CAIR CALIFORNIA | Greater Los Angeles Area

Case Highlights

Hate Crime | Mar 03, 2011

While shopping at a grocery store close to campus, a student at UC-Irvine was harassed and physically assaulted by a man who said that he did not like her wearing her hijab. He then proceeded to push the victim and hit her on the head.

School Bullying | Mar 14, 2011

A 6th grade girl in Pomona has been the victim of harassment and bullying by one of her classmates and also the classmate’s father. The father allegedly sang Christian gospel songs when he saw her, knowing that the girl is Muslim, and was banned from the school grounds in previous years because of these incidents. The school’s new principle has lifted the ban and he has started harassing the girl again. His daughter has also told the victim that “Muslims are going to hell” and generally made the victim fearful to go to school.

Employment | Mar 01, 2011

A Muslim woman working for a company in Los Angeles reported derogatory comments about Arabs and Muslims made by one of her supervisors. During one staff meeting in front of her coworkers she said that the victim’s name sounded like “the name of someone who would fly a plane into a building.” In the past the same woman also made a discriminatory remark to a Jewish employee about their religion.

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Preventing Bullying and Harassment in Schools

As we start off another school year, CAIR-LA is providing the following information as a resource to our parents and students who may encounter discrimination or harassment in a school setting. Some of those most hard hit by harassment are also the most vulnerable of the Muslim community - our children.

Under the First Amendment, students have a right to practice their religion free from discrimination and harassment. Their rights are also protected under various federal and state laws. This brief guide is intended to help you understand your rights at school and assist you in dealing with harassment by fellow students and teachers.

Parents and students need to establish open dialogue and make sure they communicate with each other in order to properly address any of the following issues. Remember to keep each other apprised of positive and negative developments, large or small.

Please take a moment now to review information in our "Preventing Bullying and Harassment in Schools" guide on the left under Resources.