CAIR Press Releases

CAIR-Sacramento Valley/Central California to Release CAIR National’s 2023 Civil Rights Report Highlighting Education Discrimination and Surveillance Concerns

(SACRAMENTO, CA – 4/26/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley/Central California (CAIR-SV/CC) today announced that it will hold a media availability to release the latest civil rights report conducted by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).   

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Representatives of CAIR-Sacramento will hold media availability April 26 – April 28 by request. Contact: Ammar Ansari at Aansari@cair.com

The 
2023 Civil Rights Report titled “Progress in the Shadow of Prejudice” documents a 23% decrease in total complaints received by CAIR nationwide, from 6,720 complaints in 2021 to 5,156 complaints in 2022. While complaints about law enforcement and government overreach decreased by 38%, complaints about school incidents increased by 63%.  

The report highlights case studies of the effects of Islamophobia on the lived experiences of American Muslims as well as CAIR’s efforts to secure justice for them. It also presents special sections on CAIR’s legal work helping Muslim plaintiffs pursue religious discrimination claims following FBI surveillance and upholding free speech protections for supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement.  

In a statement, Layli Shirani CAIR-SV/CC Senior Civil Rights Attorney said:  

“The dramatic increase in bullying and Islamophobia we are seeing in our schools highlights the urgent need for early intervention in the form of empowerment for the Muslim students and education for their peers and educators alike.” 

CAIR- SV/CC conducts an 
annual bullying survey of Muslim students in California between the ages of 11–18 to address Islamophobia and bullying in schools and ensure that Muslim students have a safe place to learn.  

The Sacramento Valley/Central California office of Council on American Islamic Relations is a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.         

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