Nearly half of all Americans would curtail the civil rights of Muslim-Americans in some way, according to a new survey.

In the name of combating potential terrorism, 44 percent of respondents to a Cornell University survey said they agreed with one or more potential curtailments of Muslims' civil liberties. Conversely, 48 percent of respondents did not agree with any of those curtailments.

The survey, released Dec. 17, also found:

• 29 percent of respondents believe “Muslim civic and volunteer organizations should be infiltrated by undercover law enforcement agents to keep watch on their activities and fundraising.”

• 27 percent believe “all Muslim-Americans should be required to register their whereabouts with the federal government.”

• 26 percent believe mosques should be “closely monitored” by federal law enforcement agencies.

• 22 percent believe the government “should profile citizens as potential threats based on being Muslim or having Middle Eastern heritage.”

The survey also found that highly religious people were more likely than people of little or no faith commitment to support restrictions on Muslims' civil rights, as were Republicans versus Democrats and independents.

In addition, the results suggested the more television news a respondent watches, the more likely he or she is to favor such restrictions.

Associated Baptist Press

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