In its annual report published on
Thursday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has for the
first time recommended that Egypt be designated as a "country of particular
concern."
This is while the United States has repeatedly been criticized by
various religious and human rights organizations for discriminating against
Muslims both at home and abroad.
USCIRF says attacks on Coptic Christians and other minorities have
worsened despite political changes.
This designation by the advisory board can lead to the imposition of
economic sanctions unless governments address the U.S. concerns.
In March, Democratic Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin
called a senate hearing to address the issue.
He said a "backlash" which began after the attacks of September 11,
2001, continues against "innocent Muslims, Arabs, south Asians and Sikhs."
In the United States, 73 percent of young people aged 18 to 29 say
Muslims are the most discriminated against. Washington Times Although Muslims make up around 2 percent of the U.S. population,
they account for about one-quarter of the 3,386 religious discrimination claims
filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2010. Star
Tribune Forty-six U.S. states do not ban racial profiling based on religion
or religious appearance. Amnesty USA According to Islamic groups in the U.S., tensions in the workplace
are increasing against Muslims in areas all over the U.S., even in historically
diverse and accepting parts of the country. justjobs.com Muslim professionals are complaining about discrimination in the
workplace in what Islamic groups believe may be record numbers in 2010. Islamic
workers say they have been subjected to taunts such as Osama or being called a
terrorist. justjobs.com In 2009 there were a record number of 803 claims of discrimination
against Muslims in the U.S. Those claims were up 20% from the previous year, and
up almost 60% from 2005. NY Times In fall of 2010, opponents of a mosque planned for Murfreesboro,
Tenn., tried unsuccessfully in court to claim Islam is not a religion entitled
to constitutional protections. USA Today Approximately 90% of the population of Egypt are Muslim and 10% are
Christian (9% Coptic, 1% other Christian). CIA World Factbook
JD/HJ/SM
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