I remember pre-11/9/01 where Islam and Muslims were virtually never discussed, it was basically a religion and a way of life for people in the Middle East. Sure, there were people who used to go "Pakis" "Ragheads" and typical xenophobic slurs but that was done to all ethnics except whites to the same degree.
When the twin tower attack happened, things changed. The government's wanted to go to war so in their interest to ram up anti-muslim sentiment to get people on side
War in Afghanistan went ahead with little protest, especially with Media campaigns leading the charge, and 'unfortunate incidents' like when BBC news showed a scene of sewer rats when talking about the Taliban. Anti-Muslim agenda was vogue and state sponsored.
I believe a lot of the current Anti-Muslim rhetoric comes from this period and it caused isolation and failure for integration in communities as people did not want to be associated with the enemy. It was a constant downhill process, and it took almost a decade later to realise the impact this caused hence a government sponsored effort to try to reintegrate the Muslim community which people turned against them 'see through' these efforts due to their fostered dislike.
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