By Khalida Sarwari
The Council on American-Islamic Relations today released a report indicating a sharp decline in hate crime violence but a rise in discrimination with nearly 200 complaints reported in the Bay Area last year.
The annual U.S. Muslim Civil Rights Report, titled “Seeking Full Inclusion,” is a chronicle of complaints the organization received in 2008 from Muslims across the country about discrimination, anti-Muslim violence and harassment.
At a news conference at the Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara today, Zahra Billoo, the programs and outreach director for the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of CAIR, said the report serves to recognize the existence of the problem of civil rights violations before taking steps toward creating dialogue and developing empowerment within Muslim
communities.
“In a post 9-11 era where FBI harassment and hate crimes are more frequently occurring against Muslims than ever before this report is important in that it brings the larger picture full circle,” she alleged.
California accounted for 18 percent of the 2,728 total complaints received. The San Francisco chapter received around 200 complaints compared to 261 in 2007.
The report reveals that in the Bay Area, Muslims reported being verbally or physically harassed, perceived to be discriminated against, singled out for questioning, or subject to delays in the immigration and naturalization process due to their religious and or ethnic identity. Bay
Area Muslims reported experiencing discrimination in airports, schools, in government agencies and in the workplace.
Compared to 2007, there was a 24-percent increase in complaints involving government agencies, including reports of workplace harassment due to race or religion, discrimination relating to the head covering or beard and denial of requests for prayer or other religious accommodation.
Hate incidents, however, were down 73 percent, from 37 in 2007 to 10 in 2008.
Altogether 2,728 complaints were reported nationwide, with 80 percent of all incidents reported in the states of California, Illinois, New York, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. According to the report, complaints have increased by 3 percent compared to 2007 and by 11 percent compared to 2006.
The report calls for elected and public officials to unequivocally condemn anti-Islam bias, for Muslims and their institutions to report negative incidents and also reach out to fellow Americans to enhance their understanding of Islam. CAIR also recommends cultural sensitivity training in
the workplace and in schools, as well as anti-discrimination campaigns by government agencies.
CAIR is a Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization with 35 chapters across the country and four chapters in California.