A recent survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) highlights a troubling rise in anti-Islamic harassment faced by Muslim students at California colleges and universities. According to the report, nearly half—49%—of the 720 Muslim students surveyed across 87 public and private campuses reported experiencing acts of harassment or discrimination during the past academic year. This marks a significant increase from findings reported four years ago.
Campus Climate and Protests
The rise in reported incidents coincided with widespread pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, which sometimes escalated into tense confrontations. The protests, aimed at urging universities to divest from Israel, often involved diverse groups, including Muslims and Jews. However, these demonstrations also drew criticism for alleged antisemitic rhetoric and symbolism. Counterprotests further heightened tensions, with violent clashes reported at campuses such as UCLA.
Bayanne Kanawati, program manager at the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying, which collaborated on the survey, criticized university responses. Instead of feeling safe and supported, many students are left feeling targeted and isolated,” Kanawati said. She emphasized the need for college administrators to foster inclusive environments where all students, particularly those from marginalized communities, can freely express their identities and political views.
Insights from the Survey
The survey, conducted online from March to July, covered a period marked by heightened activism, particularly in April, May, and June. Key findings include:
- Unsafe Campus Environments: Nearly half of the students surveyed expressed feeling unsafe or neutral about their safety on campus.
- Reluctance to Report: Many students were hesitant to report incidents to university authorities, reflecting a lack of trust in institutional support systems.
- Geographical Scope: The survey primarily focused on campuses in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, where most of the state’s Muslim students reside. Northern and Central California colleges were underrepresented.
Broader Implications and Campus Responses
CAIR’s findings align with a report by UCLA’s Task Force on Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Arab Racism, which described the campus environment as increasingly hostile for these groups. The task force’s April and June reports documented escalating harassment and violence. Additionally, a separate UCLA task force addressing antisemitism found that 84% of surveyed Jewish and Israeli students felt that antisemitism had worsened following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
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UCLA, in particular, has faced scrutiny for its handling of protests. In response to criticisms, the university implemented new measures this fall, including stricter protest regulations, enhanced security, and dialogue initiatives aimed at bridging divides among student groups.
Limited Scope and Participation
While the report underscores concerning trends, its scope and data have limitations. Only a fraction of California’s campuses were surveyed, and the sample sizes at individual universities were small. For instance, the survey recorded responses from just 26 Muslim students at UCLA and 21 at USC. UC Irvine had the highest participation, with 43 respondents.
Call for Action
Osman Khan, Director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying, highlighted the personal toll of Islamophobia on students. “This is not just a political issue—it deeply affects students’ ability to pursue their education without fear and scrutiny,” he said. The report calls for urgent reforms to ensure campuses are safe and inclusive spaces for all students, regardless of their faith or political beliefs.
The findings underscore the pressing need for universities to address the challenges facing Muslim students and other marginalized groups, ensuring that campuses are places of learning, not hostility.
