Zinedine Zidane is my type of hero. Yes, he led France to its first World Cup victory. But more significant to me, he is French Muslim. In the final game, he used his head, twice, to make a statement: Muslims in the West are making important contributions to their countries.

Zinedine, which in Arabic means the pearl of religion, was not identified by his religion by the media. Journalists figured that his religion had nothing to do with the fact that he is one of the world's top soccer mid- fielders. And they are probably right.

But journalists still routinely identify Muslims by their religion when they are involved in acts of violence abroad. Worse still, when political groups promote shocking policies "in the name of Islam," all too often no qualifiers are used. Too rarely it is pointed out that what they are doing is according to their interpretation of Islam.

Zinedine Zidane is my type of hero. Yes, he led France to its first World Cup victory. But more significant to me, he is French Muslim. In the final game, he used his head, twice, to make a statement: Muslims in the West are making important contributions to their countries.

Zinedine, which in Arabic means the pearl of religion, was not identified by his religion by the media. Journalists figured that his religion had nothing to do with the fact that he is one of the world's top soccer mid- fielders. And they are probably right.

But journalists still routinely identify Muslims by their religion when they are involved in acts of violence abroad. Worse still, when political groups promote shocking policies "in the name of Islam," all too often no qualifiers are used. Too rarely it is pointed out that what they are doing is according to their interpretation of Islam.

Take the Taliban. They are religious students in their 20s and 30s who control large parts of Afghanistan. They prevent women and girls from working outside their homes and from attending schools and colleges. But Islam is explicit in its teachings: seeking knowledge and making a living are religious duties for both men and women. During the Prophet's life, in the 6th century, women were students, teachers, nurses, business entrepreneurs, army commanders and political activists.

Canadian media coverage of Islam and Muslims poses a real threat to Muslims in this country. Mark Harding was convicted June 19 of spreading hate propaganda after he distributed anti-Muslim literature in Toronto last year. In his literature, Harding shored up his argument by citing articles from two Toronto newspapers that included details about strife in Algeria.

Islam is being exploited today for political motives, as are Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism.

But who would suggest that the German Christian Democratic Party is a religious party? Or that U.S. President Bill Clinton is a Christian fundamentalist because in his first speech as President he asked God to guide him in office?

. . . Islam should not be measured by criteria different from those used for other Christianity. Events in societies that are shaped by Islam must be measured by the same yardsticks. There are perhaps as many interpretations of Islamic teachings or the Koran as there are of Christian teachings or the Bible.

Furthermore, comparing a religion (Islam) with a region (the West)--as all too often is done--is an intellectual inaccuracy. Like matters should be compared: Christianity with Islam, the reality of one society with another, and a country with another.

When Americans bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City, no one suggested that the crime had religious roots or was linked to Western or Christian tradition.

. . . The reserved attitude that some Muslims abroad have towards the West may be based on a number of experiences that do not often have religious roots.

These experiences may vary from colonial oppression and exploitation of natural resources to the West's double standard or military dominance. Some political groups express their views in secular terms, others in religious ones, just like in the West.

It is against Canadian values to stir up emotion and incite hate against any groups. Islam should be treated by the media no differently from Christianity or Judaism.

Mohamed Elmasry is president of the Canadian Islamic Congress. This opinion piece originally appeared in the Montreal Gazette.