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ISLAM AND WESTERN MEDIAMario Kitillya, Sari Houchaimi, Avaantica AshokINDEXForeign bias against IslamWestern view

Historical ConflictsHow it started?The crusadesResults

Foreign Ignorance towards IslamFactors

Muslims ignorance towards Islam

Solutions

The media is putting a lot of emphasis on the few people that are destroying, while it wont report on the silent majority of people who are constructing, building and trying to find their way. I think what we are seeing is a vicious circle: by covering the controversies and the conflicting realities, it creates a much distorted perception of Islam and Muslims. When a minority is being taken as a majority, it creates a wrong image"In an interview by Lars Mensel and Clemens Lukitsch, for The EuropeanFOREIGN BIAS AGAINST ISLAMWESTERN VIEWMuslims are looked upon as:TerroristsPeople who promote violencePeople who hate other religions and their followersWomen oppressors

Many people in the Western countries dislike Muslims solely because of the actions of a few, associating the whole Muslim community with terrorism by taking these actions out of context and meaning.Examples of this:The Young Turks show, hosted by Bill Maher.Oxford Union Debate postulates against Islam.Charlie Hebdo incidentSalman Rushdi Satanic VersesDanish caricaturesWHY?HISTORICAL CONFLICTSHow it all began:The Muslim conquests (futuhat') began in the 633.In the years between 633-42, the Muslim armies conquered the fertile crescent (consisting of Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia and Egypt), North African coasts (all the way to Morocco) and parts of Persia and Byzantine empire.By the late 600s, Ruling classes in East and West Africa convert to Islam.Under the reign of Abd al-Malik, Arabic becomes the official written language (instead of Greek and Persian) and Arab coinage is established. In 710, Muslims entered Iberia (modern day Portugal and Spain). By 715, the Muslims managed to annex most parts of Iberia.In 721, the Muslim army tried to take on The Duke Eudo of Acquitaine.The Muslims were defeated by Duke Eudo.Second time around, Duke Eudo was defeated and Bordeaux was conquered. The Battle of Tours (fought between Abd ar-Rahman from Iberia and Duke Eudo of Acquitaine), in 732, ended in the victory of the Franks (the French), under the leadership of Charles Martel.The Muslims stayed in Iberia for 700 years and their influence on the modern day Spain can still be seen in their language and architecture.

Built in 999 in Toledo, this building is a rarity in that it is in much the same state as it was when it was originally built.It is one of the few mosques in the region, that stillexhibits Moorish elements.

THE CRUSADESIn 1095, Pope Urban and the Kings in Europe started a series of wars called the crusades. They began with reference to the Muslims and their expansion in Europe and Jerusalem. There was mass bloodshed in Jerusalem.The Crusaders killed innocent Muslims and Jews in order to capture the Holy land of Christians and its neighboring regions. RESULTOn hearing of the mass bloodshed of the unarmed in Jerusalem, the Muslims created their own Muslim crusades, in order to liberate Jerusalem off the Christian Crusaders as an act of pioty or devotion towards God. After almost 100 years, the Muslims expelled the Christians from Jerusalem.

In 1452, the Ottoman ruler, Sultan Mahomet II, ordered another attempt to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This time, the Muslims were successful. Within about 100 years, the Ottomans added Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Rumania, and Hungary to their empire.In 1529 and 1566, the Ottomans tried to capture Vienna. Both were failed attempts.They decided to lay siege to Vienna but were forced to flee by the Polish Military leader and his Cavalry. FOREIGN IGNORANCE TOWARDS ISLAMOver the past 15 years global terrorism has been widely performed and acknowledged by the media, and they use the whole Muslim community as a scapegoat for all these wrong doings. The fact is, there are many terrorist (labeled by the media as such) groups belonging to several religions:Al Qaida for MuslimsThe Army of God for ChristiansThe 969 (Buddhist group in Burma), lead by a Buddhist monk by the name of Ashin Wirathu, that wanted to eliminate the minority Muslim community through political and religious ways. FactorsPoliticsEDUCATIONSocial surroundings and mediaView on the community and roles within itWomen in Islam (misconception)

Muslims ignorance towards IslamThe only source that Islamic law accepts indisputably is the Holy Quran.This book is a book of peace and non violence which has been misinterpreted by misguided Muslims. Everything these clerics claim to be in the Holy Book is false statement and just another way to gain power. The Quran decrees no punishment for blasphemy or even apostasy. Misinterpretation of Jihad.All Prophets are equal in the Quran.

All these innovations (anti-blasphemy, stoning, female circumcision) were brought into the literature of Islam as medieval scholars interpreted it, according to the norms of their time.SOLUTIONS HOW TO IMPROVE THE SITUATIONIgnoreSpread awareness about REAL Islam through talkshows, campaigns, adsSpokesmen ambassadors of Islam:Mehdi HasanTariq RamadanMustafa AkyolDieudonn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy9tNyp03M0REFERENCEShttp://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-1-b-muslim-conquests-in-europehttp://www.theeuropean-magazine.com/tariq-ramadan--2/6660-islamism-and-the-westhttp://www.religionfacts.com/islam/timeline.htmlhttp://islamic-arts.org/2012/mosque-of-cristo-de-la-luz/http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-1-b-muslim-conquests-in-europe