Poll finds IS popular among 5% of Saudis

A recent American survey revealed that only 5 percent of Saudis, or around half a million citizens, view the so-called Islamic State (IS) terror group favorably.
The findings, released by popular think tank the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), were based on three opinion polls that gauged popular support for the group in the Kingdom, Egypt and Lebanon, which are all part of an international coalition against IS.
The study interestingly found that the group has almost no support among these countries, even in Sunni strongholds.
In Egypt, for instance, only 3 percent of respondents viewed IS favorably, slightly lower than popularity rates in the Kingdom.
In Lebanon, only 1 percent of Sunnis voiced support for IS, while Christians, Shiites or Druze unanimously condemned the group.
The polls were conducted by a leading survey company in the Middle East in September through face-to-face interviews of people.
Respondents were surveyed in random regions within the three countries, with around 1,000 respondents per study. Refugees and expatriates were exempted from the survey, translating to a statistical marginal error of about 3 percent.
While the figures come to the reassurance of many, these percentages are still sufficient to foster terror cells within these countries and create unrest, according to experts.
The study also found that 35 percent of Egyptians and 31 percent of Saudis still support Egyptian Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood despite their countries’ stance against the group.
By contrast, the Shiite group Hezbollah reportedly enjoys a 12 percent popularity rate in the Kingdom and a 13 percent popularity rate in Egypt.
The institute concluded, nevertheless, that a lack of support for IS does not mean support for US policy.
In both Saudi Arabia and Egypt, only 12 percent of respondents voiced support for US foreign policy in the Middle East. China proved more popular among those surveyed, with a 38 percent approval rating in the Kingdom, 40 percent in Egypt and 54 percent in Lebanon.
Syria and Iran enjoy a similarly low 13 to 14 percent popularity rating in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt.