Muslim Students Switch Schools to Escape Racism, Swedish Study Finds

Muslim Students Switch Schools to Escape Racism, Swedish Study Finds
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A new study from the University of Gothenburg reveals that some Muslim high school students in Sweden are changing schools to avoid experiences of racism and Islamophobia, opting instead for suburban institutions, IQNA reported.

The research, reported by the Arabic news website Alkompis, followed students at a suburban high school in Gothenburg and highlighted discrimination faced in central city schools. Lead researcher Christopher Ali Thorén stated that religion must be taken seriously as a factor in school choice, noting participants felt greater acceptance from teachers and peers in suburban settings.

Thorén believes that improving students’ sense of belonging requires recognizing aspects of their faith, suggesting steps like providing quiet prayer rooms or acknowledging Islamic holidays. While emphasizing that Swedish law requires education to be secular, he stressed that this doesn’t necessitate complete exclusion of religion. Thorén urged municipal authorities to issue clear guidelines on fasting and prayer to end the ambiguity currently leading to conflicts in schools.