PRESS RELEASE
CAIR-WA Launches Statewide Survey to Track Anti-Muslim Bullying in Washington
(SEATTLE, WA, 10/30/18) -
The Council on American-Islamic Relations -- Washington (CAIR-WA), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization,
launched a survey
to track anti-Muslim bullying in Washington state.
A recent CAIR survey showed that 53% of Muslim students in California have experienced religious bullying and many fear that bullying is on the rise in an increasingly Islamophobic climate.
“When a person is bullied as a child they never forget it and they carry that trauma with them for the rest of their life,” says CAIR-WA Executive Director Masih Fouladi who led the
CAIR-CA school bullying survey
, “Conducting this survey in Washington will help us get data that will be used to inform school districts and lawmakers on how to combat anti-Muslim bullying.”
Often this type of bullying goes unrecognized by students and unreported to teachers and authorities (who can also be the perpetrators themselves).
“Sometimes it’s people making jokes about ‘airplane school’ or anti-Muslim rhetoric. Other times it’s been the pulling of my hijab, calling me a terrorist or other slurs” says Sabreen Tuku, a 15-year-old student at Issaquah High School, “It makes me feel like representing my religion and standing up for myself is a chore, not a blessing.”
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
CAIR-WA Executive Director
Masih Fouladi
Issaquah High School student
and target of anti-Muslim bullying Sabreen Tuku
MEDIA CONTACT
CAIR-WA Communications Director, Sarah Stuteville
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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