WASHINGTON D.C., Dec. 8 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The image of U.S. Muslims improved significantly in the eyes of their fellow Americans after the deadly attacks on September 11, despite fears that the opposite would occur, according to a survey released Thursday, reported news agencies Friday.
Fifty-nine percent of Americans had a favorable view of U.S. Muslims in November, compared to 45% in March, according a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
Conservative Republicans showed the most dramatic change, with 64% feeling favorably toward the group, as compared to 35% in March, the poll continued.
"The survey finds clear evidence that Americans are heeding President George W. Bush's call for tolerance," the report's authors said, according to news agencies.
Muslims - and members of other religions mistaken for Muslims - were targets of hate crimes after the hijackers struck the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Along with other political and religious leaders, Bush urged Americans not to blame their Muslim neighbors for the destruction.
Indian Sikhs and an Egyptian Copt (Christian) have been among the fatalities of the hates crimes and hundreds of Muslims have reported incidents of harassment to the Washington D.C.-based civil rights group, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
The poll of 1,500 adults was conducted November 13 to 19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
