NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — An Islamic center at Rutgers University in New Jersey was vandalized on the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, according to authorities who said they were investigating it as a hate crime.
A building belonging to the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University had its windows shattered, artwork destroyed, televisions and printers broken and a Palestinian flag vandalized, the group’s president Atiya Aftab said in a statement.
“This reprehensible act, taking place on our holy day, is undoubtedly fueled by Islamophobia and is clearly a hate crime against our Muslim population at Rutgers,” Aftab said.
Rutgers University police said in a statement that they are investigating a burglary, criminal mischief and partisan crime that they say occurred about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday at the center in New Brunswick. According to police, the site was uninhabited at the time of the incident.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin called the incident “terrible” and said his office is working with other officials to investigate it.
“Let me be clear: New Jersey will not tolerate acts of hatred against the Muslim community,” Platkin said in a statement.
The incident comes after Platkin’s office reported a recent spike in bias incidents in the state.
