(BOSTON, MA – June 14, 2024) – The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) today announced the launch of its biennial survey aimed at monitoring the bullying of Muslim youth in Massachusetts public schools.
This survey, following the inaugural 2019 survey and its revealing 2021 report, aims to track changes over the years. CAIR-MA seeks responses from Muslim students in grades 6-12 attending public schools in Massachusetts. The survey is a crucial tool in CAIR-MA’s ongoing efforts to redress the systemic Islamophobia across the state.
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
This initiative comes on the heels of the publication of CAIR-MA’s 2023 Civil Rights Report, which documented a 40 percent uptick in hate crime reports and a 385 percent increase in employment discrimination cases in 2023. These challenges were exacerbated following the onset of the war in Gaza, with a substantial and continuing impact into 2024, reflecting a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim violence both locally and nationally. “The context of the domestic fallout of the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and its impact on Muslims domestically cannot be overlooked,” said Corey Saylor, CAIR National’s Research and Advocacy Director.
“We know from our civil rights report that there is an increase in Islamophobia across the Commonwealth,” says Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, executive director of CAIR-MA. “And we know from our community-facing work that Islamophobia doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It impacts Muslims of all races, genders, and ages, including Muslim youth.”
CAIR-MA urges community members, allies, and policymakers to stand in solidarity against Islamophobia. “With the worsening crisis in Gaza, we see an increase in Islamophobia here at home,” says Amatul-Wadud. “The youth are our future and they’re growing up amidst unprecedented violence and hate. Together, we can tackle these challenges and advocate for dignity and respect for all.”
The results of the survey will be used to compile a report that will be distributed to the public, with a focus on getting this data to schools, educators and administrators who work directly with Muslim youth, and those who experience bullying themselves.
“Anti-Muslim discrimination is so normalized that by the time we get to middle and high school, we’re desensitized to it,” says Fatuma Mohamed, Director of Youth Advocacy & Community Outreach at CAIR-MA. “This survey empowers Muslim youth to not accept discriminatory behaviors. The data is a tool for them to advocate for themselves and contextualize their experiences within the larger statewide issues.”
The survey results will be used to develop targeted educational programs and policy recommendations; empower community advocacy and enhance legal protections; and build a sense of community, solidarity, and resilience among Muslim youth.
CAIR-MA will collect survey data during the United Boston Eid prayer at Reggie Lewis Track Center on June 16th. If you would like to volunteer with this effort, please reach out to Fatuma Mohamed. If you would like CAIR-MA to administer the survey in your school, community group, or organization, please contact Fatuma Mohamed at f-mohamed@cair.com. To participate in the survey, please click here. To participate in the survey, please click here.
NOTE: Last year, CAIR’s national office released a new guide for Muslim students and families in support of National Bullying Prevention Month
The Council on American-Islamic Relations – Massachusetts (CAIR-MA) is a chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. CAIR-MA’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote social justice and mutual understanding. For more information on how you can support CAIR-MA’s efforts, visit https://www.cairma.org/.
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CONTACT: Tahirah Amatul Wadud, Esq., CAIR-MA Executive Director
413-206-9839, tamatul-wadud@cair.com