ABSTRACT
Mass media messages have been an important tool for creating public perceptions about social groups. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Islam and Muslims began to be featured regularly in news, politics, and conversations in the United States and across the globe. While the general population may be aware of the existence of Islam and Muslims, their knowledge is rudimentary and tends to be associated with 9/11, increasing chances of misrepresentations and stereotypes, resulting in hate crimes against Muslims and the stigmatization of the religion of Islam (Ibrahim, 2010). Furthermore, perceptions of Islam and Muslims tend to be tied to stereotypes based on medieval Europe, connecting Islam to violence and bloodshed (Abdallah, 2005).
