The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the sentencing of a man who broke into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) in New Brunswick and thrashed the place nearly a year ago on Eid ul-Fitr.
Jacob Beacher of North Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime in October 2024 following his April 10, 2024, attack on the Islamic center at Rutgers University known as CILRU, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
Beacher had vandalized the Islamic center the night before one of the most festive holidays for Muslims, leaving behind a trail of smashed TVs, destroyed phones, broken printers and appliances in addition to floors littered with glass shards. A Palestinian flag was also missing.
On Tuesday, Beacher was sentenced to six months in prison and a year of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $19,000 in restitution, after pleading guilty to the charge of damage to religious property. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed not to pursue additional charges for making false statements, which they initially filed against him.
In a statement, CAIR-New Jersey Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“While the sentence brings a degree of accountability, it is important to remember that the impact of this attack extends far beyond the physical damage to property. The fear and trauma caused by such acts of hate cannot be easily measured, and the damage to the sense of safety within our community is not something that can be repaired overnight. However, we are encouraged by the steps taken toward justice, and hope this case serves as a reminder that our communities must remain vigilant against all forms of hate and violence.
“We commend the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors for their commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions. Ultimately, this is not just about seeking justice for a specific crime, but about sending a clear message that our shared values of respect, tolerance and inclusion will always outweigh hate and division.
“The Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University is the heart of Muslim life on the New Brunswick campus. Its desecration, especially on the Islamic holiday of Eid, was deeply disturbing.”
In a victim Impact statement, CILRU described the impact of the targeted attack: “The shock and fear within our campus community were palpable. Our sense of safety was shattered, and our holiday was irrevocably marred.”
“Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate have become pervasive in our society, exacerbated by global events like Israel’s war on Gaza. Reports from members of our campus community who attended school with the defendant revealed that his disdain for Muslims and loyalty to Israel were long-standing. In high school, he reportedly harassed students wearing Muslim religious attire while enrobed an Israeli flag. His Islamophobic behavior appears to have persisted into adulthood, culminating in this violent attack against our Chaplaincy,” Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University Chair Atiya Aftab wrote in the impact statement last month.
Last year, CAIR offices nationwide received a total of 8,658 complaints—the highest number ever recorded since the organization’s first civil rights report in 1996. This marks a 7.4% increase from the 8,061 complaints received in 2023, signaling a worsening climate of anti-Muslim bias.
In New Jersey, education-related complaints were at an all-time high in 2024, highlighting a glaring trend of bias. CAIR-New Jersey documented 53 education-related complaints last year, according to the chapter’s latest Civil Rights Report published this month. That’s up from 35 education bias complaints in 2023.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
END
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com