• A recent survey has highlighted that “64% of students have observed a Muslim peer being bullied by another student.”
• Nearly 65% of respondents have witnessed their school making disparaging comments or posts about Islam or Muslims online.
A recent study released on Friday disclosed that nearly 60% of Muslim students in New York have endured bullying from their peers, particularly following Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, according to Anadolu Agency.
The survey, titled “Feeling The Hate In Our Schools,” conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in New York, revealed that “58.2% reported being bullied at school by another student due to their Muslim identity.” Additionally, “44.7% of students who wear a hijab reported that their hijab was tugged, pulled, or inappropriately touched by other students with varying frequency,” the findings indicated.
The survey further highlighted that “64% of students have observed a Muslim peer being bullied by another student,” and nearly 65% of respondents have witnessed their school making disparaging comments or posts about Islam or Muslims online.
The survey also noted that many students (43.6%) did not perceive reporting the incidents as worthwhile, believing it would have no impact. It revealed that “74.6% of students did not report their bullying experiences to school authorities.”
The CAIR report included a particular emphasis on the situation in Palestine, noting a rise in “anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiments within New York City” following the escalation of the Gaza massacre. “In 2023 alone, CAIR-NY received 555 requests for legal assistance, 43% of which were directly related to Palestinian solidarity, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue,” it added.
The report also documented that 32% of students reported experiencing school-imposed silence regarding their opinions on Palestine, while 13% faced unwarranted attention from staff, 11% from authorities, 10% experienced online harassment or doxing, and 9.5% reported social isolation.
The data is based on a survey of 500 Muslim students, with 91.7% attending public schools, 4.6% in charter schools, and 3.8% in non-Islamic private schools.
