Poll: 1 in 4 U.S. Young Muslims OK With Homicide Bombings Against Civilians

    One out of four young U.S. Muslims believe homicide bombings against civilians are OK to "defend Islam," according to a new poll.

    The poll by the Pew Research Center also finds some Muslim Americans seem to be separating from mainstream America in their attitudes toward the War on Terror and U.S. Mideast policy.

    The study found that among the nation's younger Muslims, 26 percent say homicide bombings can be justified "in order to defend Islam from its enemies."

    "It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.

    The Pew poll also found that almost half of the nation's Muslims are more likely to identify themselves as Muslims first and then Americans, with 47 percent placing religious affiliation above nationality.