CAIR-NY Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Vandalism Targeting NYU Library Muslim Prayer Space
(NEW YORK, NY, 4/4/25) — The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) called on university, state and federal law enforcement authorities to launch a hate crime investigation of the recent desecration of the Muslim prayer space at NYU's Bobst Library, where an unidentified individual with access to university property vandalized the area and urinated on prayer mats.
SEE: Instagram Post
SEE: ICNYU Statement
SEE: NYU Statement
According to the Instagram Post, this vandalism occurred yesterday despite ongoing concerns raised by the campus Muslim community over the past year about their safety and the university’s inaction.
CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. stated:
“This vile act of desecration is a direct assault on the Muslim community at NYU and beyond. For any student to walk into their prayer space—a sacred space—only to find it defiled, is deeply disturbing. Considering the insanely harsh and often unjust treatment Muslims face at this institution for non-egregious conduct, we expect NYU to immediately take measures to protect its Muslim students and ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable.
“We join students in demanding a full hate crime investigation and disciplinary action against the perpetrator. No student should fear for their safety or dignity while practicing their faith.”
She added that CAIR also encourages all houses of worship and campus faith groups to refer to CAIR’s Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety, available at https://www.cair.com/mosque-and-community-safety/.
Nasher noted that earlier this week, the New Jersey chapter CAIR welcomed the sentencing of a man who broke into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) in New Brunswick and thrashed the place nearly a year ago on Eid ul-Fitr.
CAIR launched its “Unhostile Campus Campaign” aimed at fostering a campus environment in which Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints.
CAIR previously designated NYU as an institution of particular concern due to reported incidents, policies, and discriminatory practices targeting Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other individuals opposing the occupation, apartheid, and genocide. Other institutions of particular concern may be found at: https://islamophobia.org/category/hostile-campuses/
Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be considered as a potential “institution of particular concern” should complete the ‘Report a Hostile Campus’ form.
The organization adds a disclaimer that the form is intended solely to inform CAIR’s ‘UnHostile Campus Campaign.’ Students, faculty, and affiliates seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should continue to contact their local office or chapter, or in the event that there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department.
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Become a Fan of CAIR-NY on Facebook
Subscribe to CAIR-NY's Email List
Subscribe to CAIR-NY's Twitter Feed
Subscribe to CAIR-NY’s YouTube Channel
Do you like reading CAIR-NY's press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR-NY's work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR-NY's advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR-NY.
END
CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Executive Director, CAIR-NY, ANasher@cair.com
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com