A recent survey indicates that nearly 50% of Muslim students enrolled in colleges in California have experienced harassment and discrimination. Conducted by the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, and the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying, or CPHB, the survey reveals a 10 percent increase in Islamophobia since 2020. It states that such attacks are “directly related to events like the October 2023 Hamas-led attack and Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza, which escalated anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Arab sentiment on U.S. campuses.”

Campus Climate Shifts Amid Global Conflict

The anti-war and student protests against the violence in Gaza have been suppressed. Antigovernment voices under the guise of anti-war demonstrations have been silenced or limited. CP Home Barring Director Osman Khan said, “This past year has been extremely traumatizing for college students of all colors and creeds within the Islamic faith-all because they bravely chose to stand up and humanize the plight of Palestinians.” Khan went on to reiterate that Muslim students should never again be penalized academically or professionally for exercising their constitutional rights to protest and to speak out.(more)

Campus Solidarity Calls

The emotional toll on Muslim students has been severe. One example is USC student Summer, who mentioned the isolation many have experienced, especially those who had lost their loved ones in Gaza. “Some students, while in class, have received devastating news of losing loved ones in Gaza,” she noted. This grief is exacerbated by a sense of lack of empathy and solidarity from their institutions of learning. “We cannot claim to be a global institution of higher learning while neglecting the global realities of our students,” she emphasized, urging universities to address injustices faced by their Muslim communities.

A Plea for Support and Action

CAIR and CPHB report highlights that there is an utmost demand for universities to create a safe space for Muslim students and have genuine concern. These incidents have clearly indicated that Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism are not isolated incidents but a part of the trend, and these are enhanced by global situations and political rhetoric. In light of this, the report argues for action to ensure that the campuses remain inclusive, empathetic, and protective of all students’ rights irrespective of their background or beliefs.