Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

13 Jul, 2018

CAIR Report: U.S. Anti-Muslim Bias Incidents, Hate Crimes Spike in Second Quarter 2018

(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/12/18) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released an update on anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in the second quarter (April-June) of 2018.

Source: Council of American-Islamic Relations

CAIR’s quarterly report indicates that anti-Muslim bias incidents and hate crimes are up 83 and 21 percent respectively, as compared to the first quarter of 2018. Incidents involving government agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, have also risen by 60 percent in this time period.

 

Editor’s Comment

Why aren’t American expatriates living abroad, especially in Islamic countries, speaking out against these violations?

So-called “moderate” Muslims are always being asked to condemn and speak out against all kinds of stupidities by fundamentalists in the name of Islam. So how  about some reciprocal show of support from “moderate” Americans when their own nutcases and the U.S. government itself tramples on their long-cherished support for human rights, freedom and democracy?

Why aren’t Muslims themselves not calling on the Americans, especially expatriates, to take a stand?

Why are these issues swept under the carpet at international travel forums, especially those related to safety and security?

 

 For the second quarter of 2018, CAIR received 1006 reports of potential bias incidents, with 431 of these reports determined to contain an identifiable element of anti-Muslim bias.

READ the Full CAIR Quarterly Report on American Muslim Civil Rights

The 2018 second quarter report records denial of religious accommodation as the number one type of bias incident. Many of these cases have occurred at an incarceration or detention facility, making this the number one location of anti-Muslim bias incidents in the second quarter of the year. This is the first time that detention facilities have been among the top five locations of bias incidents since CAIR has kept records of anti-Muslim discrimination.

[NOTE: Bias incidents are defined as cases in which there was an identifiable element of discrimination. Hate crimes are criminal offenses against persons or property, or incidents that can be charged as such under relevant state or federal statute.]

The most prevalent trigger of anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2018 remains the victim’s ethnicity or national origin, accounting for 33 percent of the total.

For the 341 cases in which a victim’s ethnicity or national origin was identified, the most frequent was “Middle Eastern/North African” at 39 percent. The second most common was “Black/African-American” at 17 percent. At 14 percent, “South Asian” was the third most commonly targeted ethnicity.

Seventeen percent of incidents occurred because of an individual being perceived as Muslim. A Muslim woman’s head scarf (hijab) was a trigger in 16 percent of incidents.

The report dataset is drawn primarily from the intakes CAIR conducts each year. With each case, civil rights and legal staff seek to ensure the highest possible level of accuracy.

CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Arrest of Suspect in Alleged Bias-Motivated Incidents Targeting Maryland Iraqi Refugee Family

CAIR: Florida Muslim Residents Face Uptick in Hate Crimes, Harassment

CAIR-Sacramento: Hate Crimes in Sacramento County Have Increased By 66 Percent Since 2014

NYC Bus Rider’s Tirade Against Muslim Woman Ends with an Immigration Threat

(READ MORE)

CONTACT: CAIR Research and Advocacy Department Coordinator Zainab Arain, 202-742-6410, zarain@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com