Embassy
of Jordan - Washington, DC
Information BureauMarch 3, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Queen Rania visits Gallup’s Center for Muslims
Studies, reviews findings of latest poll
(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department –
Washington, DC) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al
Abdullah visited Gallup’s Center for Muslim Studies
while in Washington, DC, Monday, to review the
center’s latest findings and to discuss the
Muslim-West Facts Initiative, a not for profit
partnership between Gallup and the Coexist
Foundation whose mission is to promote understanding
between Eastern and Western communities by sharing
the views of the people.
Many of Queen Rania's programs have focused on
appreciating the various perspectives in the world,
finding common ground and bridging the cultural
divide between East and West. Dalia Mogahed,
Executive Director of the center, along with Ahmed
Younis, a senior analyst at the center, explained
the polling process and shared the highlights of
their findings, many which fly in the face of
conventional wisdom.
The research, which first began in 2001, includes
interviews with a representative sample of
respondents from more than 35 nations, reflecting
the views of 90 percent the world's 1.3 billion
Muslims. The results of the study- the largest of
its kind- will be published this month as part of a
book titled Who Speaks For Islam? What A Billion
Muslims Really Think co-authored by John L.
Esposito and Dalia Mogahed.
The poll found that most Muslims wanted the West to
focus on changing its negative view of Muslims and
Islam, and that the vast majority want democracy,
but do not want it to be imposed.
The newly established Gallup Center for Muslim
Studies is a nonpartisan research center dedicated
to providing data-driven analysis on the views of
Muslim populations around the world. It will draw
upon Gallup's unprecedented global research
initiative, the Gallup World Poll and the Gallup
Poll of the Muslim World, to enable global leaders,
institutions, and the public to make more informed
decisions.
Additional links:
Queen Rania:
www.queenrania.jo
Gallup: www.gallup.com
Muslim West Facts Initiative:
www.MuslimWestFacts.com
Additional contacts:
Eric Nielsen, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies
Senior Director, Media Strategies
Eric_Nielsen@gallup.com
