Arab world predicts decline in extremism and wants greater separation between Mosque and State, poll

DUBAI,11 Dec. - (ANA) - Exclusive research carried out by the Arab News in partnership with YouGov and the Arab Strategy Forum (titled “Mosque and State: How Arabs See The Future”) was today officially launched at the Arab Strategy Forum (ASF) in Dubai on the theme ‘Forecasting the Next Decade’.

As protests rock Iraq and Lebanon, the annual event held under the under the patronage of HRH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, was well-timed to address recent events in the region.

Thousands of Arabic speakers were interviewed across 18 Middle East and North African (MENA) countries on what they feel are the top problems for their countries, is driving regional conflict and on the intersection between religion and politics in their lives:

 
The Changing Relationship between Mosque and State


Across the Arab World 58 per cent rejected their religion being used to advance a political agenda.
72% said their country was deeply religious or somewhat religious, while 66% class themselves as actively practicing their religion
On the effects of separating Mosque and State, the most popular response (35%) was that separating mosque and state would not cause a decline in religious practice.
However, there appeared little proactive support for further secularization in the Arab World, with 83% remaining neutral, unsure or unwilling to take a position on the issue, and only 17% of respondents believing it could be positive.
Iraq and Lebanon:

 

Compared to the rest of the region, Iraq and Lebanon offered distinct results on the issue of Mosque and state. This comes in the wake of recent Iraqi protests which exposed deep resentment at Iran’s influence in Iraq, included the firebombing of the Iranian embassy in Najaf and left scores dead at the hands of the authorities - all culminating in the resignation of prime minister, Abdul-Mahdi. It also comes in the wake of ongoing protests across Lebanon:

Iraqis (at 75%) and Lebanese (at 63%) are the most conclusive in thinking religion is affecting their home countries' political decisions.
 
68% of Iraqis and 65% of Lebanese believe there would be ‘less wars in the world if religion and politics were separate’. This was significantly higher than the Arab World average which saw just over one third (36%) supporting that statement.
 
73% of Iraqis and 74% of Lebanese reject religion being used to advance a political advantage. Again, this was significantly higher than the Arab World average of 58 per cent.
 
50% of respondents from Iraq said religious political parties were a top problem in the country.
 

Future of the Arab World and Extremism
 

On the future of extremism fuelled politics in the MENA region, the most popular response across the GCC, Levant and North Africa (37%) was that fewer political parties would be motivated by extremism over the next 10 years.

On the future of moderate Islam in the region, the most popular response (47%) was that moderate Islam would rise over the next 10 years across the Arab world.
 
Only 7% of respondents across the Arab world named extremism as the top problem for the home country, and just 15% saw it as the main cause of conflict in the Arab world.
 
Most respondents across the Arab world (51%) also supported having public places of worship for other religions.
 

Widespread Economic Concerns

 
 61% of respondents across the Arab world believe the future would be better if economic matters were put above all other policy issues.

Respondents from every MENA region overwhelmingly cited corruption as the single biggest problem for their country, with a combined average of 57% for the GCC, the Levant and North Africa.

In Iraq, close to two-thirds of all respondents, 65%, named corruption as the country’s biggest problem. In Lebanon corruption was named by the most people as the country’s top problem by 53%.

Another major concern for respondents across the Arab World was unemployment, with 42%  of respondents worried about their ability to earn a wage.
 

The poll’s findings will be discussed today (December 9) at a panel session at the Arab Strategy Forum, moderated by Faisal J. Abbas, Editor in Chief of Arab News, British writer Ed Hussein and Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on addressing the future of Islamism in the Next Decade.

Faisal J. Abbas, Editor in Chief of Arab News said: “The findings of this study, which are perhaps backed by the reality unfolding on the ground in Lebanon and Iraq today, is that Arabs will no longer forgive political exploitation and corruption, and religious parties are no longer an exception."

“When you dive into the findings of this poll, perhaps the events unfolding should come as no surprise. Yes, the Arab World is predicted to remain religious, but people overwhelmingly want religion to be a private matter and source for spiritual guidance, not political decision making.”   - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/11 December 2019 - - -