Muslim nations have seen a decline in the number of people who view suicide bombings as justifiable in the name of Islam.
A new study released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center found that, with the exception of Palestinians, wide Muslim majorities find suicide attacks rarely acceptable. Among Palestinians, 70 percent believe that “suicide bombings against civilians can be often or sometimes justified.”
In Egypt only eight percent of the sample population replied that suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified, the lowest percentage among Muslim countries surveyed. In Lebanon the number dropped 40 points from 74 percent in 2002 to 34 percent in 2007. Jordan saw a 20 point decrease from 43 percent in 2002 to 23 percent in 2007.
In each of those countries, 1,000 adults were sampled in face-to-face interviews between in April and early May. The poll has a three percent margin of error.
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