A report from the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Dallas Fort-Worth (CAIR) showed 48% of Muslim students surveyed — ranging in age from 11-18 — said they've experienced bullying either online or in person.
Faizan Syed, CAIR-DFW’s executive director, said the report is the first step in tackling the issue.
“American Muslim students, like all students, should be given the opportunity to thrive in their learning environment,” he said in a statement. "Bullying undermines that environment and the feeling of inclusion.”
The survey also found almost 1 in 6 students said they've been bullied by a teacher, administrator or other official.
The report called “Singled Out: Islamophobia in the Classroom and the Impact of Discrimination on Muslim Students” surveyed 321 students in North Texas. The survey included American Muslim students who attended either public or private non-Islamic schools.
A few recommendations for educators, students, parents and lawmakers to address the issue were included in the report. Among them is a requirement for states to report data on bullying and harassment to the U.S. Department of Education.
The advocacy group hopes to expand the survey to all Muslim students in the state by next year.
