US EditionMuslim Advocacy Group Calls for Action After Video Shows Prayer Disruption at USF
Three men livestreamed an Islamophobic harassment incident targeting Muslim students during dawn prayer, prompting a police investigation and potential criminal charges under Florida law.
- On Nov. 18, at dawn the University of South Florida's Muslim Student Association reported three men interrupted roughly 10 members praying Fajr on the Collins Boulevard parking garage roof.
- Richard Penkoski and Christopher Svochak are linked to Warriors for Christ and have posted similar `street preaching` videos, with Penkoski facing past legal disputes for targeting incidents.
- The men set up a spray-painted cardboard box reading `KAABA 2.0 JESUS IS LORD` and offered bacon from a Wawa container while students remained kneeling in prayer.
- USF Police Department say they are investigating, gathering evidence, and plan to refer the case to the Hillsborough/13th Circuit State Attorney's Office; campus officials will increase police presence, reach out to affected students, and the USF Muslim Student Association will hold a press conference Friday.
- On Wednesday, CAIR Florida called for a hate-crime probe, citing Florida Statutes 871.01 and 784.0493, which criminalize disrupting religious assembly and harassment based on religion.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Muslim USF students harassed during morning prayers; 3 face felony charges - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
A video posted on social media by students from the University of South Florida’s Muslim Student Association shows a disruption during a morning prayer that led police to file felony charges against three men. In the video, it appears that a group of three men is eating bacon and harassing the Muslim students over their religious beliefs while they prayed. “Take that towel off of your head! Take that towel off of your head,” one man yelled at th…
‘Stand with us’: Muslim students call on USF for a stronger response after prayer harassment
Abu Tahir had only been praying for a few minutes when he heard footsteps behind him. “I just assumed it was another student joining the congregation,” Tahir said. “Then I started to see movement in front of me, and very quickly I realized the reality of the situation.” Tahir was leading USF’s Muslim Student Association’s […] The post ‘Stand with us’: Muslim students call on USF for a stronger response after prayer harassment appeared first on…
Muslim advocacy group calls for action after video shows prayer disruption at USF
TAMPA, Fla. — The CAIR-Florida Muslim advocacy group plans to hold a press conference on Friday to urge government officials and law enforcement to condemn the prayer disruption against the students. Cell phone video captures the moment a Muslim prayer session was disrupted on campus at the University of South Florida. In the video, three [...]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
