Islamophobia is the prejudice, fear, hostility, or hatred directed at Islam and Muslims, often taking the form of discrimination, exclusion, or violence against individuals or groups perceived as Muslims. According to a survey conducted by CAIR in 2024, 91.7% of Muslims in Washington state have experienced Islamophobic discrimination in their lifetimes. According to Pew Research Center, the general American public's view of Muslims has been increasingly negative since at least 2009, and only began to decrease in the past decade. Overall, Islamophobia continues to be a major issue in the United States, and not only affects Muslims but also others who are falsely perceived as Muslims, such as Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Southeast Asians, and non-Muslim arabs.
In 2015, CAIR released findings over a 6-year-long period of research on Muslim students in California, after having surveyed over 600 students aged 11-18. This research revealed that 55% of Muslim students experienced some form of bullying for their religion, 29% of girls who wore a Hijab reported that they had been offensively touched by another student, and 20% of Muslim students said that they experienced discrimination from school staff. Additionally, one student mentioned that they were unable to report their situation to the faculty, as “they mostly have the same opinions of Muslims [as the bullying students].” These are shocking results, and show that the problem is not rooted in school bullying but also adult influence, whether it be from the teachers or parents. Furthermore, research proves that Muslim students face far more discrimination for their religious identities than other religions. A poll from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding in 2017 gathered data from 2,400 Muslim parents around the country and found that 42% of them say that their child has been bullied because of their religion, compared to 23% of Jewish parents, 20% of Protestant parents, and 6% of Catholics.
Although the public view of Muslims has been more positive over the last few years, a large number of Americans believe that Islam encourages violence. This belief has been more prominent in right-leaning Americans, while left-leaning Americans are generally more accepting of Muslims in the U.S., though 78% of Americans agree that Muslims are more susceptible to discrimination for their religion. In fact, in 2024, CAIR stated that there were a total of 8,658 complaints on anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents in the past year. This was the highest number of Islamophobic incidents that CAIR recorded since they began doing so in 1996, and a 7.4% increase in discriminatory cases since 2023. These statistics directly coincide with the Israel-Palestine conflict, as violent actions overseas influence the American sentiment towards Muslims.
Islamophobia is a deep societal issue that affects many nationwide. These statistics irrefutably prove that many Muslims across the United States suffer because of anti-Muslim actions, and even non-Muslims are affected because of their appearance, which can be falsely interpreted. To combat Islamophobia and prevent negative anti-Muslim incidents, steps are being taken by schools and Muslim organizations to educate the public and challenge stereotypes. The combined efforts of the nation as a whole can direct society in a positive direction, one that truly accepts individuals regardless of their faith and background.
Sources:
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/09/01/muslims-are-a-growing-presence-in-u-s-but-still-face-negative-views-from-the-public/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/07/26/how-the-u-s-general-public-views-muslims-and-islam/
- https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/3/22/15022582/muslim-bullying-schools-survey
- https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/spring-2017/expelling-islamophobia
- https://ispu.org/islamophobia-index/
- https://www.cairwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Final-WAMS-Report-092424-2.pdf
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/11/anti-muslim-hate-hits-new-high-in-us-advocacy-group
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/11/anti-muslim-discrimination-cair-2024/82237606007/
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