Report: Discrimination against American Muslims increased by 9 percent in 2021

Incidents of discrimination against Muslims in the United States increased by 9 percent in 2021, compared to the previous year, according to a report issued by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CARE).

A report issued by the Council on American-Islamic Relations "CARE" said that incidents of discrimination against Muslims in the United States increased by 9 percent in 2021, compared to the previous year.

CARE officials held a press conference to publish the findings of the report, "Still Suspicious: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia."

According to the report, the council received 6,720 complaints from across the country last year related to a number of issues, including immigration, travel discrimination, government and law enforcement agencies abuse, bias and hate incidents, custody rights, school accidents and freedom of expression incidents.

"This represents the largest number of cases reported to CAIR in 27 years. This is alarming," said Nihad Awad, CAIR's executive director, in a press conference.

Awad added that "the report is clear and does not need explanation and statement. Islamophobia is a structural phenomenon and a deep problem in our society."

He explained that "Islamophobia has become a prevalent phenomenon in the United States, and has made its way into government institutions and the public sphere through laws, policies, political discourse and other manifestations."

According to the report, the group received 2,823 immigration and travel complaints, 745 related to discrimination in the workplace, 553 about discrimination in public places, 679 about abuses by government and law enforcement agencies, and 308 about incidents of hate and prejudice.

The group also received 278 complaints regarding the rights of detainees, 177 about school accidents, 56 against freedom of expression against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and 1,101 general complaints.

The report found a 55 percent increase in complaints of abuse by government and law enforcement agencies in 2021, while a 28 percent increase in incidents of hate and prejudice that included the forced removal of the headscarf, and harassment.

Awad expressed his belief that the US government could be part of the solution in combating Islamophobia.

"Today, we urge Congress to adopt legislation that makes federal funding of local law enforcement agencies conditional on those agencies documenting and reporting hate crimes to the FBI's national database," he said.

This would "provide an incentive for local law enforcement to take the threat of Islamophobia seriously," he said.