| Islam is a complex religion, which according to | | | | must be imposed on society for there to be |
| CAIR (Council on American-Islamic relations), has | | | | peace. These Muslims are referred to as |
| 1.200 billion followers from every race and every | | | | extremists and their views are considered to be |
| century in the world. It has survived persecutions, | | | | dangerous, as they are not opposed to using |
| subjugation and defamation since its founding by | | | | violence. |
| the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) in 1440ad. Since | | | | This rift within Islam is not felt by non-Muslims and |
| its founding, different sects and ideologies have | | | | they would never truly be able to feel the impact |
| spread from the original peaceful teachings over | | | | it has on someone unless it is you. Since the |
| 1,000 years ago. | | | | terrorist attacks on Sept 11, 2001, there have |
| One of the most media popular sects in Islam is | | | | been numerous xenophobic attacks on Muslims |
| the Shia's, they display their feelings of the | | | | around the world. Any terrorist attacks by |
| Prophets brothers death by a ritual self-mutilation. | | | | extremists have often ended up affecting |
| This is expressed in ways such as taking sharp or | | | | moderate Muslims. Peaceful and law abiding |
| bladed instruments and repetitively tapping their | | | | Muslims are being made to feel marganalised and |
| heads and/or body, even after they are bleeding. | | | | as if they need to apologise for their religion |
| Though this display and personal expression of | | | | because of these attacks even though the |
| Islam may seem extreme but it is not any | | | | majority of Muslims abhor the use of violence. |
| person's place to say how one should follow their | | | | The moderate Muslims have often tried to |
| religion. There is guidance and there is personal | | | | segregate themselves from the extremists but |
| expression. | | | | the media isn't so kind in its portrayal of Islam and |
| With all of the media focus on the terrorism and | | | | terrorism. Television, newspaper and radio are |
| Islam in the recent years, it has caused a very | | | | quick to point to Islam and terrorism as being |
| real division within the Islamic community and has | | | | related to one another. This misconception has |
| forced Muslims to re-evaluate their beliefs and | | | | caused a great amount of distress and is even |
| faith. The moderate Muslims believe in the right | | | | counter productive in the fight against terrorism |
| for all faiths to live peacefully together and the | | | | as it will only serve to further alienate those |
| best way to show your disapproval over political | | | | moderate Muslims who are already feeling |
| issues is through peaceful protest and | | | | persecuted for attacks they were never even |
| campaigning. The hard liner Muslims however | | | | responsible for. |
| believe that Islam is the only way and Sharia law | | | | |