ABSTRACT

September 11, 2001 was not the only factor which caused some Americans to openly attack Islam and the Prophet of Islam. Nor was this act of terror the main cause for the hatred of Islam that has been expressed in some American circles. September 11th, in my opinion, was the catalyst which opened the floodgate for centuries-old anti-Islamic sentiments which had been articulated before, but in limited forums and many times in indirect ways. After September 11, 2001, the right-wing in America – political and religious – gained the upper hand, and moderate voices became almost muffled.