Report indicates 28% rise in incidents involving forcible removal of hijabs, mosque vandalism, etc.
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Across the country, minorities seem to be facing one similar issue: an increase in hate. Data released by the FBI has indicated that hate crimes against all minority races and ethnicities have seen a rise nationally. Multiple reports have indicated the large impact on Black folks and Asian Americans; the latest report focuses on bias against Muslims.
According to a report released by the largest Muslim American advocacy organization in the country, the Council on Islamic-American Relations (CAIR), Muslim Americans in the United States filed at least 6,720 complaints last year. These complaints were only filed with 25 CAIR offices, so the number of actual reported bias-based incidents is expected to be higher.
According to the report, titled “Still Suspect: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia,” the complaints increased by 9% when compared to 2020. Complaints included incidents of bullying in schools, freedom of speech concerns, hate crimes, physical assaults, workplace discrimination, incarceration rights, or placement on a federal terrorist watchlist.
“These complaints clearly indicate that government discrimination and bias continue to have a disproportionate effect on American Muslims and further demonstrate that our communities continue to be viewed with suspicion,” CAIR authors wrote in the report.
Researchers noted a 28% rise in hate and bias incidents involving the forcible removal of hijabs, harassment, mosque vandalism, and physical assault.
About 2,823 complaints filed with the organization were related to immigration and travel, while 679 complaints were filed in relation to police or government overreach. CAIR’s report argued that many people are wrongfully added to federal watchlists due to the flawed process in place.
It also noted the ages and demographics of those impacted. Even popular public officials like Ilhan Omar have not been safe from Islamophobia.
“These complaints clearly indicate that government discrimination and bias continue to have a disproportionate effect on American Muslims and further demonstrate that our communities continue to be viewed with suspicion,” the report read.
Citing the report, CAIR called for the government to take action on “systemic Islamophobia [that] continues to threaten our community.”
“Although American Muslims are making historic progress and important contributions at all levels of our society, our 2021 civil rights data shows that systemic Islamophobia continues to threaten our community,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.
“The federal government must address structural anti-Muslim bigotry in its own policies and the civil rights challenges facing Muslim communities. Everyone in our nation must be able to worship, work, travel, and attend school freely and safely.”
While Islamophobia is not a new phenomenon, bias and crimes against Muslims significantly rose after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Previous reports indicated hate crimes against Muslims rose by 500% in the years 2000 to 2009.
According to CNN, this was in addition to the detention of thousands on the state and federal level as a result of surveillance programs like the Bush administration’s registry of people from Muslim-majority countries.