NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (PIX11) -- Artwork was smashed, and porcelain and glass religious figures broken at the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University on Wednesday.
“I watched in horror as we saw what happened to a space that’s near and dear to our heart,” said student and President of the Public Relations Council, Nora Asker.
A criminal investigation is underway as the incident is being investigated as a bias crime that took place on Eid.
Artwork and porcelain, glass, and metal objects bearing Quranic verses were smashed. Rutgers students spoke up about what they described as a problem the school needs to tackle immediately.
“This is kind of the result of not having an open dialog on campus. There’s a lot of tension, especially with what is going between Israel and Hamas,” said Jules Sullivan.
Another student who preferred to remain anonymous said:
“A lot of the students have been disappointed with the administration's reactions to what happened, and there’s a consensus on where their partisanship has lined this last couple of months.”
In a statement sent out to the students' chancellor, Francine Conway said in part,
“I unequivocally condemn this act of violence against the Rutgers–New Brunswick Muslim community and the desecration of a religious and community space,” she added. “Such acts of hatred and bigotry against anyone in our community have no place at Rutgers and will not be tolerated.”
Meanwhile, Atiya Aftab, chair of the Center for Islamic Life, said:
“We will not be silenced; if you disagree with the immediate and permanent cease-fire in Palestine and the allowance of humanitarian aid, let's debate that in the halls of this university; that’s what Rutgers is about. “
This incident is currently being investigated by the Rutgers Police Department. The attorney general's office issued a statement that said he would not condone acts of hate.
Rutgers University has a protocol in place to report bias crime; to learn more, click here.
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