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::artlead::Addressing misconceptions about Islam, a notable Muslim scholar has emphasised that a narrow media focus have played a hand in shaping America’s views of the Muslim world, resulting in increasing anti-Muslim bias.::/artlead::
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CAIRO – Addressing misconceptions about Islam, a notable Muslim scholar has emphasised that a narrow media focus have played a hand in shaping America’s views of the Muslim world, resulting in increasing anti-Muslim bias.
“Americans’ understanding of Islam has unfortunately been shaped by the news,” Feisal Abdul Rauf, the former imam of the Masjid al Farah mosque in New York City, told Missoulian on Thursday, October 15.
“While most of the relations between Muslims and non-Muslims are good throughout the world, the things that hit the news are the things that shape our perceptions.”
An author of many books, Imam Abdul Rauf's writings include “Moving the Mountain: Beyond Ground Zero to a New Vision of Islam in America,” has for many decades championed good relations between the Muslim world and the West.
While Islam is not a religion of violence, Rauf said, the media focus on the atrocities of a few have shaped US opinions of the Muslim world.
“When the preacher in Florida – who didn’t have 35 members in his flock and nobody in the evangelical church even knew him – when he threatened to burn the Quran, it was flashed all over the world, and Muslims in the world felt this was what all Americans wanted to do,” he said.
“That’s the kind of thing that’s happening on both sides,” he added. “We have to battle that in every possible way.”
Although some terrorists carry out their evil plans in the name of Islam, Imam abdul Rauf emphasised that Muslims are not terrorists.
The scholar, who is expected in Missoula this month, will give a lecture about Muslims and non-Muslims relations and the media. The program is sponsored by the Montana World Affairs Council.
Chairman of the board at the Montana World Affairs Council, Robert Seidenschwarz said Rauf will discuss mending Muslim-American relationships with local high school students before a community discussion later that evening.
Rauf’s visit holds to the council’s mission of “bringing the world to Montana.”
“Sometimes that world is not comfortable and it disturbs our sense of order and what we believe,” said Seidenschwarz.
“But here’s a chance to address our assumptions and beliefs for which, in many cases, we do not have accurate information, or historical context of events that have shaped our world.”
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::artcaption::Rauf’s visit holds to the council’s mission of “bringing the world to Montana.”::/artcaption::
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::artsource::OnIslam & Newspapers::/artsource::
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::artlink1::In 9/11 Memory, US Faiths Urge Unity::/artlink1::
::artlinkurl1::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/453843-in-911-memory-us-faiths-urge-unity.html::/artlinkurl1::
::artlink2::Hearing Muslim Voices in 9/11 America::/artlink2::
::artlinkurl2::http://208.43.71.196-static.reverse.softlayer.com/english/news/americas/453774-anti-muslim-sikh-post-911-bigotry-heard.html::/artlinkurl2::
::artlink3::9/11 Strengthens US Interfaith Relations::/artlink3::
::artlinkurl3::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/453752-911-strengthen-us-interfaith-relations.html::/artlinkurl3::
::artlink4::New Strategy for Ground Zero Mosque::/artlink4::
::artlinkurl4::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/453312-new-strategy-for-ground-zero-mosque.html::/artlinkurl4::
::artlink5::9/11 Mosque or Futuristic Muslim Center::/artlink5::
::artlinkurl5::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/449251-911-mosque-or-futuristic-muslim-center.html::/artlinkurl5::
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