Elham Asaad Buaras
Over six in ten Muslim New Yorkers have experienced Islamophobia in the Big Apple, according to a report by the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY).
The report, surveying Muslims living in the five boroughs of New York City, found that 64 per cent of Muslims have experienced a hate crime, bias incident, or both; 66 per cent believe they were targeted for their religion.
The report, titled ‘Feeling the Hate: Bias and Hate Crimes Experienced by Muslim New Yorkers,’ revealed that although 17 per cent of Muslims experienced physical assaults only 4 per cent of victims of hate crime reported it to law enforcement due to distrust of law enforcement or the belief that filing a complaint is ineffective.
The survey, released on September 9, also revealed that most bias incidents or hate crimes occurred on public transportation (44 per cent); at educational institutions (34 per cent); and in the workplace (23 per cent). Of those who knew someone who had been the victim of a prejudice or hate crime, 32 per cent said the victim was a minor.
And 75 per cent of Muslim women have experienced a hate crime, bias incident, or both, compared to 58 per cent of men. Forty-five per cent of Muslim women who wear a hijab have either experienced a bias-related incident or hate crime or reported that a woman in their family who wears a headscarf has experienced a bias-related incident or hate crime.
Asad Dandia, the report’s co-author, said, “For decades, Muslim New Yorkers have been targeted by bias incidents. CAIR-NY’s report underscores the importance of acting to prevent hate and supporting all communities that experience it.”
Dandia, who was once CAIR-NY’s Community Program Coordinator, said, “As a city, we must ensure government is accessible, transparent, and welcoming to support and safeguard communities targeted by hate and promote community-based partnerships. I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders and partners to achieve this together.”
Reacting to the report, Queens Borough President, Donovan Richards Jr, said its findings “show we still have much work to do to combat the hate and bias that is all too often experienced by our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
New York Assembly Member Charles Fall said he and his colleagues are proud to have worked on passing legislation and budget allocations to prevent hate crimes here in New York State. He added,
“Although I am troubled by the continued spike in hate crimes against our Muslim brothers and sisters, I’m glad to see that it’s being reported by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. One act of hate is one too many acts of hate, whether against a race, religion, or sexual orientation. These acts should not and will not be tolerated in our communities.”
CAIR-NY’s survey findings are supported by a July report. The Muslim Community Network report found that between 2019 and 2022, 76 percent of Muslims in New York City witnessed a hate crime and 49 percent were victims of such acts.
The Muslim Community Network survey follows data released by the New York Police Department (NYPD) last year showing that hate crimes against Jews and Muslims in New York City more than tripled in 2021 compared to the previous year.
The total number of hate crimes in New York City doubled in 2021 with 503 reported hate crimes investigated by the NYPD. That compares to 252 in 2020.
