Islamophobia in the Media

Redefining derogatory terms used in the media

1. Fundamentalist
   1. Definition – A person who follows the fundamentals of a subject.
   2. Not one of the Islamic fundamental teachings are against humanity as a whole.
   3. We are proud to learn and practice the fundamentals of Islam.
   4. The first time that the word fundamentalist was used, was against the Orthodox Christians by the Protestants.
   5. They live by the motto “The end justifies the means”, which contradicts all scriptures.
2. Extremist
   1. Muslims should be extreme in goodness, honesty, justice and kindness.
   2. The Muslims are a just, moderate and balanced nation.
3. Terrorist
   1. The policeman causes terror in the hearts of the criminal.
   2. We are command to strike fear in the hearts of evil people.
   3. Mandela was called a terrorist in the media.  Thirty years later, he was called a freedom fighter and given the Nobel Peace Prize.
   4. The Media is controlled by the governments of a country.
4. Jihad
   1. Means striving against evil within yourself, your community and on the battlefield.
   2. The phrase “Holy War” does not exist in the Quran or any of the Hadith.
   3. The phrase “Holy War” was used to describe the Crusaders.
   4. Jihad is not about fighting disbelief, but it is about fighting oppression.
5. Islam was spread by the sword
   1. When the Crusaders conquered the Muslim lands, all Muslims were killed and mosques destroyed.  When Muslims conquered, all people were forgiven and all Churches protected.
   2. Millions of Coptic Christians continue to live in the Muslim lands in peace.
   3. 80% of Indian Hindus are proof that Islam was not spread by the sword.
   4. Indonesia and Malaysia was conquered by the sword of the intellect.  Their was no war in those lands.
   5. After 911 over fifty thousand Americans and British accepted Islam within the first 9 months.
6. Islam does not give rights to women
   1. Two-thirds of all Americans and Europeans accepting Islam, are women.
   2. Women find security in Islam.
   3. British reporter, Yvonne Riddley was imprisoned in Afghanistan.  She was so impressed by their manners, that she accepted Islam.

How Mainstream Media spreads Islamophobia

1. They will choose the black sheep amongst the Muslim community and portray them as exemplary Muslims.
   1. They are trying to show that Islam encourages wrongs things and illegal activities.
   2. All the biggest criminals in the world, were Non-Muslim.  Hitler killed the most people in the world.
   3. The example of Islam is Muhammed SAW, not the Muslims.
2. Give a wrong meaning to a verse they quote.
3. They quote things that are alien to Islam.
4. They quote things and give it a negative angle.
5. They quote Quranic Verses out of context
   1. “Wherever you find a disbeliever, kill him.”
      1. The disbelievers broke the peace treaty.
      2. The context of this verse is in the battlefield.
      3. The Quran says, if the enemy wants peace, safely escort him to a place of security.

Mainstream Media lies exposed

1. Iraq War and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs):
   • In the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003, several mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, reported on the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which were used as a justification for the invasion. These claims were later discredited, as no such weapons were found, leading to criticism of the media’s role in disseminating inaccurate information.
2. London’s “Burning Buses” During the 2011 Riots:
   • During the 2011 riots in London, some media outlets initially reported that buses were being set on fire by rioters. However, it was later revealed that the images used in these reports were from unrelated events, leading to accusations of sensationalism and misrepresentation.
3. Gaza War and Civilian Casualties:
   • In conflicts between Israel and Gaza, there have been instances where media outlets faced criticism for the accuracy of their reporting on civilian casualties. Critics have accused some media of relying on unverified information or presenting casualties as deliberate targets without proper verification.
4. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Misleading Headlines:
   • At times, media headlines have been criticized for being misleading or one-sided in their coverage of events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics argue that headlines can sometimes oversimplify complex issues and fail to provide a balanced perspective.
5. Coverage of Elections and Polls:
   • In various countries, media outlets have faced scrutiny for inaccurate election predictions and poll results. Misinterpretation of polling data or reliance on unreliable polls can contribute to inaccurate reporting on election outcomes.