California: Nearly Half of Muslim Students Report Campus Harassment
This is according to a new report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which surveyed 720 students across 87 California institutions, painting a concerning picture of rising Islamophobia on campuses, ABC7 reported on Tuesday.
It reveals that almost all incidents of harassment occurred after October 7, 2023, and that 65% of students felt their schools failed to address issues affecting the Muslim community.
"Unfortunately, the numbers paint a troubling picture," said Jeffrey Wang, senior civil rights attorney at CAIR's San Francisco Bay Area chapter.
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"Islamophobia has become persistent, pervasive, and normalized in colleges across the nation, and our Muslim students are paying the price," added Musa Tariq, CAIR-SFBA policy coordinator.
Stanford University student Iman Deriche shared how fears of Islamophobia have disrupted her sense of safety.
"The fear and anxiety I experience every time I leave my dorm has been overwhelming," she said. "After October 7, my father told me to lock my doors and be cautious. His advice has become a necessary part of my daily routine."
UC Berkeley student Zaid Yousef noted the normalization of Islamophobia and its impact on underreporting. "Even Muslims sometimes feel Islamophobia is normal," he said. "We ask the larger community to acknowledge this reality and work on undoing this normalization."
Source: Agencies
