New York City Commission on Human Rights

The Commission recently released a report entitled Discrimination Against Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians in New York City Since 9/11. The report revealed that Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians believed that discrimination against them intensified following the attacks on the World Trade Center although the incidents went largely unreported.

Based on a survey conducted by the Commission in the Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities, the report documented perceived incidents of discrimination in the areas covered by the City’s Human Rights Law – employment, housing, public accommodations, and bias-related harassment or violence. The survey was conducted in English, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi. The survey served to strengthen the Commission’s connections with these communities and will help shape future education, prevention and enforcement efforts.

The survey revealed:

69% of the respondents believed they were the victim of one or more incidents of discrimination or bias related harassment;
31% of the respondents believed that they did not experience discrimination following the attacks on the World Trade Center;
79% indicated that their lives had been negatively affected by 9/11, regardless of whether or not they believed they had directly experienced any discrimination.
17% of the respondents sought assistance from a government agency or community organization;
83% of the respondents did not ask for help because they were afraid, believed that nothing would be done, did not know who to contact, or thought the incident did not warrant reporting.

From over 11,000 surveys distributed throughout the City from October 2002 to April 2003, the Commission received 956 completed surveys. A total of 659 individuals believed that they experienced one or more incidents of discrimination totaling 1,224 incidents. Bias-related harassment comprised 37% of these incidents, followed by employment discrimination at 26% and public accommodations at 25%. Housing discrimination characterized the remaining 11% of these incidents.

Based on the survey, the Commission recommended that government agencies and community organizations take steps to encourage a climate of tolerance and respect; further promote interfaith and community integration through activities that involve all members of the community; and advocate the participation of people from the Muslim, South Asian and Arab communities in civic and political activities and into public service positions.

The Commission’s survey and report were supported in part by the New York Community Trust. Those assisting the Commission were: the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, The Arab-American Family Support Center, Chhaya Community Development Corporation, The Council of Pakistani Organization, South Asian Youth Action!, South Asian Council for Social Services, and The Coney Island Avenue Project.

Mayor Bloomberg and the Commission are committed to enforcing the law to the maximum extent possible and using the City’s resources to fight prejudice and discrimination.

View the report