Tolerance and Risk

Published by: University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2021, 304pp. ISBN: 9781517904852.

Islam and Muslims in the western media, post 9/11, have been projected not only as extremist, violent, uncultured, anti-west, but also as a global threat and, therefore, they are a legitimate target of a global war against them. The traditional orientalist’s perception of the Middle East was already replete with fantasies that was easily substituted by a perception of the Arabs and Iranians as innately intolerant, bloodthirsty and extremist. They are also regarded as self-radicalised individuals who could attack anyone anywhere in the world.

This negative media projection of the Muslims has impacted policy planners as well as the common person in the western world. This anti-Muslim narrative has created a horrible and frightening image of the Muslims. Based on this image, pre-emptive strikes by drones and B-15’s and the use of the war machines have been justi ed by these same Western powers.