In today's world, information is available almost everywhere. From one's Twitter feed, to CNN playing on televisions in a hotel lounge, to advice columns in daily newspapers; people are constantly exposed to news, anecdotes, and public opinions. Yet this active stream of information is perceived differently by each person. In today's culture, the growth of media and its capacity has heavily influenced the way information is received and understood by people around the world. Exposure, in particular, is what shapes the way people think, believe, and form opinions. Positivity in the news leads to positive attitudes, just as negativity in the news leads to negative attitudes.
After the September 11th attacks, the world has witnessed a rise in terrorism and extremist religious views; views that have tainted the image of many, most notably: Muslims. While many terrorist organizations claim to be acting in the name of Islam, they seek only to empower themselves and deceive the public. In a speech at the 2015 Summit addressing counter-strategies towards global terrorism, President Obama remarked, "No religion is responsible for terrorism. People are responsible for violence and terrorism". Muslim communities, organizations, and leaders around the world have condemned these heinous acts of terror and denounced the twisted conceptions of Islamic values. These misconceptions not only add fuel to the fire of hate from the public, but they also lead to increased levels of societal ignorance.
Militant extremist groups have twisted the meaning of Islam and have led the public to believe that Islam is filled with hate. The direct effect of their ignorance impacts a religion of 1.6 billion individuals who are unjustly perceived as violent, hateful, and dangerous. Muslim organizations around the world like CAIR, USCMO, and ISNA have been working hard to combat these vicious depictions of Islam in society today. United Muslim Relief (UMR), a leading international humanitarian NGO, works within an Islamic ethos to increase Islamic-awareness and advocate for the basic human rights of all individuals. Currently, UMR is focusing on providing aid to refugee families, opportunities for orphans in vulnerable communities, access to clean water, and health programs across the globe.
Domestically, UMR has worked extensively to increase awareness on social justice issues, such as domestic violence and poverty. UMR launched the Our Three Winners endowment project after the deaths of three Muslim university students in February of 2014. UMR also initiated the Peaceful Families Project, in which they train Muslim leaders to be anti-abuse advocates. Most recently, UMR partnered with several organizations around the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to organize an interfaith dinner. The attendees were from all faiths, walks of life, and various ethnic backgrounds. The dinner included a panel, in which four American Muslims shared their experiences of being a Muslim in modern day society.
UMR, along with several other humanitarian organizations, fight the stereotypes that have resulted in unfavorable opinions of Islam and Muslims. The actions of a few individuals have created a reputation for a population that accounts for almost one-fourth of the world's population, who are also among the victims of terror. In response, Muslims communities around the world have contributed to alleviating conflicts around the globe. Now, when Muslim populations are represented as harmful, faith-based NGOs push harder to break the stereotype by advocating for change, equal rights, and equal access for all.
Written by: Isra Chaker, Laraib Mughal, and Gihad Salih
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