The California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) recently published an annual report revealing civil rights abuses, and harassment against Muslims in California.

Verbal harassment, employment discrimination and the denial of religious accommodation all increased by double digit percentage points, 41 percent 19 percent and 12 percent respectively, while the number of workplace incidents rose from 88 cases in 2007 to 103 cases in 2008.

In 2008 CAIR-CA processed a total of 480 incidents, a decrease from the 553 reported in 2007. The report noted that despite the number of incidents against Muslims is down from the year prior, certain areas of discrimination saw an increase.

The majority of the claims CAIR-CA processed were legal or immigration issues, with 29 percent.

The report provides a few examples of how the negative perception of Islam is spreading. In the unfortunate election year of 2008, Muslims faced yet another bastardization with a piece the Clarion Fund created and distributed.

The video opens up with a disclaimer that the video is not about peaceful Muslims but rather about violent ones, to make that non-racist distinction very clear to people who might confuse themselves.

The Clarion Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading Islamophobia.

The Clarion Fund has no inhibitions about being anti-education, according to the Clarion Fund website, “ …Information about Islamic culture is taught in public and private schools across the U.S. From Kindergarten to college, our children may be susceptible to mistruths about Islam and its relationship to the western world.”

According to the study the Clarion Fund churned out 28 million copies in presidential battleground states which outlined freakish and violent Muslim activities only to perpetuate a painfully erroneous representation of Islam.

The 32-page study is not without its recommendations to increase knowledge and acceptance of Muslims in society, ranging from work sensitivity training to open houses at mosques.

CAIR-CA states, American Muslims are encouraged to report any instances of perceived civil rights abuses to their local CAIR chapter to ensure a more representative account of civil rights abuses.”

Sacramento has seen a recent spat of harassment and thievery against Muslims. Just over a month ago Federal prosecutors seized a mosque in Charmichael forcing the 150 member congregation to move elsewhere.

The property where The Qoba Foundation rests is thought to be acquired with illegal funds by the Alavi Foundation. The members of the mosque are not the subject of inquiry or thought to have been involved with any wrongdoing.

In West Sacramento, the West Sacramento Islamic Center mosque was vandalized and robbed on Dec. 1.According to authorities, ‘they are looking into the case as a possible hate crime.”

Justin Smith can be reached at justinsmiths@gmail.com