May 4, 2023
The following remarks were delivered by Maha Elgenaidi on May 2, 2023, during a White House listening session on Islamophobia, hosted by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Ambassador Susan Rice, Domestic Policy Advisor to the President, Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Joshua Geltzer, and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Stephen Benjamin. The event was co-hosted by Mazen Basrawi, White House Liaison to American Muslim Communities, and Rashad Hussain, Special Envoy for International Religious Freedom.
Islamophobia is pervasive, with 8 in 10 young Muslim and American-born Muslim women experiencing Islamophobia according to a 2021 UC Berkeley survey. This manifests significantly in schools where 1 in 2 Muslim students experience bullying; double the national average.
The Impact of Islamophobia on Muslim Students
- Harassment and intimidation from other students where Muslim students are called names like “bomber” or “terrorist,” and girls have their hijabs assaulted by having their scarves pulled off.
- A third of the bullying comes from school personnel and educators, where Muslim students are shamed in current events discussions often framed as “us” vs. “them” or are asked to act as “experts” on issues relating to Muslims or are directly told they are terrorists. Examples include:
- In New York, a teacher asked, “Why are all Muslims terrorists?” in a current events discussion.
- In Florida, a teacher called a 14-year-old Muslim girl a “raghead Taliban.”
- In Texas, a teacher told a Muslim student that “we all think you’re a terrorist.”
- In one case, a professor in Arizona told a Muslim student: “I can’t wait until Trump is elected. He’s going to deport all of you Muslims. Muslims should not be given visas. They’ll probably take your visa and deport you. You’ll be the next terrorist, I bet.” During the return bus ride, a student in class who overheard the professor say this, taunted the Muslim student about his visa, calling him a “terrorist” and accusing him of planning to blow up the bus.”
– Muslim students tend to suffer in silence from anxiety, and stress.
Policy Recommendations
- Enforcement of Existing Policies:
- Raise awareness of current federal laws on bullying prevention and response by requiring school personnel training and certification. Studies have shown that bullying is reinforced in schools by inaction of adult school personnel.
- Raise awareness of student and parent rights and corresponding accommodations by requiring school personnel training and certification.
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
- Whereas religion is not included, the Department of Education extends protection to groups with common ancestry or ethnic backgrounds.
- Modifying Department of Education statutes protecting student and parent rights by giving educators examples of what may be asked or required. Examples include:
- Raising awareness of school policies on religious holidays without imposing them.
- Raising awareness of school policies on religious accommodations such as modest dress.
Thank you. I’ll turn it back to the facilitator.
