Most voters don’t believe their fellow citizens are unfair to Muslims

Voters also think that Muslims in the United States should be louder in their criticism of potential domestic terrorist attacks. Just 17% of likely U.S. voters believe that most Muslims in America are treated unfairly because of their religion and ethnicity. Sixty-three percent (63%) disagree and say they are not treated unfairly while 20% are not sure. A plurality (49%) of liberal voters say there is bias against Muslim Americans. Eighty-one percent (81%) of conservatives and 57% of moderates disagree. But only 10% of all voters think American Muslims are speaking out enough against potential terrorist attacks in the United States. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disagree and say they are not speaking out enough. One-in-three voters (34%) are not sure. The House Committee on Homeland Security has begun hearings about the potential danger of domestic Islamic terrorism, and a sizable number of voters think the government is not paying enough attention to this possible threat. Most voters still worry, too, about homegrown terrorist attacks. Republicans and voters not affiliated with either of the major parties feel much more strongly than Democrats that American Muslims are not treated unfairly because of their religion and ethnicity. Similarly, 69% of GOP voters and 60% of unaffiliated voters say Muslims in the United States are not speaking out enough about the threat of domestic terrorist attacks, a view shared by just 40% of Democrats.