The Council on American-Islamic Relations of New Jersey (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the results of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) in response to a 2024 joint complaint filed by CAIR-NJ and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) against Rutgers University.
The complaint stated that the university engaged in patterned anti-Palestinian bigotry at the Newark law school and New Brunswick undergraduate campuses since the onset of the Palestinian genocide in October 2023.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that Rutgers University “likely operated a hostile environment based on national origin/shared ancestry in university programs or activities without redress as required under Title VI.”
[NOTE: Title VI, enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.]
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“We are pleased with the investigation results released by the U.S. Department of Education’s investigation, which affirms the concerns we raised regarding the discrimination faced by Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students at Rutgers University. It is a critical reminder that universities have a responsibility to create safe, inclusive environments for all members of their community.
“CAIR-NJ looks forward to meaningful changes at Rutgers University that will ensure the safety and rights of Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students are fully protected moving forward. We will continue advocating for justice and equity for students who are targeted because of their national origin, ancestry or faith.”
The probe by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) came in response to a complaint filed by the ADC and CAIR-NJ in April 2024.
The OCR concluded that Rutgers University failed to respond effectively to discrimination reports made Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. The office also found that the university likely violated Title VI by removing posters and memorials placed by Palestinian students aiming to highlight the atrocities of the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
“The University’s apparently pretextual stated reason for removing posters and memorials related to Palestine as violative of the University’s Law School’s posting policy while allowing other students and student groups to hang objects and posters during the same time period, suggests that the University has treated students with shared Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and/or South Asian ancestry and/or their association with these national origins/shared ancestries differently from other students based on shared ancestry,” the OCR wrote in a letter to the university.
Additionally, the OCR found that Rutgers University failed to protect its Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students from hostile actions by third parties, such as doxxing and harassment.
In August, CAIR launched its Unhostile Campus Campaign, a project aimed at fostering a campus environment where Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints.
Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be considered as a potential “institution of particular concern” should complete the form linked below.
SEE: Report a Hostile Campus to CAIR
The organization adds in a disclaimer that the new form is intended solely to inform CAIR’s UnHostile Campus Campaign. Students, faculty, and affiliates seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should continue to contact their local office or chapter, or in the event that there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department.
CAIR’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482