STATEMENT ON THE TARGETED HARRASSMENT OF MUSLIM STUDENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful
NOV 21 - The Muslim Students Association of the U.S. and Canada (MSA National) stands firmly with all Muslim students following a series of coordinated incidents aimed at undermining the guaranteed rights protected in the First Amendment, including the freedom to practice one’s faith and engage in free speech.
The rise in Islamophobia is closely tied to broader political narratives that redirect public attention from the decline in control that foreign entities – in particular, the Zionist movement – have on the United States. Such actions are often used as tools of intimidation, violating constitutionally protected freedoms and reinforcing anti-Muslim sentiments that have become increasingly normalized in the wider American landscape. We condemn these acts of bigotry and demand accountability from campus administrators to preserve the well-being, safety, and dignity of all Muslim students as they engage in their right to the guaranteed freedoms of the First Amendment.
In October, as Muslim students at the University of North Texas gathered for a memorial to mourn the martyrs from the ongoing genocide in Gaza, a counter-protester spewed Islamophobic remarks and harassed students, interrupting their prayer. At the University of Texas at Dallas, individuals stationed themselves near student pathways with signs attacking the religion of Islam and spreading misinformation, clearly intended to provoke and intimidate Muslim students. In Murphy, Texas, Muslim students from Plano East Senior High School — most of whom are minors — were harassed by an Islamophobe who shouted hateful rhetoric during a school club gathering.
In early November, as students were praying outside at the University of Houston, an individual shouted anti-Islamic messages through a megaphone and threw a copy of the Quran into a bonfire. Earlier this week in Hollywood, Florida, Muslim students from Nova Southeastern University were harassed while praying at the beach. The perpetrator disrupted their prayer, filmed students without their consent, and spewed hateful remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. A separate incident occurred with these same perpetrators at the University of South Florida, where MSA members were subjected to verbal harassment, intimidation, and hostility while worshipping outdoors at the Collins Boulevard Parking Facility.
Muslim students across the country should be able to practice their faith without fear, as protected by the First Amendment. We call on campus administrators and the wider student community to ensure the safety of all Muslim students, to uphold policies against targeted harassment, to hold Islamophobes fully accountable by explicitly naming Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bias, harassment, and intimidation in school non-discrimination policy, and to issue immediate campus-wide statements clarifying protections for Muslim students. We also urge the wider community to demand the safety and well-being of their Muslim community members and demand accountability for those who spread Islamophobic rhetoric.
We urge Muslim students to keep the following in mind:
Remain calm and do not engage with any agitators, whether on or off campus. Be cognizant of the principles of situational awareness through de-escalation and self-defense, and exercise them accordingly.
Record videos and photos of any incidents of Islamophobia and limitations of the First Amendment. This includes documenting online activity in which people are targeting the MSA and/or its members.
Report any incidents of Islamophobia and intimidation to local authorities, including campus police. Reports can also be made to MSA National via call or text to (832) 819-1256, to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and through Muslim Campus Life’s Islamophobia Tracker.
For personal mental health support, call or text the 24/7 Naseeha Mental Health x MSA National hotline at (855) NAS-MSAN or (855) 627-6726.
We urge MSA leaders to keep the following in mind:
Report threats and incidents of assault, harassment, intimidation, and menacing behavior targeting your MSA to campus administrators and local authorities, regardless of whether the incidents occur on or off campus or virtually.
Ensure that Campus Student Life and/or the Office of Student Organizations is aware of and present at MSA events on campus, as needed. Many schools have policies and procedures in place that can ban repeat harassers, cyber stalkers, etc., from their campuses. Be aware of your campus’s policies and advocate for protections. If you are unsure how to do this or need support, contact MSA National or submit a report to CAIR.
For off-campus events, work with local masajid and alumni to ensure security is available for students.
Encourage members to stay together, whether during events or while walking around campus to class.
Host de-escalation and self-defense classes with trained experts, as needed.
Check in with students. Some students may feel hesitant to join MSA gatherings and events. Provide opportunities for students to share their concerns with MSA leadership and elevate to campus administrators as needed.
Host a healing circle. We encourage MSA leaders to utilize local and virtual resources, such as mental health experts and trained Islamic scholars, to provide reassurance for students who are concerned about their safety.
We pray that Allah ﷻ protects our Muslim community — both in the United States and abroad — from harm and oppression. May Allah ﷻ allow us to stand firm and remain united during times of difficulty and give us the courage to speak out against harm.
For questions, please contact info@msanational.org
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1 - Islamophobia is defined as a fear, hatred, or prejudice toward Islam and Muslims that results in a pattern of discrimination and oppression. Islamophobic acts occur at both the individual and institutional levels. This can take many forms, including physical attacks against those perceived to be Muslim, or damage and desecration of mosques and Islamic centers.
Join the MSA Sign-On Statement
We invite MSAs, organizations, and community partners to stand with Muslim students by signing on to our national statement demanding accountability from campus administrators and stronger protections against Islamophobia. Your support amplifies our collective voice and helps ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of Muslim students everywhere.