Representation Of Islam In The Media

The religion of Islam has become a controversial issue in today’s 21st century. In spite of excessively negative representations by Western propaganda, increasing numbers of the population are pursuing to learn more about the wonderful religion of Islam. More frequently than not, these people are becoming more pleasantly startled by the product of their exploration. In fact, increasing numbers of people are embracing Islam nowadays then they did prior to the horrific attacks on September 11th, 2001; which evoked much attention to misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. Yet, there does endure an abundant amount of misconception and misinterpretations about Islam, frequently invigorated by political policies which reckon their interest’s to patronage Islam 's enemies. Islam is a religion which elucidates the way of life and is the second largest religion after Christianity, with approximately one-fifth of the world 's population and is currently the fastest growing religion. Muslims are existent all around the world and come from diverse nationalities, cultures and races. However, Islam instills that all people are principally equal no matter the differences (colour, class, culture, etc.) as long as they are peaceful and law-abiding citizens. The behaviour of particular erroneous groups or individuals outside mainstream Islam cannot be accredited to Islamic beliefs and practices as correspondingly hostility in North Ireland or illegal mafia activities being attributed

Although 9/11 did compel some Americans to learn more about Islam, it also triggered a wave of anti-Islam feeling that has burgeoned. And though there have been interfaith initiatives, books on Islam, documentaries, education efforts.And shows like "All-American Muslim," polls show that Americans’ negative views of Islam have increased since 9/11, not decreased.

The world after the 2001 September 11th terrorist attacks the had shifted the world towards completely shifted the attitude towards one religious group, Islam. Islam is a religion of either known from the media as religion of “peace” or a religion of “danger. The attacks in the world trade center left a devastating effect in american lives as it created a sense of vulnerability. hatred toward the Islamic religion grew as to the result of the attacks which led to changes in the world. Political reforms had been constructed to prevent any future terrorist attack from, occurring in the future. Attitudes towards Muslims had also significantly changed after 9-11 as racial profiling occurs in US borders as well a rise in hate crimes. Media organizations misrepresents the religion as a dangerous and radicalism religion. As has been noted all these changes toward the Islamic group are coming in a short amount of time, it had encouraged many to question their faiths.

The most common popular opinion of Muslim Americans is formed through an uneducated understanding of Muslim life and their culture. Muslim Americans actually become a common discussion point among Americans post 9/11 due to misinformation about the events that occurred. Muslim Americans are often stereotyped with terms such as, terrorist, violent, restrictive, and more. Not only are Muslim Americans’ stereotyped often, but their citizenship is often questioned and their life style still remains a mystery to many Americans. Many Americans wonder what Muslim Americans’ place in society is, where their allegiance lies, and how exactly they are supporting America.

“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses,” were the words of Malcolm X during his famed 1963 speech. Many believe this quote has lost relevance in our contemporary society. However, on the contrary, it rings more true than ever. One popular topic that has had an extreme influence on our society due to the way the media portrays it is terrorism. Whether it is a tragic event such as 9/11 or simply the way it portrays Muslims, the media tends to sensationalize the fear and tragedy of such events to increase publicity while also depicting all terrorists as Muslim

When Americans think of Muslims, most of us think of 9/11, the Paris attacks, and the war in the Middle East. Most of our generation has grown up with the War on Terrorism. We don 't remember a time before ¨Can Mr. Ahmed Come to the Security Office?¨ and ¨ISIS has killed another 400 People in an Attack Today….” To us, the distrust and dislike of Muslims isn’t just normal, it’s commonplace. Americans took the 9/11 attacks personally while Muslims took the hit, with hate crimes still five times higher than pre-9/11 some fifteen years later (Washingtonpost.com). Islamophobia is so common that presidential candidates not only win supporters, but whole states with their racism and islamophobia. The

Today in America lies a problem that people don’t consider. For many genders, ethnic groups and races, there is a community. For Muslims, a community is non-existent. Ever since the horrors of September 11, 2001, The Middle Easterners have been targeted and stereotyped as people who are terrorists. Americans negatively stereotype Middle Eastern individuals while preaching the doctrine of “equality for all”, ultimately showing their own hypocrisy in regards to the Muslim religion.

Recently, there has been an enormous spark of outrage in America. An increasing amount of prejudice and Islamophobia has taken place in the country, and it is not a situation that one can turn a blind eye to. The social prejudice towards the Islamic religion, especially in regards to terrorism, is a worsening problem that needs to be taken care of today,

With this in mind, in “Islamophobia and the Muslim Civil Rights Crisis”, the theologian and lecturer Mohammed Ansar states, “Silencing: criticisms made by Muslims of "the West" are rejected out of hand, even though they may be well founded. Hostility: negativity towards Islam is used to justify discriminatory practices towards Muslims and the exclusion of Muslims from mainstream society. Normalisation: anti-Muslim hostility is seen as natural, normal and even recommended.” (Islamophobia) These are three Islamophobic behaviors that stem from myths about the Muslim faith all because people are uneducated on it. If the government were more willing to not blow every situation out of proportion to convince society of the false ways of Muslims and instead, they spread awareness of why Islamophobia is a bad thing, the hatred for a Muslims will drop. Similarly, through an American’s eyes, according to the survey by Pew Research Center, 82% of Americans say Muslims receive hate, 49% say that Islam is no more likely than other faiths to commit violent attacks, and 57% say that they receive unjust treatment. (Gregg) With a majority of Americans, who took the survey at least, being aware of the hate Muslims receive, nobody seems to care to make it change. With individuals who have power over society and that have a voice who can be heard, it is

The government and media have a very important role in how other religions are perceived. There are "no problems of free speech," claims author Ursula Owen in reference to Britain, "just a mass of disinformation and abandonment of the responsiblity, by press and politicians to inform the public" (Owen 1). Ursula Owen questions whether the reports provided by the media really do inform citizens properly about specific religious groups. Often news stories seem to strengthen stereotypes rather than deliver a true understanding of cultural norms. For example, Muslims are protrayed as violent and misogynistic when another story surfaces about what is potentially just a localized incident (Owen 1). Is the media "part of the problem or part of the solution [...] How are concepts of culture and identity being represented? How does hate speech manifest itself in the media? How is religious intolerance being reported? How is the media reflecting the contentious debates and arguments about the place of free expression itself?" (Owen 1). The selective control of the media is a type of censorship that undoubtedly creates a sense of otherness. "Conservative politicians and media commentators have skillfully used concern about

It is no secret that post 9/11, there was a newfound apprehension toward Muslims that would change their world for years to come. Since then, research has revealed that approximately half of all British mosques have been subjected to violent Islamophobic attacks. The antagonism has not stopped - and continues to fester throughout Europe, Australia and the United States. The scare mongering from politicians have not helped the situation either. David Cameron has insisted that British Muslims are failing to conform to British norms, and if people are not careful, are secretly condoning ISIS. Donald Trump has sworn that when he is elected, he will implement tighter border controls and rip potential terrorists of their American citizenships, in order to "make America great again". All around the western world, Muslims are feeling like they are having to choose between their religion and their national identity.

The media paints an identity, which is a vital role that impacts the perception of Americans about Muslims and Islam. Media depictions influence the public opinions of Americans that negatively modify Muslim people. The attacks of 11 September 2001 (9/11) ignited hate and anger against Arab and Muslim Americans that posed serious life consequences, mainly due to biased media coverage (Eid 610). The most common explanation for this rationale is incited by the attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent War on Terror. The representations of Muslims are often aggressive, violent, and drawn to terrorism in a range of media such as radio, newspaper, and television. The exposure of media coverage stereotypes towards Muslims as violent can increase and contribute

Patrick Bishop, the senior editor on Middle Eastern affairs, writes: "Western leaders are becoming increasingly concerned by the threat to democracy posed by the growth of Islamic fundamentalist’s extremism." Other headlines from random British newspapers convey the same message: "Italy on security alert after Islam terror warning; Clinton to lead summit against Islamic terror; France fears protracted Islam terror campaign; Islamic fanatic’s gun down Briton in terror campaign" (Edward Mortimer). This is the message that the media is sending to all its readers and watchers about Islam. As we can see these quotes are from articles published which are predominantly bought by working class people. Having a majority of a working class audience this means that they won’t question what is being written as much in fact some may take it as the complete truth which can have devastating effects on society. The reason it can be so devastating is that people who live in less multicultural areas of the country, who don’t mix with Muslims will not question what is being said as they don’t know any better. These newspaper articles have been going on for a while and have now given Islam this stereotype of being a religion which promotes shocking acts.

Poole found that Islam has always been presented as a threat to values held in society, and found it has always been demonised and distorted by the western media. Media representations of Muslims are predominantly negative (2000, p41).

It is no doubt that terrorism is on the rise again and that the results have been more and more devastating. With a dramatic increase in casualties due to terrorism spiking in 2014, it is inevitable that there will be media coverage. With an increase of media and globalisation, acculturation has become more prevalent in our society. These impacts are sometimes received poorly in western countries through news media; “the news has such a control over what we think and what they feed us that we almost have to see it their way due to what they report”1, indicating that the media has an influence in what we are conditioned to think. After big terrorist attacks like ‘the 1993 world trade centre bombing, the 9/11 bombings, 2009 killings at Fort Hood Army base, and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing’, secondary sources report a 17% increase in the responses saying that Islam promoted and encourages violence. This supports ideas that terrorist attacks increase the fear of the religion through the religions portrayal in the media. In a focus group conducted with a group of Millennials, they agreed with the influence of the media; “At first, [when you see the niqarb] you go, ‘oh god’ because that’s what is what we’re used to and those things are told to be bad in the media”1. This expresses how the media tells us what to think because it’s seen as reliable. Media coverage has played a part in their views and how they perceive Muslims in traditional dress, “The media has a strong grip…