Sharp Rise in Islamophobia and Antisemitism Grips the U.S. Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict
Image Source: Al Jazeera
A recent report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has highlighted a concerning surge in Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment in the United States following the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas. According to the report, based on 1,283 requests for help and bias reports received between October 7 and November 4, there has been a 216% increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents compared to the same period last year.
Throughout 2022, CAIR received a total of 406 complaints, averaging around 29 per day. The most common types of incidents reported were related to First Amendment rights (23.39%), such as free speech, followed by employment discrimination (20.56%) and hate crimes (15.32%). Education and bullying accounted for 9.2% of the cases.
Corey Saylor, CAIR’s research and advocacy director, attributed the surge in bigotry to the Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian rhetoric used to justify violence in Gaza and silence supporters of Palestinian rights in the U.S. He emphasized that American Muslims are facing the largest wave of Islamophobic bias documented since Donald Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the country.
The Jewish communities in the U.S. are also experiencing record-high levels of antisemitism, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a nearly 400% year-over-year increase in antisemitic incidents linked to the conflict between Hamas and Israel. In October alone, the ADL recorded 312 antisemitic incidents, with 190 directly related to the conflict.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s leader, called on leaders across various sectors to condemn antisemitism and terrorism unequivocally, emphasizing the importance of using their platforms to denounce hate and terrorism.
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- Harshit Tokas is a Political Science and International Affairs Post-Graduate with a passion for understanding and analyzing complex political landscapes. Skilled in research, data analysis, and policy development. Eager to contribute his knowledge and insights to drive positive change.
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