The Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University in New Jersey was broken into and vandalized overnight, days after anti-Israel agitators stormed City Hall and Jewish students were taken away by police.
Video posted online by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) shows broken glass on the floor, as well as damaged televisions, printers and artwork depicting verses from the Quran.
“This reprehensible act on our holy day is undoubtedly fueled by Islamophobia and is clearly a hate crime targeting Muslims at Rutgers,” CILRU said in a statement. ” he said.
A Palestinian flag was torn from a pole, said CILRU Imam Qaiser Aslam, who shared a video of the aftermath of the invasion. According to the Rutgers Police Department, the vandalism occurred sometime between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
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What appears to be glass and a broken lamp on the floor of the Rutgers University Center for Islamic Life. (CILRU Imam Qaiser Aslam)
Police said no one was inside the building at the time. The incident occurred on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday following the fasting month of Ramadan.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he was “disgusted” to learn of the incident.
“A criminal investigation is underway and we are working with Rutgers University and law enforcement to ensure the safety of Muslim students. Islamophobia has no place in New Jersey,” he wrote to X .
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said he was aware of the vandalism. He said he would not tolerate “acts of hatred against the Muslim community.” Platkin said his office is working with Rutgers Police, New Jersey State Police, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Division of Criminal Justice and Division of Civil Rights to investigate the matter.
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Vandals destroyed the offices of the Rutgers University Center for Islamic Life. (Rutgers University Center for Islamic Life)
“We will continue to work tirelessly, using all means at our disposal, to ensure that all New Jerseyans can live without fear, knowing that New Jersey’s diversity is upheld, protected, and embraced. “We will continue to do so,” he said.
The incident came days after anti-Israel agitators stormed the university’s town hall last week, prompting President Jonathan Holloway to end the meeting early.
One student told Fox News Digital that Jewish students had to be escorted from the event by police.
The event was hosted by City Hall. Rutgers University Student Assembly, A referendum was also imposed on the two BDS groups, Boycott, Divest and Sanctions, to sever ties with Tel Aviv University and withdraw from everything related to Israel.
Rutgers University’s Center for Islamic Life was destroyed overnight, officials announced Wednesday. (Rutgers University Center for Islamic Life)
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“The last few months since October 7th at Rutgers University have been tough,” Joe Gindi, a Jewish student who attended City Hall, told FOX News Digital. “I wasn’t prepared for a protest. Jewish students didn’t bring banners or flags. Jewish students weren’t going to shout or do anything or disrupt the event. We were just there to listen to City Hall.”
Rutgers police have not released a description of the suspect in connection with the vandalism of the Islamic Center on campus.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
