The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, testified yesterday before the Maryland State Board of Education on the pressing need for swift action to address the alarming rise of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bigotry in public schools across the state.
Video: CAIR Testimony at MSBOE Hearing
READ CAIR’S TESTIMONY.
One of the cases highlighted during the testimony was a Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) World History teacher who is now being investigated for reportedly teaching an Islamophobic presentation to students earlier this month that was pulled from anti-Muslim sites and parroted misleading and false information about Islam and Muslims.
In her testimony, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said in part:
“As advocates, educators and policymakers, we must ask ourselves: how do we ensure that our schools and institutions are safe spaces for students? MSDE plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational environment in our state. [CAIR is] urging you to take swift and comprehensive actions to implement stronger policies against discrimination and bullying, enhance First Amendment protections, and provide mandatory education and training for staff and students to combat Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bigotry. We are also urging you to address underreporting of incidents which remains a major concern.
“October is Statewide bullying Prevention Month, and we request you to emphasize anti-bullying campaigns and initiatives across all school systems to help raise awareness. As an addendum to this testimony, you‘ve received a full list of recommendations from my organization below on steps we are seeking from you to help address these very serious concerns.”
CAIR has provided the following policy recommendations to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE):
- Mandatory anti-bias and cultural competency training for educators and students
- Stronger anti-bullying policies
- Safe spaces and culturally competent counseling for Muslim and Arab students
- Enhanced First Amendment protections for students including on free speech and freedom of expression
- Improved data collection and transparency
- Development of inclusive curriculum
- Accountability measures for schools and educators
- Increased parent and community engagement
Last month, CAIR announced new civil rights data on issues impacting Muslim and Arab communities in Maryland. That data highlights a troubling trend in reports of discrimination, free speech violations, hate bias incidents and bullying, among other concerns. CAIR documented 413 cases of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian complaints, incidents and requests for assistance statewide in Maryland between January – June 2024
From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
Earlier this year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
CAIR offers an updated “Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices” guide contains information on Muslim religious practices, dietary needs, as well as tips on curriculum issues and family life sex education in K-12 settings.
SEE: CAIR’s Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
CAIR’s New Jersey chapter recently released an updated Back-to-School Resource Guide for public school students and educators in grades K-12. The 2024-25 school resource guide provides Muslim students and their parents or guardians as well as educators with tools to address a wide range of topics that touch the daily lives of Muslims in classrooms.
CAIR is America’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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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com