Your Most Trusted Source of Foreign
News and Views About the United States
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Your Most Trusted Source of Foreign
News and Views About the United States
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Coutesy of the Cihan News Agency
August 7, 2005
Original
Article (English) 
Ninety-one percent of the Turkish public expressed a negative opinion about the al-Qaeda organization, known for its terrorist operations.
A poll conducted by the International Strategic Research Organization (ISRO) under the coordination of Director Sedat Laciner and Ihsan Bal revealed that none of the participants said, "I am happy with al-Qaeda’s attacks" nor did any say, "al-Qaeda defends Muslim rights."
The survey entitled "Perception of Terrorism" was conducted with 2,500 participants in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana and Bursa.
Only 4% perceive al-Qaeda’s attacks as "jihad," and 5% think the network fights for independence. Thirty-four percent of Turkish society thinks al-Qaeda harms Muslims, while 57% says its attacks are acts of terrorism.
Those "ashamed as a Muslim of al-Qaeda’s attacks" were recorded at 18% and 31% say they are worried about the world’s future. Eighteen percent think Muslims are humiliated by the al-Qaeda attacks, and those saying, "I am happy with its attacks" was recorded at 0%.
Ninety percent say the bombing attacks that occurred
in London, Madrid and
In response to the question, "Why did al-Qaeda attack
Istanbul?," 40% said, "Because Turkey is the best alternative
to al-Qaeda." However, 36% said, "Because
U.S. President George W. Bush is shown as the number one guilty party for terrorism, at 54%. Twenty-two percent indicated Sharon, 17% indicated al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and 4% indicated British Prime Minister Tony Blair as being most responsible.
Sixty-six percent of participants blamed U.S. Middle East policy as the cause of global terrorism, yet 20 percent pointed to the inequality in income distribution and economic problems as the prime cause for terror.
Only four percent of the Turkish public links terror with religion.
