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A report released by a prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group shows an increase in American Muslim complaints of
workplace bias in 2007.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) report, called
"Without Fear of Discrimination," outlines 2,652 incidents and
experiences of anti-Muslim violence, discrimination and harassment in
2007. That is the highest number of civil rights cases ever recorded
in the Washington-based group's report -- the only annual study of
its kind. (Note: The higher number of cases is due in part to
inclusion of a new category of cases related to mailed, faxed and
e-mailed hate messages. Without the inclusion of those cases, the
total number of cases dipped slightly over the previous year.)
According to the study, discrimination in the workplace against those
already employed increased by 18 percent, with 384 cases reported in
2006 and 452 cases reported in 2007. There was also a 34 percent
increase in reports of discrimination against those seeking
employment. Cases involving denial of religious accommodation in the
workplace jumped eight percent.
Since its founding in 1994, one of the main categories of CAIR's work
has been employment discrimination and religious accommodation issues
in the workplace. One of the most recent cases CAIR is dealing with
involves religious accommodation for Muslim workers at JBS Swift & Co.
meatpacking plants in Colorado and Nebraska. Another recent case
involved allegations of a new "English-only" policy for Somali Muslim
workers at a Macy's department store in Minnesota.
CAIR offers a booklet called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic
Religious Practices" to help corporate managers gain a better
understanding of Islam and Muslims in the workplace.
Reports of passenger profiling jumped from 32 in 2006 to 141 in 2007,
a 340 percent increase.
Some categories in the CAIR report showed a decrease in the number of
cases. Incidents of anti-Muslim hate crimes went down by 19 percent
in this year's report. Incidents at schools or involving the police
also decreased 31 percent and 42 percent respectively.
Marked decreases in cases involving due process issues (45 percent),
physical violence (24 percent), denials of service or access (48
percent), and verbal harassment (35 percent) were also recorded.
Nine states and the District of Columbia accounted for almost 80
percent of all civil rights complaints to CAIR in 2007. The states
include: California, Illinois, Florida, New York, Virginia, New
Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Consistent with previous years, an individual's ethnicity,
associations, religion, or "Muslim name" remained the primary factors
that triggered discrimination. These factors are believed to have
triggered 86 percent of the total cases reported to CAIR last year.
CAIR said the decrease in reports of hate crimes and reports of
discrimination by police and in schools during 2007 allows "a note of
cautious optimism." The report also concluded: "Some government
agencies appear to be benefiting from an emphasis on cultural
proficiency for employees who may deal with Muslims."
Recommendations based on this year's data included asking elected
representatives, public officials and candidates for elected office
to "clearly condemn anti-Islam bias in our society" and urging
American Muslim groups to "continue to maintain regular contacts with
law enforcement agencies at the national, state and local levels."
The report also urged the passage of legislation banning racial,
religious or ethnic profiling.
"The year's report is a somewhat positive indication that the growing
anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society is being rejected by ordinary
Americans of all faiths," said CAIR Legislative Director Corey Saylor,
the report's author.
Saylor said this year's report includes a special section on
"Anti-Muslim Remarks and Acts on the Presidential Campaign Trail."
Last week, CAIR filed a complaint with the Federal Elections
Commission (FEC) over the distribution of some 28 million anti-Muslim
DVDs in presidential election swing states.
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