The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today designated Virginia’s George Mason University (GMU) as a “hostile campus” due to its targeting of Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, staff, and faculty who stand against occupation, apartheid, and genocide.
SEE: CAIR Designates George Mason University as a Hostile Campus
“George Mason University’s actions have created a climate of fear and repression, undermining the principles of justice, equity, and academic freedom,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “By designating GMU as a hostile campus, we call on the administration to uphold its professed commitment to diversity and free expression, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students.”
Key Findings Leading to This Designation:
- Escalation of Islamophobia: In November 2023, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at GMU expressed deep concern over the increasing Islamophobic and anti-Arab sentiments on campus. The administration’s lack of response to these concerns has contributed to a deteriorating political climate.
- Inadequate Prayer Facilities: The reconfiguration of the Johnson Center’s third-floor prayer space, without providing an interim alternative or formal communication, has deprived Muslim students of an adequate area for their daily prayers.
- Suppression of Free Speech: The university reportedly deleted emails from anti-genocide students who criticized a statement by the university’s president, stating that he did not include support for Muslim and Palestinian students, further marginalizing these communities and stifling open discourse.
- Federal Investigation: In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights initiated an investigation into GMU for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, highlighting concerns about the university’s treatment of marginalized student groups.
- Aggressive Policing of Student Activists: On November 7, 2024, over 12 police officers reportedly conducted a pre-dawn raid on the residence of two Palestinian American student leaders of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter, leading to the suspension of the SJP chapter and four-year campus bans for the students involved. These actions have been criticized as racially biased and excessively punitive.
- Adoption of IHRA Definition of Antisemitism: In August 2024, GMU incorporated the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism into its Non-Discrimination policy. This definition has been criticized by numerous civil rights organizations, including CAIR, for conflating legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies with antisemitism, thereby chilling free speech and academic freedom.
CAIR’s “Hostile Campuses” webpage serves as a comprehensive resource for students, parents, educators, and community members invested in promoting supportive learning environments. It features a list of institutions designated as hostile campuses due to reported incidents, policies, and discriminatory practices targeting individuals opposing occupation, apartheid, and genocide. For more information, visit islamophobia.org/hostile-campuses.
Students, staff, and faculty who wish to report their university or college campus for consideration as a potential “hostile campus” can complete the ‘Report a Hostile Campus’ form at islamophobia.org/reportcampus.
Last month, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
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CONTACT: CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, csaylor@cair.com; CAIR Research and Advocacy Manager Farah Afify, fafify@cair.com@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com