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... Fairfield County Weekly: I Am Muslim, Hear Me Roar I Am Muslim, Hear Me Roar A photo exhibit by young Afghan girls in New Canaan shows progress for women in the farthest reaches of Afghanistan, but as women there begin to speak out, they need support by Brita Belli - March 30, 2006 Also see cover art ANDREA CAMUTO PHOTO Afghan schoolgirls from Badakhshan province test their disposable cameras.

ANDREA CAMUTO PHOTO One of Andrea Camuto's photos of Afghan life.

PUBLICITY PHOTO Outspoken Afghan parliament member Malalai Joya.

C/O CARRIAGE BARN ARTS CENTER A photo from an Afghan girl capturing the barren, desolate landscape.

CONNOR DOWLING PHOTO Organized sports and groomed playing fields are evidence of a much different teenage life in New Canaan.

There has never been a greater awareness of Muslims in the United States, and never a greater rift of misunderstanding.

As the Muslim population in America (estimated between 2 million and 7 million) continues to grow, along with Islam's popularity, Islamophobia is rising with it.

According to a recent Washington Post -ABC News poll, 46 percent of Americans hold a negative view of Islam; 39 percent did following the Sept.

11 attacks.

Americans who believe Islam encourages violence against non-Muslims has risen to 33 percent, more than double the number who believed that following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

One in four Americans, according to the poll, admitted they held prejudiced feelings against Mu...

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