The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., reported a dramatic rise in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2023. With 8,061 complaints filed, the number of incidents reached the highest level recorded in 30 years. This represents a substantial 56% increase from the 5,156 complaints received in 2022 and marks the largest wave of anti-Muslim hate in over a decade.
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Notably, nearly half of these complaints were received in the last three months of 2023, following the escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict on October 7 last year. The CAIR annual civil rights report highlights that the most common complaints were related to immigration and asylum (20% of all complaints), followed by employment discrimination (15%), education discrimination (8.5%), and hate crimes and incidents (7.5%).
Comparative Analysis and Context
The spike in 2023 follows a decline in anti-Muslim bias incidents the previous year, with CAIR noting just over 5,000 complaints in 2022 compared to 6,720 in 2021. At that time, the report had suggested a potential return to a ‘pre-Trump administration baseline,’ indicating progress in mitigating Islamophobia. However, this progress was overshadowed by the resurgence of anti-Muslim hate in late 2023.
The report also noted that while 2023 saw the highest recorded number of anti-Muslim incidents in CAIR’s history, data from certain years—2009 to 2013 and 2018 to 2019—were not tracked. This means that the current figures represent a significant increase even when accounting for potential gaps in historical data.
Rise in Hate Crimes and Broader Context
The surge in anti-Muslim incidents coincides with a rise in antisemitic hate crimes. According to FBI statistics, antisemitic hate crimes increased by 25% from 2021 to 2022. The pattern of rising hate crimes extended into 2023, particularly following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. The attack, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 253 hostages, contributed to heightened tensions and violence globally.
In New York City, both anti-Muslim and antisemitic hate crimes saw significant increases after October 7. There were 11 confirmed anti-Muslim hate crimes and 26 antisemitic hate crimes from October 7 to December 30, 2023. This compares to only five confirmed anti-Muslim hate crimes and 49 antisemitic hate crimes from January 1 to October 6, 2023.
Specific Incidents and Impacts
Among the incidents documented in CAIR’s report were particularly disturbing cases. The stabbing murder of 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume in Chicago, allegedly by his landlord, highlights the extreme violence faced by Muslims. The landlord reportedly shouted ‘you Muslims must die’ before attacking Al-Fayoume’s mother.
Speech at schools and universities
The CAIR report identifies employers, universities, and schools as significant actors in suppressing free speech related to criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and advocacy for Palestinian human rights. According to the report, employers have fired individuals who voiced support for Palestinian rights and threatened to withhold job opportunities from students expressing similar views. For instance, Dr. Maha Almasri, a Palestinian American, was reportedly dismissed from her tutoring position in Florida and saw her son expelled from a private school after she criticized Israel’s military actions on social media.
In Maryland, a Muslim teacher faced administrative leave due to her pro-Palestinian email signature, even though other teachers had political statements in their signatures. Her situation worsened when an unknown person removed her Palestinian flag from her car. CAIR subsequently filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on her behalf.
The report also highlights universities’ role in censoring pro-Palestinian expression, citing the suspension of National Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at Florida public universities. The chancellor of the state university system’s claim that these groups supported Hamas led to a CAIR lawsuit challenging the action. On college campuses like Harvard University, pro-Palestinian student groups have faced scrutiny and backlash, particularly after a statement attributed blame to Israel for the violence in Gaza.
In another case, a Georgia teacher allegedly threatened to beat and behead a seventh-grade Muslim student after the student inquired about the teacher’s Israeli flag.
The report underscores the severe impact of the recent surge in Islamophobia on various aspects of life for Muslims in the U.S., including workplaces and educational institutions. CAIR’s findings call for a stronger response from political leaders to combat Islamophobia and support policies to protect Muslim communities.
Overall, the increase in anti-Muslim incidents in 2023 reflects a troubling trend of rising hate and discrimination, with significant implications for civil rights and community safety.
