The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, in July 2021 released a mid-year report highlighting serious cases of anti-Muslim incidents that occurred in the United States during the first seven months of 2021.
CAIR typically publishes an annual report tracking hate crimes and bias incidents. The organization decided to release a mid-year "snapshot report" because of a spike in May and June, Robert McCaw, CAIR's government affairs director, told CNN.
The hundreds of anti-Muslim incidents include hate crimes, harassment, school bullying, discrimination and hate speech.
CAIR documented a spike in anti-Muslim incidents in May and June, including four at mosques in May alone. Those cases involved vandalism, harassment towards women who wear hijab or headscarf and an attempted stabbing.
Remembrance and Resilience
Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations has released a survey report to mark the twentieth anniversary. Titled "Remembrance and Resilience: American Muslims Twenty Years After 9/11," this educational report reviews and analyzes the ways 9/11 has impacted the Muslim community in the United States.
Key research findings of the Survey are:1. 63% of American Muslims believe that American media coverage of Muslims has not become more accurate in the years since 9/11.
2. 40% of respondents said that they are frequently stopped for extra screening or questioning at airports [strongly agree (20%) and agree (20%)]. This number is on par with the amount of complaints CAIR receives concerning immigration and travel related issues.
3. 95% of Muslims said that when they hear negative comments about Islam and Muslims, they always (45%) or sometimes (50%) speak out.
4. 69% of our respondents said that they have personally experienced one or more incidents of anti-Muslim bigotry or discrimination since 9/11. Moreover, 83% said that they know a Muslim who has personally experienced anti-Muslim bigotry or discrimination since 9/11.
5. 79% of our respondents said that they witnessed or experienced increased anti-Muslim bigotry after the 9/11 attacks. 69% said that they witnessed or experienced it after President Trump's Muslim Ban and 51% stated that they witnessed or experienced it after the invasion of Iraq. [Note: Respondents were asked to check all that apply].
6. 34% of those surveyed said that anti-Muslim rhetoric in the years since 9/11 has had an impact on their mental health [strongly agree (14%) and agree (20%)].
7. 47% of Muslims reported feeling comfortable requesting a religious accommodation at school or work. 19% said that they feel somewhat comfortable while 19% do not feel comfortable.
8. African American Muslims are more likely to be comfortable requesting a religious accommodation at school or work (58% strongly agree or agree) and more likely to always feel comfortable wearing Islamic religious attire in public (52%) than other ethnic groups in the American Muslim community, including respondents who identify as White, African, Arab, South Asian, etc.
9. 72% of Muslim women have personally experienced one or more incidents of anti-Muslim bigotry or discrimination since 9/11, compared to 67% of Muslim men. Muslim women also reported feeling less accepted in American society (56%) compared to Muslim men (65%).
10. 63% of Muslims report that their mosques have engaged in increased interfaith work since 9/11.
The CAIR survey was based on 1,338 responses from different walks of life in the Muslim community.
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