The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the decision by the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office to file criminal charges against three men who harassed and disrupted Muslim students during a prayer gathering at the University of South Florida (USF).
Video: CAIR-Florida Welcomes Charges Filed in USF Prayer Harassment
Richard Penkoski, Christopher Svochak, and Ricardo Yepez have each been charged with disturbing a religious assembly and disorderly conduct following an incident on Nov. 18, 2025. According to investigators, the defendants targeted a group of 11 students and community members, repeatedly interrupting their worship until the gathering was forced to end.
CAIR-Florida Interim Executive Director Hiba Rahim issued the following statement:
“We welcome the state attorney’s decision to hold these individuals accountable for their disruptive and harassing behavior. This action sends a clear message: the harassment of students while they are practicing their faith is unacceptable and will be met with legal consequences. While we believe the evidence of bias in this case is significant, we respect the strategic decision to pursue charges that offer the most direct path to a conviction. Our primary focus is ensuring the safety of Muslim students on campus and protecting the sacred, constitutional right to worship without fear of intimidation.”
The charges were filed under Florida Statute 871.01, which criminalizes the willful interruption of people gathered for worship. Although the State Attorney’s Office noted that it did not seek hate crime enhancements due to constitutional protections regarding offensive speech, CAIR-Florida maintains that the prosecution is a vital step in deterring future criminal conduct targeting religious minorities.
“This prosecution is a vital step in protecting our constitutional freedoms,” said CAIR-Florida Communications Director Wilfredo Ruiz. “We are hopeful that this case reinforces that Florida must remain a place where all people can pray in peace and dignity, free from targeted harassment.”
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.
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CONTACT: Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director 305-502-6749 wruiz@cair.com