This document seeks to counter stereotypes about Muslims and Islam by providing facts and statistics. It notes that there are approximately 3.3 million Muslims in the US, accounting for 1% of the population. However, anti-Muslim attitudes and prejudices have intensified in recent years. The Quran preaches diversity, equality, and condemns terrorism and persecution. However, media portrayals of Muslims often promote stereotypes. Common myths include that all Muslims are Arab, that Islam is a violent religion, and that the religion oppresses women. Educators can help by incorporating Muslim voices and perspectives into curriculum and teaching about religious discrimination.

1. THE TRUTH ABOUT MUSLIMS
FIGHTING STEREOTYPES

2. AMERICAN MUSLIMS
• 3.3 Million Muslims of all ages
are in the US
• They make up 1% of the
population
• The US Census Bureau does
not ask about religion so there
is no official government count
of Muslim population
• The growth of the Islamic
nation in the US occurs
primarily because those in the
US have children - not as much

4. ANTI-MUSLIM ATTITUDES
• SHAHEEN, A RESEARCHER OF ANTI-MUSLIM PREJUDICES FOR THE
PAST 40 YEARS, SAYS THAT HE’S NEVER SEEN ANTI-MUSLIM
PREJUDICES THIS INTENSE, “INCLUDING IN THE AFTERMATH OF
9/11 ATTACKS.”
(HTTP://WWW.MCCLATCHYDC.COM/NEWS/
NATION-WORLD/NATIONAL/ARTICLE73969887.HTML)
”It’s not Islamophobia, it’s
Islamorealism.”- Public
Transport advertisement.
(http://pluralism.org/religions/islam/issues-for-
muslims-in-america/struggling-against-stereotypes/)

5. RECENT NEWS
ARTICLE: “THANKS,
TRUMP, FOR MAKING
AMERICANS HEART
MUSLIMS”
“Q: What’s the
difference
between an
American BBQ
and an Islamic
BBQ?
A: In America,
Humans roast
animals over a
fire. In Islam, it’s
the other way

6. THE QUR’AN’S VIEW ON TERROR AND
PERSECUTION
• “OF HIS SIGNS IS THE CREATION OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, AND THE
DIVERSITY OF YOUR TONGUES AND COLOURS.”
SURAH 30:22
• “O MANKIND, WE HAVE CREATED YOU FROM MALE AND FEMALE; AND WE HAVE
DIVIDED YOU INTO TRIBES AND SUB-TRIBES FOR GREATER FACILITY OF
INTERCOURSE. VERILY, THE MOST HONOURED AMONG YOU IN THE SIGHT OF
ALLAH IS HE WHO IS THE MOST RIGHTEOUS AMONG YOU. SURELY, ALLAH IS
ALL-KNOWING, ALL-AWARE.’”
SURAH 49:14
“ALL MANKIND IS DESCENDED FROM ADAM AND EVE, AN ARAB IS NOT BETTER
THAN A NON-ARAB AND A NON-ARAB IS NOT BETTER THAN AN ARAB; A WHITE
PERSON IS NOT BETTER THAN A BLACK PERSON, NOR IS A BLACK PERSON BETTER
THAN A WHITE PERSON EXCEPT BY PIETY AND GOOD ACTIONS. LEARN THAT
EVERY MUSLIM IS THE BROTHER OF EVERY OTHER MUSLIM AND THAT MUSLIMS

8. MEDIA PORTRAYALS OF MUSLIMS AND
THE ISLAM NATIONALADDIN ORIGINAL
LYRICS:
ORIGINAL: “WHERE THEY
CUT OFF YOUR EAR IF
THEY DON’T’ LIKE YOUR
FACE. IT’S BARBARIC, BUT,
HEY, IT’S HOME.”
CHANGE: “ WHERE IT’S
FLAT AND IMMENSE, AND
THE HEAT IS INTENSE. IT’S
BARBARIC, BUT, HEY, IT’S
HOME.”
Indiana Jones
The movie features a
greedy sheikh who
wants to destroy
non-Muslims with
missiles and
presents Muslims in
an overall farcical
way.
Quantico – ABC
Drama
This features two
Muslim twins – one
veiled and one
unveiled. Both have
complicated, full lives.
Their FBI team
becomes embroiled in
uncovering terrorist
plots, and this naturally
complicates their lives.

9. TERRORIST ATTACKS ON US
SOIL BY GROUP FROM 1980-
2005
http://www.globalresearch.ca/non-
muslims-carried-out-more-than-90-of-all-
terrorist-attacks-in-america/5333619
“In the 14 years since
the Sept. 11 terror
attacks, nearly twice
as many people have
been killed in the
United States by white
supremacists and
anti-government
radicals than by
Muslim jihadis,

10. 4 MUSLIM MYTHS
1. ALL MUSLIM PEOPLE ARE ARAB OR MIDDLE EASTERN
1. AS OF 2010 THERE WERE 1.6 BILLION MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD. 20% LIVE IN THE MIDDLE
EAST
2. ISLAM IS A VIOLENT RELIGION AND MUSLIMS IDENTIFY WITH TERRORISM
1. EXTREMISM IS NOT UNIQUE TO ISLAM. PEW RESEARCH CENTER’S STUDY COLLECTED
RESPONSES FROM 11 COUNTRIES WITH SIGNIFICANT MUSLIM POPULATIONS. AN
OVERWHELMING PERCENTAGE EXPRESSED NEGATIVE VIEWS ON ISIS. MUSLIMS ARE ALSO
THE VICTIM OF HATE CRIMES.
3. YOU CAN’T BE MUSLIM AND BE PATRIOTIC TO AMERICA
1. THERE ARE 2. 75 MILLION MUSLIMS IN THE US AND A 2011 GALLUP POLL FOUND THE
MAJORITY CLAIM LOYALTY TO AMERICA AND ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE
DESPITE PERSECUTION AND DISCRIMINATION.
4. ISLAM OPPRESSES WOMEN AND FORCES THEM INTO A SUBSERVIENT ROLE
1. MOST CONTEMPORARY MEN AND WOMEN REJECT ANY LIMITATIONS PUT ON WOMEN.
OFTENTIMES CULTURE IMPACTS THE ROLE OF WOMEN MORE THAN THE RELIGION DOES.
MODESTY IS EMPHASIZED BUT NOT FORCED. SINCE 1988, EIGHT COUNTRIES HAVE HAD
MUSLIM WOMEN AS THEIR HEADS OF STATE.
(HTTP://WWW.ADL.ORG/EDUCATION-OUTREACH/CURRICULUM-RESOURCES/C/MYTHS-AND-FACTS-ABOUT-

12. 5 COMMON STEREOTYPES
1. MUSLIMS HATE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS
1. JEWS AND CHRISTIANS ARE LISTED IN THE QU’RAN AS THOSE WHO CAN ENTER
HEAVEN
2. MUSLIMS HATE LGBTQ
1. WHILE HOMOSEXUALITY IS A SIN, LOVE AND COMPASSION IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT VIRTUE
3. MUSLIMS DON’T BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST OR GOD
1. JESUS IS ACTUALLY MENTIONED IN THE QU’RAN AS A PROPHET SENT BY ALLAH
4. MUSLIMS WEAR TURBANS
1. SIKHS WEAR TURBANS. MUSLIM WOMEN WEAR HIJABS. OTHER HEADPIECES ARE
CULTURAL.
5. ISLAM PROMOTES GROUPS LIKE AL QAEDA AND ISIS
1. 87-90% OF MUSLIMS ARE SUNNI AND 10—13% ARE SHI’A. THE REMAINDER ARE
ISLAM EXTREMISTS LIKE ISIS AND AL QAEDA. THE QU’RAN FORBIDS VIOLENCE.

13. HOW EDUCATORS CAN HELP
1. INCORPORATE THE EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES, AND WORDS
OF MUSLIM PEOPLE IN THE CURRICULUM.
2. TEACH ABOUT STEREOTYPES, BIAS, AND DISCRIMINATION IN
ALL FORMS – INCLUDING RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY.
3. HELP STUDENTS FIND WAYS TO BE AN ALLY AGAINST
BULLYING AND TARGETING OF MUSLIM STUDENTS - OR
STUDENTS OF ANY RELIGION.
(HTTP://WWW.ADL.ORG/EDUCATION-OUTREACH/CURRICULUM-RESOURCES/C/MYTHS-AND-FACTS-ABOUT-
MUSLIM.HTML?REFERRER=HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/#.WKJUGBIRK34)