By Zachary Einolf

Abstract: There is currently a dearth of analysis regarding the potential disparity between the beliefs held by Americans regarding Muslim support for terrorism and the actual level of support for terrorist activities among Muslims. Since the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the general perception of Muslim populations among average Americans, both within the United States and globally, has increasingly become negative. The sensationalized media coverage of jihadist and Islamist terrorist activities has fueled fear and prejudice, leading a significant portion of the American public to perceive all Muslims as inherently dangerous. This research paper aims to assess the extent to which Muslim populations worldwide endorse or engage in terrorist activities, with the objective of evaluating the rationality or irrationality of American prejudices towards Muslims.