On Thursday, May 15, several posts were reportedly made to the r/UCLA Reddit page that included anti-Islam rhetoric. The UCLA MSA called on university leadership to address the recent incident and the broader rise of Islamophobia on campus over the past year.
Muslim students have also reported being called ‘terrorists,’ ‘baby-killers,’ and ‘rapists’ among other comments by both students and non-university affiliates over the past couple of months. This kind of rhetoric, when amplified online, fuels harmful stereotypes and legitimizes bigotry, making Muslim students even more vulnerable to targeted harassment and violence. It creates a dangerous narrative that dehumanizes an entire community, fostering an environment of fear and alienation on campus.
“We … ask that the university release a public statement acknowledging the rise in Islamophobic incidents, reaffirming its commitment to protecting Muslim students, and outlining immediate steps being taken to ensure their safety and well-being”.
The disturbing actions, including desecrating the Qur’an, are not isolated acts. This is part of a broader pattern of unchecked Islamophobia that the UCLA administration has failed to address, undermining the safety and sense of belonging for Muslim students on campus. Leadership is quick to criminalize those who speak in support of Palestinian human rights, responding to peaceful protests with militarized police forces, but continues to turn a blind eye to Islamophobia happening on campus.
Islamophobia and harassment targeting Muslim students have increased on college campuses statewide. CAIR California’s recent Campus Climate Report found that 49% of Muslim college students across California experienced harassment or discrimination due to their Muslim identity and that 65% of schools failed to address significant issues impacting Muslim students.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
Source: CAIR
