(SAINT LOUIS, MO - 4/25/2018) – The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MO) today released CAIR's annual civil rights report, which shows that President Trump's Muslim Ban has sparked an increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents across the United States, including in Georgia.
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case against President Trump's Muslim Ban today.
“In the fifteen months since President Trump issued his first Muslim Ban, our office has experienced a spike in complaints of anti-Muslim discrimination at the hands of government agencies, private employers, and hate groups," said Faizan Syed, Executive Director of CAIR-MO.
Syed added, "We do not know what ruling the Supreme Court issue, but we have no doubt what verdict history will render: this ban is as unconstitutional as it is destructive."
In fact, CAIR National’s 2018 civil rights report finds that federal government agencies were responsible more than a third of all reported anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2017. Of these, 464 incidents involved the Trump Administration’s unconstitutional “Muslim Ban” executive orders.
SEE: Targeted, CAIR 2018 Civil Rights Report
The new report also shows a 17 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents, and a 15 percent increase in hate crimes compared to 2016.
In another incident, a white supremacist repeatedly contacted the Islamic Society of Augusta and threatened to shoot, bomb, decapitate and otherwise attack its members. The FBI eventually identified and arrested Preston Howard, a Missouri resident.
Nationwide, the most frequent types of incidents documented by CAIR in 2017 involved:
- Harassment, a non-violent or non-threatening incident of bias, at 14 percent of cases.
- Incidents in which the complainant was inappropriately targeted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, accounting for 13 percent of cases.
- Hate crimes, including physical violence targeting individuals and damage targeting property, making up 12 percent.
- Cases in which the FBI harassed or otherwise inappropriately targeted the complainant, constituting 10 percent.
- Employment discrimination — including denial of work, being passed over for promotion, or harassment by a supervisor or other senior staff — accounting for 9 percent.
The most prevalent triggering factor of an anti-Muslim bias incident in 2017 was the victim’s ethnicity or national origin, accounting for 32 percent of the total. The second most frequent trigger was the perpetrator’s perception of an individual as a Muslim – irrespective of the presence or not of an identifying marker such as attire.
This trigger constituted 14 percent of the total cases. A headscarf on a woman was the trigger in 13 percent of incidents. The Muslim Ban executive orders made up the fourth most frequent trigger, at 10 percent.
"CAIR's 2018 Civil Rights Report provides concrete evidence that the unconstitutional Muslim Ban resulted in more anti-Muslim hate and violence," said CAIR Research and Advocacy Coordinator Zainab Arain, author of the report. "The anti-Muslim hate incidents documented in CAIR's report are an indictment of the Trump administration and its unconstitutional and divisive policies."
The report dataset is drawn primarily from the intakes CAIR conducts each year. With each case, CAIR's civil rights and legal staff seek to ensure the highest possible level of accuracy.
Community members are being urged to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at:
http://www.cair.com/report
CAIR launched an app to share critical “know your rights” information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. CAIR is urging American Muslims and members of other minority groups to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.
For a quick download of CAIR’s civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair.com/app
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR Research and Advocacy Department Coordinator Zainab Arain, 202-742-6410, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..