by Sadaf Farooqi

Created on: October 31, 2008

Today, mention of "Islam" and/or "Muslim" brings a scary picture to mind - one of suicide bombers, sword-wielding slayers, oppressed women and intellectual backwardness. It is a sad fact that, since 9/11, the Western world has increasingly been prone to this phenomenon, despite housing a notable, peace-observing Muslim immigrant population since decades.

Wikipedia states: The American writer Stephen Schwartz has defined Islamophobia as the condemnation of the entirety of Islam and its history as extremist'; "denying" the existence of a moderate Muslim majority; regarding Islam as a problem for the world; treating conflicts involving Muslims as necessarily their own fault; insisting that Muslims make changes to their religion; and inciting war against Islam as a whole.

Islamophobia is on the rise since 9/11, 7/7, and other violence-related incidents. The world's power-hungry, selfish elements are using the placard of "Islamic terrorism" to commit heinous acts of terror on a mass-scale in order to achieve personal motives. The media is a handy tool for such individuals and organizations, which promptly use it to pin the blame for such acts on Islam and its followers. Militancy has always existed in history, but today, the word "militant" is synonymous with "Muslim" only.

We all are users of, and to a certain extent, victims of brainwashing by, electronic and print media. Sensationalistic news can not only be used to promote a certain mindset, it can also be used to keep entire nations millions of people thinking a certain thought, or believing a certain mis-report.

This is not to say that Muslims are not fallible; nay, they have their share of crimes and misdemeanors. It is their religion, Islam, however, which is grossly misunderstood of late. Below I have listed the most distorted or quoted-out-of-context issues perpetrated as propaganda' against Islam:

- Men's superiority over women:

Men all over the world, since far back in history, have wrongly-used their superior physical strength over women, for unfair subjugation. If Muslim men do the same, it doesn't imply that Islam endorses this action.

- Women are oppressed and considered intellectually inferior:

The testimony of two women against that of one man, their having to adequately cover their bodies, and their subordination to their husbands are also considered symbols of inferiority and oppression.

- Prophet Muhammad's multiple marriages:
Particular focus is given to his marriage to A'ishah, his best friend's daughter,

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