Bush’s job approval low in poll of Detroit Muslims

Sixty-one percent of Muslims active in mosques in Detroit, home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, think “America is an immoral society,” and about 85 percent disapprove of President Bush’s job performance, according to a report released yesterday.

When asked whether “America is an immoral society,” 26 percent of the mosque goers strongly agree and 35 somewhat agree. Most of the respondents understand “immorality” to mean high levels of sexual promiscuity and the moral climate within popular culture, the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding analysis says.

Only 16 percent of mosque leaders strongly agreed with the statement, with another 36 percent somewhat agreeing.

“They want to be involved in American society, yet at the same time, they are displeased with some aspects of American society,” said the analysis entitled “A Portrait of Detroit Mosques: Muslim Views on Policy, Politics and Religion.”

The report by the Michigan-based Muslim think tank said radicalism and isolationism are not evident in the Detroit mosques, with about 93 percent endorsing both community and political involvement.

More than 80 percent of the Muslims, 50 percent of whom came to the United States since 1990, said they believe Islamic law should play a greater role in Muslim countries, but the report cautioned that this response should not be interpreted as a desire by Muslims to impose Islamic law in America.

Describing the “overwhelming” level of disapproval of Mr. Bush, the lead author of the report said the study represents the views of a typical Muslim in America.

“The president has lost the Arab, South Asian and Muslim vote in America,” said Ihsan Bagby, an ISPU fellow and associate professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Bagby said Muslims are disappointed in immigration restrictions imposed since the September 11 terror attacks and feel Mr. Bush has not “stood up enough to discrimination” against them.

With up to 250,000 Muslims attending mosques in Detroit, 68 percent of whom are registered voters, the Muslim vote could affect the presidential race in Michigan, a battleground state Democrat Al Gore won by 5 percentage points in 2000. Mr. Bush and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry are in a statistical tie in Michigan, according to a Detroit Free Press poll Saturday.

Mr. Bagby said Mr. Bush can win back Muslim support, even though he acknowledges “it will take work.” The study found that Muslims “strongly support universal health care, affirmative action, tougher environmental laws and cutting the income tax,” he said.

Cutting taxes has been the centerpiece of the president’s plan for economic recovery, and he has cited the tax cuts as a main factor in the economy’s recovery.

Muslim scholars say there are about 1.2 million Muslim voters nationally, pockets of which, such as the Shi’ites and conservative Muslims, are supportive of Mr. Bush.

There are 33 mosques in Detroit, and representatives of all of them were included in the study. Altogether, some 1,200 Muslims who attend mosques and 32 mosque leaders were surveyed. Mr. Bagby estimates the total number of Muslims in that region could be three times higher.

Mr. Bagby said ISPU is a group composed of second-generation Muslims “whose goal is to become part of the U.S. policy debate.”

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