Two thirds of residents condemn terror attacks as unjustified

ABU DHABI // Most UAE residents condemn terrorist attacks - but Emiratis and Arabs are less likely to do so for September 11, 2001.

About two thirds of respondents to the Al Aan TV/The National survey said any such acts were unjustified, whether in the case of the September 11 attacks (64 per cent) or attacks on civilians (68 per cent) or government officials or institutions (64 per cent).

Half (51 per cent) of Emiratis and a similar number (57 per cent) of Arab expatriates said the September 11 attacks were not justified, compared with almost all (91 per cent) of westerners and two thirds (68 per cent) of Asians. But Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, an Emirati political scientist, said the results contrasted with Emiratis' "moderate disposition". "This finding is just not consistent," he said.

There was a stronger consensus among Emiratis and Arab expatriates that attacks on civilians or governments were unjustified - 68 per cent and 70 per cent for Emiratis, respectively, and 78 per cent and 71 per cent for Arab expatriates.

Among westerners and Asians, the figures were 85 per cent and 66 per cent, and 61 per cent and 59 per cent.

Respondents who were male, working, wealthier and older tended to see any such attacks as unjustified.

chuang@thenational.ae