Islamophobia has been described as a form of racism based on religious orientation and on a groundless fear of Islam. The Islamophobic discourse distorts Muslims and their beliefs while accentuating differences in worldviews and the lethal threat it presents to western wealth, values and a way of life. The aim of this paper is to provide educators with the background information and approaches they need to teach about how Islamophobia seeps into the media, internet and public discourse. The paper begins by defining Islamophobia, providing evidence of its manifestations in the form of hate speech and hate crimes and provides examples of its pervasiveness in the media and the internet before and after 9/11. To help students develop critical media skills, the article examines the manipulative methods used by the media and politicians to misrepresent Muslims. The last part of the article provides specific information to teachers on how to teach about Islamophobia, its history and the subtle ways it manifests on the internet and in the media.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1293.7447
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