Some Scary Survey Data
I know I've been harping on the question of political Islam and reactions to it, but it's something that has definitely caught my attention recently, even more than usual. Here's some interesting polling data. What really caught my attention was the following graph.
I know I've been harping on the question of political Islam and reactions to it, but it's something that has definitely caught my attention recently, even more than usual. Here's some interesting polling data. What really caught my attention was the following graph.
So four in five Pakistanis want Sharia. I'm sorry, but that's just really depressing. Also, just 3% of Pakistanis think al-Qaeda was responible for 9/11. Three percent! Well, I guess those chain emails are doing their job, huh?
Labels:
Pakistan
9 comments:
Why is that depressing?
And why do you think Al-Qaeda is responsible for 9/11? Care to do a post on what Al-Qaeda is?
I think it's depressing because I don't want to live in a country under Sharia law, and this survey data tells me it will be difficult for me to reconcile my demands for true, representative democracy with my demands for living in a secular country. You can read an old post of mine on the subject here:
http://fiverupees.blogspot.com/2006/10/university-life-in-pakistan-and-other_11.html
I refuse to even debate the al-Qaeda point. That's the thing with conspiracy theories: they're never falsifiable - no matter how much evidence (including admission of guilt by the perpetrators) is presented, people not willing to believe basic facts will always twist anything you tell them to suit their narrative. That's why it's pointless to even argue the issue, and that's why I won't get into it.
Here's the complete link for the post in question:
http://fiverupees.blogspot.com/2006/
10/university-life-in-pakistan-and-
other_11.html
Lies, damned lies and statistics!
So how did they get the opinion of the 100+ million illiterate Pakistanis on whether they want to have their hands chopped off for theft, etc. ?
Excerpt from Muslims Believe US Seeks to Undermine Islam
Pakistani findings reported here are based only upon urban respondents (611 interviews); rural respondents were unfamiliar with many of the issues in the survey
Excerpt from Pak govt surrenders to Islamists
President of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), who was deputed by the government to resolve the stand off with the clerics, told reporters here on Tuesday night that all contentious issues between the government and Lal Masjid clerics had been settled.
...
On enforcement of the Shariat, he said “no Muslim rejects the enforcement of the Islamic system in the country," but declined to elaborate. Hussain paid a surprise visit to Lal Masjid, the mosque which administered the madrassas and held talks with its in-charge Maulana Abdul Aziz and his deputy Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi.
...
Militant girls and boys studying in the madrassa had demanded closure of all music shops and brothels and had even kidnapped two security officials as part of their campaign against immorality.
President Musharraf, who has vowed to crack down on hardliners, has said in the recent past that the mosque administration had provided shelter to suicide bombers.
Ahsan, you fool! The question asked was what were the goals of the various Islamist groups (like al-Qaeda)---- not whether Pakis want a strict application of Shari'a law!
Excerpt from Muslim Public Opinion on US Policy, Attacks on Civilians and al Qaeda
Q26-F27: Thinking now about groups such as al-Qaeda and groups inspired by al-Qaeda that have conducted attacks on American and European civilians, please tell me if you think the following are or are not the goals of such groups. Please say if you think it is:
a. To require a strict application of Shari’a law in every Islamic country. Egypt Indonesia Morocco Pakistan Urban Rural All Definitely a goal.....................................38% 16% 38% 35% 27% 31% Probably a goal.......................................24 49 36 27 16 22 Probably not a goal...................................9 16 8 9 5 7 Definitely not a goal................................18 4 9 3 3 3 Refused/Don’t Know..............................11 16 10 26 49 38
b. To unify all Islamic countries into a single Islamic state or Caliphate. Egypt Indonesia Morocco Pakistan Urban Rural All Definitely a goal.....................................37% 17% 33% 25% 20% 22% Probably a goal.......................................23 44 34 27 17 22 Probably not a goal.................................11 18 13 12 8 10 Definitely not a goal................................18 5 8 7 4 5 Refused/Don’t Know..............................10 16 12 28 50 40
From Pakistan at a crossroads?
I FOUND your editorial, ‘Bangaladesh at a crossroads’ (April 20), very interesting. I think it is time Pakistanis thought ‘Pakistan at a cossroads". With Lal Masjid brigade you don`t need India or Gandhi family to split current-day Pakistan into pieces.
Although I am an Indian and should not worry about Pakistan but my friendship with many Pakistanis makes me want to say:
Wake up to reality and see your motherland getting torn apart, not by the US, India or Karzai but your own mullas and hand-in-glove intelligence agency.
I do not know how many Pakistanis would like to live in a world where there is no music or cinema or sports but only public execution at unused stadiums with a gallery full of long-bearded men for the weekend entertainment.
SHYAM
California, USA
On the question of me misinterpreting the data, i'm afraid it's two different questions. One question indeed concerns what respondents think AQ's goals are. However, the other asks respondents what THEY want. it is the second question that was the subject of the post.
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