Saudi Arabia's Image Falters among Middle East Neighbors

(JPost) - Saudi Arabia's image among Middle Easterners dropped, according to a survey the Pew Research Global Attitudes Project released on Thursday. The favorability rating of the country dropped in Egypt from 91 percent to 78%, in Lebanon from 82% to 51%, in the Palestinian territories from 65% to 52%, and in Turkey from 40% to 26%.

In Muslim countries outside the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is viewed favorably. In Pakistan, the country has a 95% approval rating and in Indonesia 82%, Senegal 72%, and Malaysia 63%. Sunnis in Lebanon gave an overwhelming approval rating of 82%, while only 6% of Shi'ites approve of Saudi Arabia.

The poll also finds varied assessments of Saudi influence in the Middle East. Among those who do see significant Saudi influence within their borders, views are mixed as to whether this is a good thing or bad thing. More stark are assessments of Saudi Arabia's track record on personal freedoms. Among the countries surveyed in the Middle East and elsewhere, only in Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan and Senegal do clear majorities say the Saudi kingdom does a good job of protecting civil liberties.

These are among the key findings from a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 39 countries among 37,653 respondents from March 2 to May 1, 2013.