2014 Poll: 13% Of Syrian Refugees Are Islamic State Supporters

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

American Enterprise Institute: Poll: 13% of Syrian refugees are ISIS sympathizers

Poll: A November 2014 study from the Arab Opinion Index team of the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies finds that the vast majority of Syrian refugees have a negative view of ISIS, with 83% saying their view the group is “negative” or “negative to some extent.”

However, a disturbing subset of 13% of Syrian refugees say their view of ISIS is “positive” or “positive to some extent.”

Here is the chart:

WNU Editor: I spent some time reading the report, and learning as much as I can on who and what is the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. The report is here. The official website of the organization that posted this report is here. While preparing my comment I came across this post by Daniel Marans from the Huffington Post who sums up this poll correctly .... "Context is key". His post and excellent analysis on this poll is at the following link .... What You Need To Know About Syrian Refugees Who Have 'Positive' Views Of ISIS (Daniel Marans, Huffington Post).

As to what is my take .... this poll is out of date (it was was done in 2014). The sample size is too small. The conflict and dynamics on the ground have completely changed ... which this poll does not take into account. And .... these refugees are fleeing the Islamic State, not rushing to join it and to give it support (which is what dedicated supporters will be compelled to do). And while I am sure that there may be some ISIS sympathisers .... I suspect that it has more to do with their hatred of Assad, rather than their support of ISIS. On the positive side .... the mass majority in this poll sample made it very clear that they hate the Islamic State .... and it is with that happy thought that I will end this post.