The phenomenon of fundamentalism is often mistakenly equated with Islam by the European media. Certainly, it is difficult to understand how the various forms of believes, perceptions of regulations, interpretations of the right way of life, all based the Koran can be subsumed under one Islamic religion.

If viewed from the European and Oriental perspective the equation of Islam with the "fundamentalism" clearly requires an explanation of the analyzed phenomena. This is evidenced by the fact that the term "fundamentalism" in the European media has a different meaning than in the Islamic world. For example, in the Islamic world the bloddy actions against tourists in Egypt are referred to as "mere" acts of terror while the European press refers to these acts as a result of Islam and claims therefore a direct connection between Islam und terrorism.