‘Still Suspect: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia’ documents 6700+ complaints last year
(WASHINGTON, D.C, 4/22/2022) – On Monday, April 25, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, plans to release its latest civil rights report at a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Titled “Still Suspect: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia,” the report documents more than 6,720 complaints to CAIR offices nationwide involving a range of issues including immigration and travel, workplace discrimination, denial of public accommodations, law enforcement and government overreach, hate and bias incidents, incarceree rights, school incidents, anti-BDS/free speech, among other reported issues.
To obtain an embargoed copy of the report, media professionals may email: hshahbaz@cair.com
WHAT: CAIR News Conference to Release New Civil rights Report, ‘Still Suspect: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia’
WHEN: Monday, April 25, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
CAIR’s new civil rights report seeks to illustrate the impacts of severe structural and interpersonal Islamophobia in the United States. For example, CAIR documented 679 complaints pertaining to law enforcement and government overreach, which included reports about the government’s terrorism watchlist, which falsely stigmatizes hundreds of thousands of people, especially Muslims, including American citizens, as “known or suspected terrorists” based on broad criteria and interpretations without any semblance of due process.
The report also catalogs a list of anti-Muslim incidents across the nation in 2021 ranging from hate crimes/bias incidents, forcible removal of hijabs, employment discrimination, mosque vandalisms, school bullying, and intimidation.
In a statement, CAIR’s National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“Although American Muslims are making historic progress and important contributions at all levels of our society, our 2021 civil rights data shows that systemic Islamophobia continues to threaten our community. The federal government must address structural anti-Muslim bigotry in its own policies and the civil rights challenges facing Muslim communities. Everyone in our nation must be able to worship, work, travel, and attend school freely and safely.”
In 2020, Washington, D.C., based CAIR received 6,144 complaints involving discrimination, harassment, bullying, physical assaults, and other incidents nationwide. Last year, CAIR released a report documenting that data.
SEE: 2021 Civil Rights Report: Resilience in the Face of Hate
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com