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THIS HOUSE BELIEVES
THAT THE SUNNI -SHIACONFLICT IS DAMAGINGISLAMS REPUTATION AS ARELIGION OF PEACE.
DATE
29TH A PRIL 2008
POLLING DATE
14TH MAY 21 MAY 2008
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The research was conducted using our online panel of 106,000+ respondents
Respondents from across the region were invited to participate. A total of 993
respondents completed the interview
The interview was approximately 10-12 minutes long
Fieldwork was conducted over the course of one week; 14th 21st of May 2008
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H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, UAE, is the most admired
regional leader
The Sunni-Shia conflict, Al Qaedas terrorist attacks and Attacks on Islam by some voices
in the foreign media are believed to be equally damaging to Islams reputation as a
religion of peace
Iraq is believed to be the country at most risk from the Sunni-Shia divisions
Western and Arab media are both blamed for exaggerating the Sunni-Shia tensions
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*Please note that Iraq is included in the Levant area
AGE REGION
H.H INCOME GENDER
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NORTH AFRICA: 232GCC: 592
LEVANT: 169
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Which of the following regional leaders do you admire most? (Please select one answer only)
Base: Total 993
Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, is the most admired leader across the region (31%) followed by King
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (21%) and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (19%)
However, Sheikh Mohamed is consistently the most admired across all regions whereas King Abdullahs admirers are
dominantly in the GCC (primarily KSA)
Irans Ahmedinejad is significantly more admired in North Africa than the other regions (19% compared to 4-6%)
King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Bashar Al Assad are significantly more admired in the Levant
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From the following list, which is the most damaging to Islams reputation as a religion of peace? (Please
select one answer only)
Base: Total 993
Overall, the Sunni-Shia conflict (31%), Al Qaeda terrorist attacks (32%) and Attacks on Islam by some voices in the foreign
media (28%) are almost equally seen as the most damaging to Islams reputation as a religion of peace
In North Africa, Attacks on Islam by some voices in the foreign media is believed to be the most damaging (38%)
And in Levant, Al Qaeda terrorist attacks are believed to be the most damaging (43%)
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In your opinion, how is the Sunni-Shia conflict affecting Islams reputation as a religion of peace? (Please
select one answer only)
Base: Total 993
The majority of respondents (73%) believe that the Sunni-Shia conflict is damaging Islams reputation as a religion of peace A
LOT
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What is generating the Shia revival the most? (Please select one answer only)
Base: Total 993
The Shia revival is believed to be generated mostly by the Greater Iranian influence and support for Shia groups in the Arab
world (31%) and the American support for Shia groups as part of a divide and rule tactic (25%)
This means that the vast majority of those who believe there actually is a Shia revival, they blame outsiders Iran and the US
for generating it
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Do you believe that a Shia crescent exists?
Base: Total 993
50% of respondents do not believe that the Shia Crescent exists whereas 34% Do not know whether it exist or not
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Which country is at most risk from Sunni-Shia divisions? (Please select one answer only)
Base: Total 993
According to the majority of respondents (73%), Iraq is the country at most risk from Sunni-Shia divisions followed by
Lebanon (18%)
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Are Sunni and Shia clerics doing enough to combat sectarian violence between their communities? (Please
select one answer only)
Base: Total 993
Majority of respondents believe the Sunni and Shia clerics are not doing enough to combat sectarian violence between
their communities
25% believe they could do more and 55% believe they should be doing much more
Only 6% believe they are doing all they can
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How will the Sunni-Shia conflict be resolved? (Please select one answer only)
Base: Total 993
40% of respondents think the Sunni-Shia conflict will never be resolved since its based on doctrinal differences
19% think that Americans leaving Iraq and the country stablizing would resolve the conflict
And another 19% believe clerics providing better religious leadership could also resolve the conflict
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Base: Total 993
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Base: Total 993
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Base: Total 993
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Base: Total 993
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Base: Total 993
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To what extent do you blame each of the following
factors for the Sunni-Shia conflict?
TOTAL
A LOT A LITTLENOT AT
ALL
DONT
KNOW
American instigation of tensions in Iraq 77 14 4 5
Doctrinal differences dating back to the death of Imam Ali and the
original schism 39 36 17 9
The revival of Arab-Persian competition in the region 42 36 13 9
Extreme Sunni Islamist groups targeting Shias 33 29 26 13
Sunni and Shia clerics who are using their religious standing for
political gain60 23 9 9
Base: Total 993
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Base: Total 993
To what extent are the Western and Arab media guilty of exaggerating Sunni-Shia tensions?
WESTERN MEDIA ARAB MEDIA
The majority of respondents believe that both Western and Arab media are guilty of exaggerating Sunni-Shia conflict
60-62% feel Western and Arab media are VERY guilty whereas only 4-5% believe the media is not guilty at all
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