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Biggest Problems – Discrimination, PrejudicePrejudice, being viewed as terrorists, ignoranceabout Islam, and negative stereotyping lead the list of thebiggest problems that U.S. Muslims say they face. At thesame time, other problems that typically rank among thepublic’s top worries barely make the list of Muslimconcerns. For example, just 2% volunteer economic andjob worries.The rankings display a consistent pattern:Problems rooted in prejudice, ignorance ormisunderstandings dominate the list. Beyonddiscrimination (19%), Muslim Americans say that theirmost important problems are being viewed as terrorists(15%), ignorance about Islam (14%), and stereotyping(12%). Significantly, an overwhelming majority ofMuslims named at least one of these problems as a topconcern for U.S. Muslims.Most Say Muslims Are ‘Singled Out’More than half of Muslim Americans (54%)believe the government’s anti-terrorism efforts single outMuslims for increased surveillance and monitoring. Andmost of those who believe the government gives extrascrutiny to Muslims say this attention bothers them eithera lot (40%) or some (34%).The belief that government anti-terrorist policiestarget Muslims is much more widespread amongimmigrants who came to the U.S. before 1990 (61%) thanamong more recent Muslim immigrants (40%). However,a relatively large proportion of recent immigrantsdeclined to respond to this question (22%).A large majority of native-born MuslimAmericans say that U.S. anti-terrorism policies single outMuslims for extra surveillance. This view is shared aswidely among African American Muslims (72%) asMost Important ProblemsFacing U.S. Muslims%Discrimination/racism/prejudice 19Being viewed as terrorists 15Ignorance about Islam 14Stereotyping 12Negative media portrayals 7Not treated fairly/harassment 6Religious/cultural problems 5War/U.S. foreign policy 3Radical Islam/extremists 3Hatred/fear/distrust of Muslims 2Jobs/financial problems 2Lack of representation/not involved in community 1Other 5Don’t know/Refused 6No problems 19Figures add to more than 100% becausemultiple responses were allowed.Do Anti-Terrorism PoliciesSingle Out Muslims?DK/Yes No Ref% % %All U.S. Muslims 54 31 15=100Men 59 31 10=100Women 49 32 19=10018-29 56 33 11=10030-39 53 28 19=10040-54 58 34 8=10055+ 55 32 13=100Native-born 73 23 4=100African Americans 72 26 2=100Other 74 20 6=100Foreign-born 47 36 17=100Arrived pre-1990 61 28 11=1001990 or later 40 38 22=100Self/Parent fromArab region 47 33 20=100Pakistan 55 33 12=100Other South Asia 53 34 13=100U.S. general public* 45 43 12=100Question: Do you think that thegovernment’s anti-terrorism policies singleout Muslims in the U.S. for increasedsurveillance and monitoring, or don’t youthink so?* April 2007 Pew Research Center for thePeople & the Press national survey.36 MUSLIM AMERICANS