The San Diego and Imperial Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SD) today condemned an Islamophobic display on UCSD’s campus during Jewish Heritage Month.
Multiple UCSD students expressed concern to CAIR-SD about the display located at UCSD’s Price Center. Intended to represent the 30,961 lives “impacted as a result of radical Islamic terrorism and war,” the number appears to reference data published by Israel’s Ministry of Defense and National Insurance Institute in anticipation of the Jewish holiday Yom HaZikaron.
In a statement, CAIR-SD Executive Director Tazheen Nizam condemned the display’s Islamophobic rhetoric:
“While we unequivocably mourn the loss of all innocent life and reject antisemitism, framing a political conflict by equating Islam with terrorism and violence is profoundly harmful. Phrases such as ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ do not simply reference acts of violence but instead connect an entire religion and its followers to those acts.
“Islam is practiced by some two billion people around the world, and language that links religious identity to violence contributes to harmful stereotypes about Muslim students and communities. Religion is also a protected characteristic, making rhetoric such as this especially concerning on a university campus. Universities should be spaces where all students feel respected and supported, especially during conversations surrounding difficult and sensitive topics.
“It is also historically inaccurate to label every Israeli soldier death since 1948 as “radical Islamic terrorism.” The conflict long predates recent events and has involved wars, occupation, displacement, and political struggle across generations.
“We demand that UCSD remove this display and take meaningful steps to protect its Muslim students from rhetoric that perpetuates harmful stereotypes about their faith and identity.”
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SD Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, (760) 201-7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR-SD Administrative Assistant Madeleine Robichaux, (858) 278-4547, info@sandiego.cair.com