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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Asks DOE to Address Bullying of Muslim Students
N.C. Muslim parents report 27 incidents of bullying in schools

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/9/11) -- The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the U.S. Department of Education to address the issue of bullying of Muslim students in schools nationwide.

CAIR made that request following reports of 27 incidents of bullying targeting Muslim students in North Carolina schools, including Muslim students feeling compelled to change their names to avoid being picked on.

Video: Muslim Students Bullied in N.C. Schools

Alleged incidents of bullying of American Muslim students include the case of a Somali boy being hanged in a Kentucky school bathroom stall, an attack on a Muslim student in New York who was called a "terrorist" and the harassment of Muslim students in Minnesota.

Video: Bullies Hang Somali Boy in Bathroom Stall in Kentucky
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Other bullying incidents reported to CAIR include Muslim students being similarly harassed because of their faith, attire or name.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote in part:

"No American student should face bullying or intimidation because of his or her faith, ethnicity or national origin. We urge you to investigate this growing phenomenon and take whatever steps are necessary to provide students of all faiths with a safe and welcoming learning environment. Our civil rights department can provide you with details of the reports of bullying we have received."

Awad noted that CAIR is part of a national coalition against "cyberbullying."

CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," designed to help school officials provide a positive learning environment for Muslim students.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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