THIS HOUSE BELIEVES THAT THE SUNNI-SHIA CONFLICT IS DAMAGING ISLAMS REPUTATION AS A RELIGION OF PEACE.

DATE 29TH APRIL 2008 POLLING DATE 14TH MAY 21 MAY 2008

Methodology
The research was conducted using our online panel of 106,000+ respondents Respondents from across the region were invited to participate. 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 A total of 993

Executive Summary
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

Demographics
AGE REGION

*Please note that Iraq is included in the Levant area

H.H INCOME

GENDER

Regions: Country of residence

GCC: 592 NORTH AFRICA: 232

LEVANT: 169

The regions most admired leader

Most admired regional leader

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

Islam's reputation as a religion of peace

Factors damaging Islam's reputation as a religion of peace

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%)

The Sunni-Shia conflict's impact on Islam's reputation as a religion of peace

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

The Shia revival

Factors generating the Shia revival

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

The "Shia Crescent"

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

The Sunni-Shia conflict

The country at most risk from the Sunni-Shia divisions

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%)

Role of Sunni and Shia clerics

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

Resolving the Sunni-Shia conflict

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

To what extent do you blame each of the following factors for the Sunni-Shia conflict?

American instigation of tensions in Iraq

Base: Total 993

Doctrinal differences dating back to the death of Imam Ali and the original schism

Base: Total 993

The revival of Arab-Persian competition in the region

Base: Total 993

Extreme Sunni Islamist groups targeting Shias

Base: Total 993

Sunni and Shia clerics who are using their religious standing for political gain

Base: Total 993

Overall

To what extent do you blame each of the following factors for the Sunni-Shia conflict?
American instigation of tensions in Iraq Doctrinal differences dating back to the death of Imam Ali and the original schism The revival of Arab-Persian competition in the region Extreme Sunni Islamist groups targeting Shias Sunni and Shia clerics who are using their religious standing for political gain

TOTAL
A LOT
77 39 42 33 60

A LITTLE
14 36 36 29 23

NOT AT ALL
4 17 13 26 9

DONT KNOW
5 9 9 13 9

Base: Total 993

The media and the Sunni-Shia conflict

Western vs. Arab media

To what extent are the Western and Arab media guilty of exaggerating Sunni-Shia tensions?

WESTERN MEDIA

ARAB MEDIA

Base: Total 993

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