The West’s perception of Islam

There exists a substantial body of literature on the representation of Islam and Muslims in Western media. This literature demonstrates that the reality concerning Islam and Muslims is largely constructed through foreign news coverage, and that the thematic diversity of such coverage is considerably limited. The dominant themes include violent processes (such as terrorism and attacks), repression and human rights violations (particularly in authoritarian regimes), and international conflicts (e.g., nuclear tensions, wars in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran). Within this framework, Islam is predominantly portrayed in Western media through an image associated with backwardness, a propensity for violence, and persistent conflict. This discursive strategy has become institutionalized and widespread particularly in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Western media have increasingly adopted a framing strategy that links the complex and multifaceted life experiences of Muslims living in the West with themes of violence and international terrorism. This approach is not limited to traditional media but is also evident across social media platforms. The discourse constructed in the media is clearly reflected in public perceptions of Islam. Indeed, public opinion research indicates that fear toward Islam has markedly increased in Western societies in recent years. Given the profound influence of Western media on societal perceptions, this study examines the thematic contexts in which Islam and Muslims are represented in the German media. To this end, a content analysis was conducted on Islam-related news reports published in five leading German newspapers between 2021 and 2022. The findings reveal that Islam and Muslims are predominantly framed in the context of wars and conflicts occurring in Muslim-majority regions, as well as terrorist incidents with Islamic references taking place in the West. Moreover, the findings show that Islam is largely discussed from the perspectives of conflict and gender. As a result, the discourse on Islam is often shaped through negative clichés and stereotypes, using descriptors such as “radical,” “reactionary,” “fundamentalist,” “militant,” “violent,” “oppressive,” “dangerous,” “anti-Western,” and “intolerant.”