Per CAIR: “The Maryland office of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), today said it has recorded 89 complaints, including hate bias incidents, between Oct. 9 to Oct. 24 following the escalation of violence in the Middle East on Oct. 7.
The civil rights group is issuing a community advisory encouraging vigilance and basic safety precautions and asking community members to document and report complaints and incidents to police and to CAIR. The nature of complaints and incidents include: 1) smears, hateful comments and slurs on social media, 2) school-based bullying and harassment, 3) doxxing threats against students expressing support for Palestinian human rights, 4) chilling of free speech and alleged retaliation at schools, universities/colleges and places of employment for pro-Palestine advocacy, 5) complaints about biased, one-sided statements about Israel/Palestine, 6) alleged discrimination at restaurants/businesses, 7) hostile incidents at mosques and 8) visits or questioning by law enforcement officers.
“Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities are grappling with a genocide unfolding overseas in Gaza while also contending with mounting challenges fueled by islamophobia and racism in our own towns,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “The reports CAIR has recorded only strengthen our resolve to empower one another, uphold justice and defend civil liberties. Even if someone chooses not to pursue any action, staying vigilant and confidentially reporting these complaints and incidents enables us to promote awareness, collect data and seek broader solutions.”
Report Complaints & Hate Bias Incidents:
More than a dozen documented complaints reported to CAIR originated from students and an employee at one Maryland university alone. CAIR says the number does not reflect all cases statewide. Those targeted by hate and discrimination often decline to report these incidents for reasons including fear of backlash or retaliation. In its 2021 report “Islamophobia through the Eyes of Muslims” UC Berkeley’s Other and Belonging Center found that 85 percent of Muslims who have been a victim of a hate crime do not report it.
In an unprecedented occurrence, CAIR’s 29th annual banquet in Maryland, originally scheduled for this Saturday, October 28, was merged with CAIR National’s 29th annual banquet, re-located to an undisclosed location and held last Saturday, October 21 after the National banquet’s venue received bomb threats and threats of Molotov cocktails, as well as death threats against hotel staff in a targeted campaign after CAIR dedicated the annual event to Palestine.
SEE: Terror Threats Move CAIR Banquet At Maryland Westin Hotel
https://dailyvoice.com/maryland/howard/terror-threats-move-cair-banquet-at-maryland-westin-hotel-m/
CAIR expressed safety concerns during a recent meeting with statewide Muslim leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire and flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The office has been briefing the state’s elected leaders and Maryland members of congress during meetings this week and plans to coordinate a self-empowerment training for Muslim and Arab communities in partnership with self-defense experts. In recent days, the office has held trainings and webinars on topics including bullying prevention, civic engagement and Palestine advocacy. The civil rights group expressed its appreciation to Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights for their support and commitment to the well-being of Muslim and Arab communities in the state amidst the tense political climate.
