University of Houston’s Muslim Students Demand Action after Quran Desecration
Muslim students at the university are calling for action following the Islamophobic attack during a campus event left the community shaken.
According to the UH Muslim Student Association (MSA), the incident occurred Thursday, October 30, at Lynn Eusan Park. An individual reportedly entered the group's reserved space, shouted anti-Islamic messages through a megaphone, and threw a copy of the Quran into a bonfire.
"Our members were in the middle of prayer—a moment of sacred stillness where we face one direction and cannot look around, speak, or react," the MSA said in a social media post. Video of the event shows the disturbance unfolding sometime in the evening.
Quickly, however, UH MSA said, one of its members was able to recover the Islamic Holy Book from the flames. The alleged perpetrator has not been identified by authorities but is known on social media as "Saint Chris," the UH MSA said, with a documented history of targeting Muslim Student Associations in Texas.
"Our gathering was never advertised outside of UH's student circle, yet he appeared in a premeditated manner, timing his intrusion to occur during prayer," UH MSA explained. "He has since posted heavily cropped videos of our gathering on social media, clips that deliberately exclude Muslim members stepping into de-escalate, urging to allow the man to be."
In response, UH MSA says it's calling on the university to release a public statement affirming its commitment to protecting Muslim students, provide them with a safe, dedicated area to congregate, as well as enforce a campus restriction to prevent the individual from returning.
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"This was a deliberate act of hate, part of a broader agenda to spread anti-Muslim sentiment," UH MSA added in the post. "The Muslim community on campus will not be intimidated or silenced. We stand united in our faith and will continue to fight for our right to worship freely."
In a statement issued to Chron, UH said: "The University of Houston takes all allegations of harassment against members of our community very seriously. UHPD has been notified and is investigating this situation."
Source: Chron.com
