Concern much higher than some years ago.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: A new poll from Pew Research indicates 53 percent of people in the United States are “very concerned” about Islamic extremism in the United States.
While the numbers were lower than for some countries in Europe that have experienced domestic Islamic terrorism, they were much higher than a few years ago, according to the Washington Examiner. In 2011, for example, 32 percent told Pew that they were very concerned.
On average, the Pew survey found that 52 percent of people across nine Western nations were “very concerned” about the threat, reported The Hill.
“In the U.S., these demographic differences also extend to political party and religion. Republicans and Americans who say religion is important are more likely to be concerned about Islamic extremism than are Democrats and independents, and those who say religion is not important to their daily lives,” said the survey analysis.
The survey was conducted in the wake of January’s attack on the French magazine Charlie Hebdo and as videos of ISIS’s beheading of foreign hostages began to dominate news headlines. It polled more than 21,000 people across 21 nations from April 5 to May 21.
“As the Islamic militant group ISIS continues to entrench itself in Syria and Iraq, and instigate terrorist attacks around the world, concerns about Islamic extremism are growing in the West and in countries with significant Muslim populations,” Pew authors said.
The numbers are even higher when it comes to concern regarding ISIS specifically. Pew stated that 70 percent of Americans have a high concern level about the movement infamous for its brutal executions and penchant for inspiring “lone wolf” terrorist operators in the west.