Muslims+Misconceptions


 * Muslim Misconceptions **

__ ﻿Top Five Muslim Misconceptions __

1. All Muslims are violent, terrorists, and/or extremists. "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61)
 * Only a small percentage of Muslims are actually terrorists. Majority of Muslims do not partake in terroristic events.
 * The Islamic faith does not encourage violence but peace. (Islam means 'submission to God' and is derived from the root word 'peace').
 * Islam allows fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes.
 * However, they have strict rules which prohibit against the harming of civilians and against destroying crops, trees, and livestock.
 * The Quran states:

2.﻿ Islam opresses women. 3. Muslims worship a different God. 4. All Muslims are Arabs.
 * Both men and women are expected to dress in a modest and dignified manner.
 * Men have a completely different dress code than women.
 * Any garment cannot hang beneath the ankles. Also, thighs cannot be visible for either genders.
 * Gold and silk are permitted for women, but forbidden for men.
 * Men cannot imitate women's clothing, and women cannot dress as men.
 * Muslim men today are a little more relaxed with their clothing, however traditionally Muslim women's clothing are more enforced.
 * Violence towards women and forcing them against their will is completely forbidden.
 * Countries that implement these harsh traditions are going against the teachings of Islam.
 * A Muslim marriage is a legal agreement where either partner is allowed to include conditions.
 * A Muslim girl will not be forced to a marry against her will, however her parents simply suggest suitable young men for her.
 * The Muslims name for their God, Allah, is simply the Arabic word for God.
 * Allah is the highest name and making Him the one and only God.
 * Allah is the same word the Jews in Hebrew use for God (eloh), and is the same God that is worshipped by Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
 * The Muslim population has 1.2 billion members all over the world.
 * This ranges from many nationalities, races, and cultures all over the world, for example with people practicing in the Phillipines, Nigeria, Soviet Union, and China.
 * Only about 18% live in the Arab world, and the most are located in Indonesia.

5. All Muslims are the same and all Muslims are either Sunni or Shi’a.
 * Like Christianity, the Islam faith has many different sects.
 * Christianity has Catholicism, Baptism, etc.
 * Sunni and Shi'a are just the major two sub-groups.

= DISCRIMINATION =
 * Muslims are constantly discriminated for having the profile of the "typical" terrorist. Common Muslim discrimination includes:
 * Work discrimination-Banning traditional head scarves from being worn and breaks for prayer during the day. Even as extreme as not hiring due to practicing of the Muslim faith.
 * The inability to live normal lives in America-Being categorized as "Osama" or an "American Hater" by other who don't understand the Muslim faith.
 * Religious discrimination-Demeaning the Muslim faith and anyone who practices this faith. Also, many other religions are being mistaken as [[image:islam.jpg align="right"]]Muslim and are treated with the same abuse.

Not only has discrimination of Muslims spread across the U.S, to other parts of the world as well. media type="youtube" key="xyiNUIkze78" height="281" width="312" align="center"
 * The European labor market is having recent problems with discrimination towards Muslims.
 * Many people are aware of what is going on but choose to ignore these issues.
 * Simple task such as going to school or work is out of the question for Roma Muslims thatreside in Europe, Bulgaria to be exact.

Acts of Discrimination Along with citizens discriminating against Muslims, the United States FBI has been found guilty of personally discriminating against Muslims.
 * In 2006, the American Civil Liberates Union of Southern California announced a lawsuit against the FBI for what they believe was 14 months of illegal surveillance of Muslims in Southern California
 * The FBI was monitoring mosques in California only because of the Muslim population
 * In a more recent incident in 2009, FBI is still reportedly spying on mosques in California
 * The Muslim groups claim the FBI has sent undercover agents posing as worshippers into mosques, pressured Muslims to become informants, labeled civil rights advocates as criminals and spread misinformation
 * One FBI agent was also reported for threatening a member of the mosque, and reportedly threatened to make the Muslim's life "hell" if he didn't become an informat

Anti-Muslim Organizations Rather than promoting violence, many Muslims today are victims of hate crimes and harrassment.


 * Popular blogger, Pamera Geller, is the director of Stop the Islamization of America which is an anti-muslim group
 * The Islamic "hate group" is now being classified in the same category as the Ku Klux Klan
 * Geller also created bus ads urging Muslims to leave their faith[[image:r-LEAVING-ISLAM-PAMELA-GELLER-large570.jpg]]

Fear of Sharia law in the US Sharia Law is the strict Islamic law. It is designed to guide devout Muslims in their personal and professional dealings, and has been used by the Taliban and others to justify limits on women's rights and harsh punishments, including amputation and stoning.
 * Many Americans believe that the Islmaic faith focuses on terrorism, leading to the fear of the growth of the Sharia Law
 * US court systems today are open to honoring agreements made under Islam or other religious laws
 * Some court systems consider Sharia Law in deciding cases dealing with Muslims, but they do not let Islamic laws exceed our country's laws
 * For example, when a Muslim husband in Maryland argued that he should be allowed to give his wife nothing when they divorced, citing Islamic law, the courts ruled that he did not have the right to do so
 * In various states including Tennessee, Arizona, and Oklahoma, people are voting to get court systems to forbid consideration of the Sharia law

Extreme Acts of Hate Against Islam Everyday throughout the world, Muslims are being attacked for their faith by horribly ignorant people.

HATE CRIMES


 * Report of a white film-student stabbing and killing an Arabic taxi driver in NYC﻿At least three othersreportedcases of violence against Muslim taxi drivers in U.S.
 * Attacks of graffiti, arson, and window smashing on Mosques across the U.S.
 * "Why burn the Quran? Just burn the Muslims." (on Mosque in Nevada)
 * Urinating in sacred prayer rooms
 * Unexplained firing from jobs
 * Hate speech
 * Beatings
 * Car rammings

QURAN BURNING
 * Has been going on as a hate crime since 9/11
 * Pastor Terry Jones of a church in Florida planned an "International Quran Burning Day" along with the Dove World Outreach Center on the ninth anniversary of 9/11
 * Went as far as making a Facebook page inviting all Christians to burn the religious text that is "of the Devil
 * Burning was to remember 9/11 victims and take down the "religion of the devil"
 * Jones claimed Islam was a "violent" "religion of the Devil" and questioned the masses of YouTube if they had "ever seen a happy Muslim?"
 * American-Islamic Relations Council hosted "Share the Quran" dinners to combat the ignorance and educate the public
 * The National Association of Evangelicals did not support the event, and told Jones to cancel



The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) receives countless reports of hate crimes every year and works to defend the civil rights of Arabs in America. The group hold seminars, and conferences to spread awareness and also address acts of discrimination.

Ahmad, Huma. Top Ten Msconceptions About Islam. Retrieved from []
 * References **

A Glimpse into the Life of a Muslimah. Retrieved from http://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/the-muslim-mans-dress-code

﻿Common Misconceptions about Muslims. Retrieved from []  [|http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24muslim.html]

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/eboo_patel/2007/03/discrimination_against_muslims.html

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2011/11-036.html

Tracking Attacks on Muslims. Retrieved from []

Muslim Group Calls Harassment. Retrieved from []

CAIR sues FBI. Retrieved from []

FBI Plants Spies in U.S. Mosques. Retrieved from []

Quran Burning Event Planning. Retrieved from []

Religious Leaders Speak Out Against Quran Burnings []

FBI discrimination [] []