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A University of Michigan
survey says more than 75 percent of Iraqis want
democracy but are divided on the role of Islam in
their government.
The survey, involving 2,325 respondents, was
conducted in November and December of 2004 with
funding from National Science Foundation, but the
results are published in the current issue of the
Journal of Democracy.
It said 51 percent of the respondents favored a
strong link between government and religion, while
49 percent preferred a secular political system.
The survey, done in collaboration with the
Baghdad-based Independent Institute for
Administration and Civil Society Studies, said the
respondents came from Baghdad and 16 of Iraq's 18
provinces, and included Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds in
proportion to their numbers in the overall
population.
"The vast majority of Iraqis of all three of the
country's major ethno-religious communities
expressed support for democracy over authoritarian
political systems," said Mark Tessler, lead author
of the study.
The study said the Kurds and Sunnis were more likely
to support a secular democracy, while the Shiites,
who make up 60 percent of Iraq's population, were
more likely to favor an Islamic democracy.
UPI
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