, the news is revealing even if the European percentages are off.

Good to hear though, and I've been thinking that the popularity of ISIS among certain Muslims smacks of the same phenomenon we see so often among conservative communities, where a group (say, the Tea Party) or a leader (say, Sarah Palin or a host of others) is put on a pedestal before reality comes crashing down ...

Bullshit statistics.

repatriate em all.......

No surprise really. Successive governments since 1992 have allowed islamic extremism to flourish in Britain, this is just the inevitable consequence.

Don't think you 'get' what these stats mean puzzler (assuming they are factual).

Perhaps ISIS have sympathies among those sorts of conservative minded people who oppose abortion, equality for women, and rights for gay people to marry and adopt- they certainly share opinions on liberalism and progressive politics...

The Puzzler wrote:No surprise really. Successive governments since 1992 have allowed islamic extremism to flourish in Britain, this is just the inevitable consequence.

then explain why that is higher than the total number of Muslims???

that stat makes it that even if every Muslim supported ISIS you still have about 1 in 30 non Muslims supporting ISIS

victorisnotamused wrote:repatriate em all.......

Got to get 'em behind us. We'll be busy fighting the next group.

Original Quill wrote:

victorisnotamused wrote:repatriate em all.......

Got to get 'em behind us.  We'll be busy fighting the next group.

I'd rather have em in front, where i can keep an eye on em.......

victorisnotamused wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

Got to get 'em behind us.  We'll be busy fighting the next group.

I'd rather have em in front, where i can keep an eye on em.......

Sorry, that spot is taken by the next group. Lol.