A Call for Tolerance and Understanding

This past February, Muslims students at Harvard were deeply disturbed by the heartbreaking murders of Yusor Abu-Salha, Razan Abu-Salha, and Deah Barakat, three young university students in Chapel Hill, who were each shot in the head by their neighbor, Craig Hicks, when he entered their home. The Harvard Islamic Society, composed of Muslim undergraduates, graduates, and professionals at Harvard University, extends its deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and their community. Yusor, Razan, and Deah were, and will continue to be, an inspiration for their service to their communities.

This terrible act quickly made its way to the international stage, shining a spotlight on an increasing number of Islamophobic hate-crimes across the country. Only a few days following the Chapel Hill murders, a large mosque in Houston, Texas was set on fire, and the Islamic School of Rhode Island was vandalized with virulent graffiti. Students at Harvard are not isolated from these acts of hatred. Many of us are from the places where these hate crimes have been perpetrated. Muslim students have also reported experiences of marginalization, discrimination, and threatening behavior at Harvard. Last year, a Muslim undergraduate who wears the hijab was assaulted while riding the T and asked, “Do you think you deserve to be here? To live here?” Earlier this week, another Muslim undergraduate was verbally abused and subsequently threatened by a man who told her, “I’m a marine.”

As Muslims in America, we feel that the average American, and even the average Harvard student, knows very little about who we are, where we come from, and what we stand for. This fact is not helped by a national news media which often propagates misinformation and dehumanizes our community. For that reason, we hope the best approach to addressing the rise of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate in America is education paired with relationship building. To this end, the Harvard Islamic Society encourages anyone interested in learning more about Islam, or meeting Muslims at Harvard, to join us at our weekly Friday religious services from 1:15-2 PM in Lowell Lecture Hall. Our services are attended by everyone from students, to staff, and professors, all standing shoulder-to-shoulder and praying as one.

We are grateful to those who have already reached out to us in solidarity, specifically the Undergraduate Council, and we urge the rest of the Harvard community to join us in taking a stance against bigotry, in all its forms, and in celebrating the diversity that enriches our campus.

Hassan Shahawy ’16 is a Near Eastern languages and civilizations concentrator in Mather House, Iman A. Masmoudi ’18 lives in Weld Hall, Lana A. Idris ’16 is a human evolutionary biology concentrator in Quincy House, Jawad Nabulsi is a member of the Harvard Kennedy School class of  2015, Farah Ahmed is a member of the Harvard Business School class of 2015, Hassen Abdu is a member of the Harvard Business School class of 2015, and Hena Ahmed is a member of the Harvard Medical School class of 2016. All are members of the Harvard Islamic Society.