Nearly Half of Muslim Students in Tennessee Report Experiencing Faith-Based Bullying, Study Suggests

Nearly Half of Muslim Students in Tennessee Report Experiencing Faith-Based Bullying, Study Suggests
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A new report indicates that nearly half of Muslim students in Tennessee have faced faith-based bullying, reflecting a broader national trend of harassment targeting Muslim youth in schools, Fox 17 reported.

While a Tennessee-specific report is not publicly available, findings from organizations such as the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) highlight persistently high rates of bullying against Muslim students across the United States.

According to ISPU, 48% of Muslim families with children in K-12 schools nationwide reported at least one incident of religious-based bullying in the past year. Alarmingly, one in five families said such bullying happens almost daily.

The problem is not limited to peer-to-peer harassment. ISPU’s data shows that in 42% of reported cases, the bullying came from teachers or other school staff. Many of these incidents targeted students’ religious practices, including prayer, fasting, or wearing the hijab.

A 2022 CAIR-California study reinforced these findings, reporting that 47.1% of Muslim students in the state were bullied for their faith — more than double the national average for students overall.

Advocates warn that such bullying not only undermines students’ academic performance and emotional well-being but also erodes trust in educational institutions. Civil rights groups continue to call for stronger anti-bullying policies, teacher training, and school accountability measures to ensure safe learning environments for Muslim youth.