On Sunday, Dec. 13, a graduate member of the Muslim Student Association went into the organization’s unlocked office in New Union University room 308 to pray. What waited for him would not only interrupt his plans, but would present a direct affront to his beliefs and set off a police investigation.
“He smelled gasoline but didn’t know what it was,” said Maaz Sohail, president of MSA. “The carpet was soaked.”
The student contacted police at 3:15 p.m., and upon arrival, officers tested the drenched prayer rug for the liquid, which proved to be flammable, possibly gasoline, according to the police report.
The MSA office serves as a lounge area for its 50 members who go in and out throughout the day to pray and utilize religious texts. E-Board meetings are also held there.
“A lot of people got scared,” Sohail said. “We always thought security [in the Union] was fine. I am sure the MSA room is not the only one that is unlocked.”
A bottle containing flammable liquid was left at the scene. The vandalized prayer rug was taken into evidence by University police, yet no damage estimate was reported.
According to Investigator Matt Rossie of Binghamton’s New York State University Police, the bottle was handled by a number of persons before it got to them. University police was unable to retrieve prints from the bottle. Investigating officers have no suspects in the case.
“Nobody saw anyone leave at that time,” Sohail said. The attack came on the Sunday before finals week.
Officers spoke to many individuals regarding the vandalism. Arson is considered a violation of the penal law code of criminal mischief in the fourth degree.
“[The vandals] were registering a protest,” said Donald Quataert, distinguished professor of history who offers courses in Middle Eastern studies. “It seems they knew something about Muslim practices. They don’t like Muslims praying.”
The aggression toward the MSA came days after the stabbing death of anthropology Professor Emeritus Richard Antoun, in which Saudi graduate student Abdulsalam Al-Zahrani was indicted.
MSA members believe it is possible the prayer rug defamation was an intimidation response because of Al-Zahrani’s purported Muslim background.
Reports from the Broome County district attorney’s office stated the stabbing was not religiously or ethnically motivated.
“We have no connection knowing the details of that murder,” said Rossie. “It’d make no sense.”
Rossie also noted the MSA did not receive threats after the stabbing.
Saif Rifat, a member of the MSA, said this could well be a random attack but is hoping for increased camera surveillance and custodians in the New University Union.
According to Rossie, additional police patrols were added during the start of the investigation, but were discontinued because of lack of manpower.
Rossie prompts student groups to be aware of their surroundings, secure the office areas and follow common safety rules as a precaution.
PREVENTING FUTURE INCIDENTS
Locking the door of the MSA office would prove problematic for members who use the office to pray throughout the day.
“The best security is open communication,” Quataert said, noting that BU already offers a wide range of classes in Middle Eastern studies and Islam to corner ignorance and promote religious tolerance.
BU’s Rules of Student Conduct call for “a more severe sanction than would ordinarily accompany that violation,” if proved the crime targeted a particular religious or ethnic group.
According to Milton Chester, the director for the Office of Student Conduct, BU does not see a significant number of religious or racial prejudice cases each year.
“If a suspect is identified, we will review the case and make a decision on how we will move forward,” he said. “I would urge anyone who has any information about this or similar incidents to contact the dean of students or the University police.”
According to Sohail, MSA members never expected something like this to happen in a college environment.
The motto of the MSA is to stand up for peace and to help out the Greater Binghamton community.
The members replaced the prayer rug and started the semester as usual, which included a fundraiser for Haiti.
“We shouldn’t change the way we operate because it would be giving in,” Sohail said. “[Such] actions tend to change you and strike fear into you, but as a group we are pretty strong.”