(LOS ANGELES, CA – 11/3/2023) – The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying (CPHB), yesterday released its 2023 Bullying Report documenting faith-based bullying and discrimination of Muslim students in California Schools.
SEE: CAIR California’s 2023 Bullying Report
The report reveals that Muslim students are bullied at more than twice the rate of the national statistic. Bullying surveys conducted by CAIR-CA have shown that, over the last decade, 40–50% of Muslim students have consistently reported being bullied.
In the most recent bullying survey, nearly half of the respondents reported feeling unsafe, unwelcome, or uncomfortable at school because of their Muslim identity, and 34% of respondents said that being bullied because of their faith has negatively impacted their physical, mental, or emotional well-being.
Since Israel began its assault on Gaza on Oct. 7, CAIR-CA has received an increase in reports of hate-based violence and discrimination across the state, including cases where classmates or teachers verbally abused students for being Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, or supporters of Palestine.
WATCH: CAIR-CA, CPHB Press Conference Announcing Publication of 2023 Bullying Report
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“School bullying does not happen in a vacuum. It is a result of a climate of hate and misinformation that is created by uncontrolled, unchecked rhetoric. Muslim students continue to report that they experience high levels of Islamophobic bullying at school, not just from their peers but from teachers, administrators, or other adults. It is disturbing that students are experiencing harassment in an institution that is supposed to foster education and acceptance.
“Change must begin at the top. We have seen school districts in the greater Los Angeles area irresponsibly release biased, one-sided political statements in support of Israel that have contributed to Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students being bullied. We call on all California schools to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Policy and Legal Director Amr Shabaik said:
“Some of our most vulnerable community members—grade school students—are not immune to the rise of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate. We have seen school districts rightfully take steps to ensure Jewish students were supported but did not do the same for Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students.
“This erasure and dehumanization have allowed an environment of hate and bullying to thrive in schools. We have received multiple reports of biased-based bullying. For example, students at a local school who expressed support for Palestine and wore ‘Free Palestine’ shirts and cultural Palestinian clothing were bullied and told by the administration that they could not wear such clothing at school. One administrator went so far as to call the students terrorists. These stories are just a small sample of what Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students have been going through, not only in the past few weeks but really over the past decade.”
In a statement, CPHB Program Manager Bayanne Kanawati said:
“The presence of hate-related incidents in schools today is not a new occurrence, but rather a long-standing issue that our community continues to face. While schools should be a safe environment for students to learn, feel supported, and feel empowered, CAIR-CA surveys have shown that over the past ten years, nearly half of all Muslim students reported being bullied because of their faith.
“Given the rise in hate and Muslim student’s continued struggle against Islamophobic bullying, schools have the responsibility to address and prevent these incidents from continuing to happen. It is also crucial for teachers, administrators, and school staff to develop an understanding of biases and enhance their media literacy. This will create a more inclusive environment and welcoming spaces for diverse students.”
In a statement, a parent of impacted students, Hebah Farrag, said:
“I come to you as a mother of two young Arab, Muslim, American girls in our public schools. On Oct. 9, LAUSD sent a message to one of the largest districts in the country titled ‘Support and Guidance Regarding Recent Events in Israel.’ This message was echoed and amplified in one of my children’s school communities, adding words like ‘war,’ ‘violence,’ and ‘terrorism’ against the Israeli community. Even though it was sent out after the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza had begun, neither message made any mention of the Palestinians or Gaza, nor did it mention Islamophobia. That same day that the one-sided message went out, showing specific and needed support for our Jewish brothers and sisters while making the ‘other’ invisible, my child went to her school and was called a terrorist for the first time in her life.
“Islamophobia is raging, as it has been for some time. As is antisemitism. As is other race and gender-based hate, and it’s frightening. And it’s why it is of the utmost importance for our school districts, our universities, our city and county officials, and our business leaders to remember the safety of our communities is interlinked. All forms of hate and discrimination and bias must be protected against.”
The findings in the report are based on a statewide survey of 1,135 Muslim students between the ages of 11 and 18. CAIR-CA has been conducting biennial surveys for the past ten years to evaluate the school climate for California Muslim students and to understand how Islamophobia manifests itself in our education system.
If you or someone you know are the victim of a hate crime or incident, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights department at (714) 776-1177 or click here.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil liberties, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com