The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for hate crime investigations following two separate incidents of reported religious harassment targeting Muslim students in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., as they prayed.
Incident at University of South Florida, Tampa (Nov. 18, 2025)
The first incident occurred yesterday at the University of South Florida (USF). Members of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) reported being subjected to verbal harassment and Islamophobic hostility while engaging in an outdoor prayer at the Collins Boulevard Parking Facility.
Incident in Hollywood, Florida (Nov. 18, 2025)
The second incident, which occurred yesterday, Nov. 18, in Hollywood, Florida, involved a separate group of Muslim students who were harassed while conducting a public prayer.
In a statement, CAIR-Florida Communications Director Wilfredo A. Ruiz said:
“This type of targeted religious harassment may constitute a violation of both state and federal civil rights laws, including those protecting students from discrimination or intimidation based on their religion.
“Students have the unequivocal right to practice their faith freely without fear, harassment or intimidation. We are urging USF Police and relevant state and federal law enforcement authorities to immediately open hate crime investigations into both incidents and to ensure the safety and civil rights of all students across the state.”
He said CAIR-Florida is also calling on university and local city officials to publicly condemn the incidents, reaffirm their commitment to protecting religious freedom, and provide support to the affected students.
The civil rights group noted that such incidents contribute to an increasingly hostile environment for Muslim students nationwide, particularly amid rising Islamophobic rhetoric and reported hate-motivated incidents across the country.
Earlier this month, Washington, D.C., based CAIR’s Texas chapter called on law enforcement authorities to investigate the alleged assault and harassment of Muslim youth while they were praying outdoors as a possible hate crime.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: Wilfredo A. Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, (305) 502-6749, wruiz@cair.com; Megan Amer, CAIR-Florida Policy Director, (813) 440-1028, m-amer@cair.com; Hiba Rahim, CAIR-Florida Deputy Executive Director, (813) 705-5440, hrahim@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com