The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the publication of a new report documenting faith-based bullying and discrimination of Muslim students in California schools. The report reveals that Muslim students are bullied at more than twice the rate of the national statistic.
The report is based on findings from a statewide survey of 1,135 Muslim students between the ages of 11 and 18. CAIR California (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 the education system.
SEE: CAIR-CA’s 2023 Bullying Report
Almost half of respondents reported feeling unsafe, unwelcome, or uncomfortable at school because of their Muslim identity. Thirty-four percent of respondents also reported that being bullied because they are Muslim has negatively impacted their physical, mental, or emotional well-being.
Since Oct. 7, CAIR-SFBA and CAIR-CA offices in the Greater Los Angeles Area, Sacramento Valley/Central California, and San Diego have all received multiple reports of hate-based violence and discrimination. These reports include cases where children are being verbally abused by classmates or teachers at schools because they are Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, or pro-Palestine supporters.
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said:
“The rate of bullying and discrimination faced by Muslim students in California schools, particularly since Oct. 7, is alarming. The report’s findings are a stark reminder that our work to combat Islamophobia and create safe education environments for all is far from over. We must address these issues head-on to ensure that every student can learn without fear or prejudice.”
CAIR-CA recently released a guide that contains practical advice for both students and their families on how to recognize bullying when they experience or witness it and how to advocate for themselves in response.
SEE: CAIR’s Guide to Addressing Bullying and Bias in Schools
Washington, D.C., based CAIR has released a guide for students facing Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bigotry in schools in the aftermath of the Israeli government’s assault on Gaza.
SEE: CAIR’s Guide for Students Speaking Out Against Islamophobia and for Palestinian Rights
SEE: Guidance for Students Targeted in Response to Palestine Rights Advocacy – Islamophobia
SEE ALSO: CAIR-SFBA’s Report an Incident Form