The Donald strikes again!

“What I’m doing is, I’m calling very simply for a shutdown of Muslims entering the United States — and here’s a key — until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”

These were the words that brought presidential candidate Donald Trump back into the spotlight, and revealed the controversial opinions regarding Muslims.

In October 2001, a poll conducted by ABC revealed 47% of Americans held a favorable view towards Islam. In 2010, the number decreased to to 37%. By late 2014, the number fell to an alarming 27%.

The change in attitude reveals an increase in hate crimes, stereotyping, and discrimination against Muslim citizens.

“I do get looks from people when I’m outside, mostly in airports,” revealed AVHS senior Mumina Mohamud. “‘Random’ searches are never random for me, which I believe is because I wear a hijab, and am Muslim.”

Extremist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda do little to aid the viewpoint of many in the Western World, with tensions rising following the Charlie Hebdo attack, and finally peaking with the November 2015 attack on Paris.

However, many Muslims do not agree with the actions taken by such groups. “Islam is about peace and balance, not murdering or killing of innocent human beings,” said AVHS senior Muna Abdi. “Don’t let the horrifying acts of a couple people base your view of an entire religion.”

“I think Islam is just a religion like Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. If you bring violence to Islam then your Islam will be violent, and if you bring peace to Islam then your Islam is peaceful,” said 2015 AVHS graduate Reem Alsadi.

However, not everyone is easily convinced, with Presidential candidate Donald Trump going as far as suggesting ID cards for Muslim citizens, a move reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s marking of Jewish citizens in Nazi Germany.

“I think it’s very offensive and hurtful that Donald Trump wants to ID badge Muslims and have them tracked down,” said Alsadi. “I feel like he’s the next Hitler in disguise, and what’s even more upsetting is that people are actually supporting him. I’m already identified, my hijab identifies me as a Muslim, I don’t need to stand out more than I already do.”

“When I see Donald Trump saying he wants to put identification cards on Muslims, and Fox News suggests to shut down all mosques in America, I feel generalized,” said Abdi.

Mohamud further emphasized Abdi’s point. “The KKK were Christians, and just because they practiced killing does not mean that all Christians believe in murdering people who are different from them.”

Some believe the media’s portrayal of Islam, along with misinformation, may be responsible for the increase in negative attitudes towards Muslim citizens. “I want people to realize that most of what the media shows is fake,” said Mohamud. “Islam is not a violent religion and it does not oppress women”

“If anyone has any questions about Islam, they should ask a Muslim or go to a mosque and speak to a sheikh, you will get information about Islam that you will not find on the Internet,” said Alsadi.

Despite the stigmas that go along with practicing Islam, many Muslims ask for one thing: tolerance. “I just ask people to have a open mind,” said Alsadi.

“I just want people to realize that the actions of certain people do not represent the ideas or beliefs of an entire group,” said Abdi.

In the land of the free and the home of the brave, many will freely express their disdain towards Islam, just as many Muslims will bravely stand up for what they believe in.