The causes and characteristics of Islamophobia are still debated. Some scholars have defined it as a type of racism.[1]Some commentators have posited an increase in Islamophobia resulting from theSeptember 11 attacks, while others have associated it with the increased presence ofMuslims in the United States, the European Union and other secular nations. Steven Salaita contends that indeed since 9/11, Arab Americans have evolved from what Nadine Naber described as an invisible group in the United States into a highly visible community that directly or indirectly has an effect on the United States' culture wars, foreign policy, presidential elections and legislative tradition.[2]