Nearly 60% of Muslim Students in New York Experience Bullying: Study

A recent study by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) revealed alarming statistics regarding bullying among Muslim students in New York, Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.

Conducted among 500 students, the survey found that nearly 60% reported being bullied due to their religion, with 58.2% indicating they faced peer harassment. Notably, 44.7% of hijab-wearing students experienced their hijabs being tugged or touched inappropriately.

The report highlighted that 64% of students witnessed bullying against their Muslim peers, while 65% observed offensive comments about Islam from their schools. Many students felt reporting incidents was futile, with 74.6% choosing not to inform adults about their experiences.

The study also noted a significant rise in anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiments following the escalation of conflict in Gaza in October 2023. CAIR-NY reported receiving 555 requests for legal assistance in 2023, with 43% linked to Palestinian solidarity. Additionally, 32% of students felt silenced for expressing opinions on Palestine, and many reported facing harassment or social isolation.