One of the main topics addressed last week in a panel discussion at Bowling Green State University was
how people, often those in the media, "dehumanize" Muslims and degrade the Islamic faith.
The panel discussion, "Media coverage of terror in the name of religion" was held at BGSU and
featured Charles Kimball, Salam Al-Marayati and Jamie Tarabay.
Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles, said the media portrays those
of the Islamic faith in a negative light and tries to categorize all dealings with an "us versus
them" slant.
"This is dehumanization of Muslims," he said. "They are not humans, they are they, and
they are not part of us."
This leads to several misconceptions about Muslims. He said Americans generally believe "they"
(the Muslims) hate us.
Rather, Al-Marayati says when speaking with those of Muslim faith, they cannot understand why Americans
hate them and why, in their perception, the world has abandoned them.
Tarabay, a journalist with National Public Radio, says the proliferation of news and news channels on
cable television as well as on the Internet, can be both a good and bad thing; the good being the
popularity and vast sites for an examination of events. However, she says, "This is a time when you
can choose your news."
At first, it may sound good, yet she says most people only want to focus on a station that shares their
perspective, far too many are not getting a true picture of the news.
Kimball, the director of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma, added far too often the
religious perspective is shared on news broadcasts, and in fact dominated by "the most shrill
voices."
Looking for sound bytes, the media often focuses on those who can deliver their message in short, concise
remarks, rather than devoting time to a lengthy discussion where more details can be brought to light.

Imam Farooq Aboelzahab, who leads the Islamic Center of Great Toledo located in Perrysburg, did not
attend the panel discussion. However, he shared the views of the panel when contacted by phone this
week.
As Tarabay said far too often the Islamic viewpoint is never shared in a news item or discussion about
the faith.
"When they misrepresent or ignore the Islamic view, it shows a lot about their bias,"
Aboelzahab said. "It is very sad they portray Islam in a wrong way. That has been that way for a
long, long time."
He agrees people of his faith are often dehumanized in media reports.
"They are distorting the community and the image of Islam. It shows a great disrespect for the
community at large," he said.
He does believe, however, things are changing as people are learning more and more about Islam and what
people actually believe. He says most people now realize that most Muslims share the same values as
themselves.
"If they keep repeating the same misinformation and the stereotypes about Islam – ideas from the
Middle Ages – they are going to lose people’s interests," he added. "They lie about Islam,
then come to believe it."
Tarabay suggested the best way to combat the media’s images is to meet with and talk with the Muslim next
door or the store owner down the street.
For example, stop in at South Side 6 on South Main in Bowling Green, where you will find So Shaheen, who
operates the store along with his wife, Amal.
This month marks 19 years of operation for Shaheen. He knows of what Tarabay speaks.
"Locally, my community is very supportive," he said noting the great diversity in his customers
and friends.
In his business he does not see much, if any, negative reaction to him, his family or others of his
faith. But when he goes home to watch the news, "it is very negative."
He said, especially Fox News, which he says he quickly turns off.
"When people know you on a personal level, it doesn’t matter. Everybody knows I’m Muslim and it does
not matter," he said.
He emphasized his friends, neighbors and customers also know he will not do anything to threaten anyone.

Shaheen, who was born in the U.S. but raised in Lebanon, worships at the Islamic Center.
He says his customers come in and see pictures of him and his family at Cedar Point, like many other
American families.
Both he and Amal, say the real key is educating people, and doing it on a personal level.
The family does that one-on-one as they go about their lives, keeping a human face connected with the
Islamic faith.
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story for more information about the Islamic faith.