Debunking the Notion: Muslim Countries are the Safest (A Misleading Narrative Promoted by Islamists and Leftists)

I fundamentally disagree with the broad assertion that all Muslim-majority countries are inherently safe or that the U.S. is uniquely dangerous due to its Christian identity. For instance, Jordan is among the safer nations in the Middle East, but this safety stems primarily from its small size, stable monarchy, effective security measures, and lower population density, rather than any religious or cultural superiority. However, it's important to note that Jordan is not free from crime; it experiences petty theft, occasional violence, and has a history of anti-Palestinian tensions.

The Gulf monarchies, such as the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, achieve low crime rates mainly through their vast wealth, which finances extensive surveillance, strict policing, tight immigration controls, and the segregation of low-income migrant workers. Their safety is a product of economic power and authoritarian governance rather than solely cultural or religious factors.

Many Western nations—and several U.S. states—often rank higher than Jordan and most Gulf countries regarding safety, lower homicide rates, and overall personal security. Countries like Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, and even some conservative U.S. states (Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, Wyoming) consistently appear among the safest globally, according to indices like the Global Peace Index and Numbeo crime statistics.

Interestingly, within the U.S., the most dangerous urban areas are often found in liberal states and cities (California, New York, Illinois, etc.). Contributing factors include lax immigration enforcement and certain progressive criminal justice policies, such as bail reform and reduced policing, which critics argue have exacerbated violent crime. Meanwhile, conservative states with stricter law enforcement tend to report lower rates of violent crime.

Ultimately, personal and public safety is influenced more by governance, economic conditions, population management, law enforcement effectiveness, and policy choices than by religious identity or the distinctions between “Muslim” and “Christian.”

It's crucial to recognize that not all Muslim-majority countries are safe; many are highly dangerous due to ongoing conflicts, terrorism, and widespread violence. For instance:

Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen rank among the least peaceful countries in the world according to the Global Peace Index (GPI), often falling in the bottom 5 to 10 due to civil wars, insurgencies, and pervasive insecurity.

Pakistan frequently appears in the top 10 of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), suffering hundreds of attacks each year and significant casualties from militant groups.

Sudan is consistently listed among the least peaceful nations (often in the top 5 in recent GPI reports), facing civil war, ethnic violence, and massive displacement.

The Sahel region (including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger) has emerged as the global center of terrorism, accounting for over half of all terrorism-related deaths in recent years (as reported by GTI 2025). Jihadist groups such as JNIM and IS-Sahel are prevalent, resulting in thousands of deaths, kidnappings, and widespread atrocities annually. These areas experience extremely high levels of insecurity, with large regions effectively lacking governance.

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