The lack of understanding among Americans about Islam can be partially, not entirely, attributed to media influences. ​

Part of the problem, Peek found, was the way media will often reinforce negative stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs. Islam is shown as violent, primitive and hateful. Movies will edit together shots of men praying and gunning down civilians. Women are shown as being oppressed.

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It isn't just Hollywood perpetuating stereotypes, the news media has done little to separate fact from fiction.

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Conservative pundits have often targeted Muslims. Two days after 9/11, Ann Coulter wrote a column entitled, "This Is War." She argues that the United States has been infiltrated by Muslim religious fanatics, and promotes racial and religious profiling. She also advocated the assassination of various international leaders, invasion of foreign countries and bombing of civilians. Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity have both compared the Qur'an to Hitler's "Mein Kampf."



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"Billionaires, Bombers and Belly Dancers"