In interviews on the New Brunswick campus Thursday, Muslim college students at Rutgers University said they are feeling unsafe after the school’s Center for Islamic Life was vandalized.
Police said the break-in occurred Tuesday night during Eid, the Muslim holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan. They found a ripped Palestinian flag and art pieces with Quran verses destroyed. The incident is being investigated as a criminal act of bias and hatred, according to college and law enforcement officials.
The crime comes as tensions have been rising on campus over the war in Gaza.
“[The Center for Islamic Life] was one of the few places, if not the only, where Muslims truly felt comfort and safety on campus,” said Nora Asker, a Rutgers student and president of the Muslim Public Relations Council. “And now that has been taken from us. Students no longer feel truly safe to even exist at Rutgers.”
Rutgers officials said they take every claim of bias, intolerance, and hate seriously, conducting thorough investigations when warranted. A spokesperson added in a statement, “The safety and well-being of our students is a top priority. The [Rutgers University Police Department] will continue to increase public safety presence on and around campus, additional campus safety resources are available to students.”
