Emotionally draining is how best to describe the past six months for many Muslim Americans. Oscillating between outrage, hopelessness and determination, our diverse communities have spent the past six months doing whatever we can to end the senseless murder of over 33,000 Palestinians, including 13,000 children. We have watched in horror the Israeli military’s mass bombings, systematic starvation, and destruction of basic infrastructure in Gaza.
The celebratory mood of Eid, therefore, could not come soon enough.
After a month of fasting, Muslims across the country gather at their mosques for the Eid al-Fitr morning prayer alongside fellow congregants. Like other religions’ holidays, Eid is a time of joy and relaxation with friends and family.
But for Muslim students at Rutgers University, a day that was supposed to be celebratory quickly turned terrifying.
When they arrived for Eid prayer the morning of April 10, Muslim students found the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University, or CILRU, vandalized. Islamic art with Quranic scripture lied shattered on the ground. Windows were broken and televisions were destroyed. And the Palestinian flag on display at the Islamic center was stolen.
To read the full oped by Sahar Aziz, click here.
