Majorities of Muslims in every country surveyed also say it is at least somewhat important to them to live in a country that has freedom of speech, freedom of the press, an impartial judiciary and honest elections where voters have the choice of at least two political parties. But with the exception of Turkey (where slightly more Muslims say that having an impartial judiciary is very important than say the same for religious freedom), the number of Muslims saying it is very important to them to live in a country with religious freedom matches or exceeds the number who say the same for these other rights.

Many Muslims around the world also express support for the separation of mosque and state. Indeed, the same surveys reveal that in all of the countries with large Muslim populations, majorities of Muslims agree with the statement that “religion is a matter of personal faith and should be kept separate from government policy.” And in several countries, including Turkey, Mali, Uganda, Senegal and Tanzania, more than two-thirds of Muslims completely agree with this sentiment.

At the same time, though, many Muslims around the world endorse the idea that religious leaders should play a more prominent role in politics. Indeed, in seven countries, majorities of Muslims (ranging from 51% in Indonesia to 91% in Nigeria) say that “religious leaders should play a larger role in politics.” Even in relatively secular Turkey, 40% express this view.

Women’s Rights

Muslims in many countries express relatively high levels of support for providing freedom and opportunities to women. Indeed, majorities of Muslims in every country surveyed by the Pew Research Center, with the exceptions of Nigeria and Uganda, agree that “women should have the right to decide if they wear a veil.” In Lebanon, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Mali, at least three-in-four Muslims endorse this point of view.

Similarly, majorities of Muslims in every country surveyed say that women should be able to work outside the home. In five countries (Lebanon, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Mali and Senegal), majorities of Muslims express complete agreement with this point of view.

This support for gender equality is not unqualified, however. Majorities of Muslims in Jordan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Mali and Nigeria, for instance, say that there should be restrictions on men and women being employed in the same workplace.

Similarly, the Pew Research Center asked the publics of 44 countries in 2002 about the kind of marriage they would prefer: one where the husband provides for the family while the wife takes care of the house and children; or one where the husband and wife both have jobs and take care of the house and family. In four countries -- Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan and Jordan -- at least half of Muslims preferred the type of marriage where the husband provides for the family while the wife takes care of the house and children. Among the general publics in every American, European and African country, by contrast, fewer than half expressed support for this position.

The Washington-based Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan “fact tank” with seven projects that provide information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. This analysis by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life was based on 2002 surveys by the Pew Global Attitudes Project.