Report: Bias Against U.S. Muslims On Rise

While Hate Crimes Are Down Since 9/11 Spike, Prejudice Still A Major Issue, Group Says

(CBS/AP)  Discrimination and hate crimes against Arab-Americans have dropped in recent years after a spike following the 9/11 attacks, but such prejudice is still more common than in the 1980s and 1990s, according to a report by an advocacy group.

The study gives Hollywood some credit for presenting a more balanced view of Arabs and Muslims in recent films. But it said prejudice is worse than ever in popular culture. It particularly faulted the news media for allowing political commentators to inflame fears that Muslims are terrorists.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee released the study Thursday, calling it the most comprehensive look at prejudice and racially motivated violence that Arab-Americans and Muslims faced in the United States between 2003 and 2007.

Mary Rose Oakar, the group's president, said the level of prejudice became clear during this year's presidential campaign, when critics of President-elect Barack Obama used false rumors that he was a Muslim as a line of attack.

The group said it received reports of about 130 violent hate crimes against Arab-Americans annually during the years reviewed. That's up slightly from the roughly 90 annual reports it received during the 1980s but down dramatically from the roughly 700 incidents reported in the weeks after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The group collected data for the report on its own, in part using anecdotal information. But its hate crime numbers are consistent with those of the FBI, which reported about 140 victims of anti-Islamic hate crimes in 2007, up from about 40 in 1995 and down sharply from more than 500 in 2002.

The report cited delays at airports based on agents' stereotypes or misleading "no fly" lists as a main source of discrimination, and said Arab-Americans are regularly subjected to long delays in immigration proceedings.

Back in September, Muslim workers in a Colorado meatpacking plant were fired after a dispute over evening prayers during the observance of Ramadan.

At a press conference unveiling the study, a Lebanese-American lieutenant colonel in the Alabama National Guard said he has complained about persistent anti-Muslim comments in his unit, including from a brigade commander. Lt. Col. Lance Koury of Birmingham said he has sent formal complaints up the chain of command but has received no response.

Alabama National Guard spokeswoman Katrina Timmons said the National Guard Bureau investigated Koury's complaints and ruled against him in June. He has appealed and the matter is set for hearing next year, she said.

Some of the study's harshest criticism was directed toward media outlets, which the report says have allowed bigotry to seep into mainstream discourse. The criticism focused on commentators such as Ann Coulter and conservative Christian leaders such as the late Rev. Jerry Falwell for routinely equating Islam with terrorism.

[Interakl12]

wow, the amount of igonorance on this panel is amazing 'there is no evidence muslims aren't terrorists' holy **** what an amazingly uneducated statement, most likely a quote off of an utter fool that someone thaught sounded cool. Islam detests and loathes what the MINORITY GROUP OF EXTREMIST MUSLIMS! do be that innocent killing etc. if you want to find out the REAL AND TRUE FACTS ABOUT ISLAM then ask someone of the Islamic faith don't just approve of the lies. And you wonder why the whole world thinks Americans are arrogant, ignorant ********, Because you speek utter ******** 'Islamic Militants' noo not quite why dont they say the the Majority of Islam rejects that crap. ******** WAKE UP FROM YOUR AMERICAN DREAM!

[honestabe8]

If Islam were simply a religion, nobody would have a problem, unfortunately it is intermixed with political and social ideology that is not compatible with a free, open democratic society.
Posted by lisamh4

Kind of like what the evangelicals want to do?

Oh wow. Not only are there a lot of racists people on this panel, but they''ve also never heard of proof reading their comments either! I''ve learned, especially after being deployed to Iraq twice, that usually when you come across ignorant people they are also pretty dumb. It''s a shame. Do you people really think this will help the problem? And then you want to compare Jesus to Allah? Wow, that is just pathetic. And you think you are going where after you die? Pathetic. If you research your history, a lot of Christians went on a killing campaign to force people to worship like them. No religion out there is perfect or right. There are too many hypocrites. Stop being so racist.

[toolmangler-2009]

you know what f a muslim ooh maybe I should not have said that because allah might get me well no worries JC will look out for me so I really have nothing to worry about

Posted by f091964 at 11:57 PM : Dec 05, 2008




Nope, your future is secure, no one ''Will'' cheat you out of it. No one would want too.

[rushlimpdrug]

Ok, so in a fight between Allah and Jesus
which would win?

Jesus has some awesome powers,
but I don''t know what powers Allah has
(besides a herd of camels).

[babooph]

With wacko Bush & his endless war against Islam,helped by the propaganda system,no wonder the easily brainwashed are anti Islamic !

[f091964]

you know what f a muslim ooh maybe I should not have said that because allah might get me well no worries JC will look out for me so I really have nothing to worry about

[f091964]

you people that say bias against Muslisms is wrong fail to realize that they do not care whether you are defending them or not they are going to kill anyway wake up and smell the truth

[winslowe1]

While there is no proof that most Muslims are not terrorists, there is ample proof that most terrorists are Muslim.

[downsteamjim]

DJ_IL is right. Everyone has seen the millions of good muslims protesting the murders of innocent people by crazed muslims. Oops sorry, it never happened.

[silverstar06]

Muslims who live outside of culturally Islamic countries are a little odd altogether. Since Islam as a religion should be very much entwined with everyday life, living outside of an islamic culture, these Muslims seem to be (aggressively) bent on creating systems within non-islamic nations, that really don''t seem to ever work, but cause tons of strife and discord nstead.

[downsteamjim]

irmcmcvet: Nice spin and good fiction. CBS needs you.

[vcofreason]

If your screen name implies "voice of reason", first you need to aquire some reason. Right now you''''re just plain stupid.

Posted by nycsense at 04:47 PM

No, most people state openly that this is how they feel. Unfortunately, people keep their mouth shut in public and subscribe to the STUPID pc way of talking. Muslims are oppressive, muslims are terrorists, muslims are evil. As far as you are concerned, terrorist loving person you are, guess you thought that 9/11 was just A-OK and anyone who didn''t see the muslim monsters for who they are was just plain stupid. Go away.

[earache4]

most of the Muslims here in Atlanta are terrorists
Posted by markjessup1 at 05:29 PM

Are you kidding? Most of the PEOPLE in Atlanta are terrorists....

[earache4]

I wonder if an atheist takes a day off during easter and christman??
Posted by MrMeatSpin at 06:23 PM

Good question. I''ll call God and ask....

[mrmeatspin]

I wonder how many of these people voted yes on preposition 8??

[irmcvet971]

And yes liberals, whether you admit it or not, they were INDEED Muslim fundamentalists, following the basic instructions from their Quran to strike terror in the hearts on non-believers and commit self-inflicted martyrdom for the cause of "allah".

This is RIGHT IN THEIR QURAN liberals. And it''''s nobody''''s fault but your own that you are incapable of doing this this EASY research that''''s out there.

Posted by Christ_Truth at 05:48 PM : Dec 05, 2008


YOU are a uneducated bigot who doesn''t even know a Muslim. You are no different NOW than you were 4 decades ago and wish to hate others for no other reason than they refuse to believe as YOU want them too. We can NOT expect moderate Arabs and Muslims to take our side against THEIR extremist when we allow trash like this in OUR society. Anyone who says their extremist are worse than ours has never come face to face with one of these slobber slinging "Born Again" types, all decked out in their hoods and sheets! I''m telling you folks the Taliban can''t hold a candle to one of those freaks when they get that cross all fired up and the "Equal but Different" fire in their bellies! NOPE! Without a doubt they are the best in the world!!

[mrmeatspin]

...Just in time for Christmas....

Posted by earache4 at 06:09 PM : Dec 05, 2008
+ report abuse

******

I wonder if an atheist takes a day off during easter and christman??

[earache4]

Report: Bias Against U.S. Muslims On Rise....Just in time for Christmas....

[questionnews]

Questionnews,

That is a valid point, but what is not pointed out is that the level of poverty and uneducated is severely unbalanced when you compare the populations of the US and of the Mid East. They are off the charts compared to us...that''''s a clear indication of why this is so.

Posted by nycsense at 05:18 PM : Dec 05, 2008

I don''t think that will change for quite awhile. Education a real threat to the power structure of their society. I have seen several shows (Nat Geo, Discovery Channel, public broadcasting, etc..) where little girl are targeted for assassination if they try to go to school. The boys do go to school, but it revolves around memorizing the Koran. Very little time is devoted to reading, writing math, history, science or any of the other subjects that almost every country in the world tries to focus on. Even when they touch on those subjects they are very restricted. Education is the key to bringing them into the 21st century, but many (mostly those in power) would rather see their country in ashes than change their society & centuries old standards.