The Islamic Center of Tucson has accused University of Arizona (UA) students residing in nearby apartment buildings of throwing garbage on its property and ongoing harassment.
Outreach director Muhammad Zaki noted that the center has had problems with UA students for years.
Video footage recorded on the center’s security cameras revealed unidentified tenants throwing boxes from their balconies at the Sol Y Luna apartments, a luxury housing complex that usually caters to students.
A similar incident reportedly occurred last month when residents of the same apartment threw glass bottles and cans into the parking lot of the Islamic Center.
“I have no idea what their objective is. Sometimes I feel like when they’re throwing these items, they have something to prove to their friends,” Zaki shared. “These are college students — they’re young adults — they’re not children, so they’re well aware of their actions.”
Years-long Harassment
Despite the efforts of Sol Y Luna managers and university officials to curb the reckless and disrespectful behavior, such incidents have recurred over the past seven years.
In January 2016, Syrian immigrant Rania Kanawati was walking to her car after attending Friday Prayer when beer cans were reportedly thrown toward her from behind. In another incident, center president Ahmed Meiloud reportedly heard someone yell, “Terrorist, go back to where you came from!” as he was leaving the building.
“Yes, these are students, usually drunken students, but these attacks aren’t random,” Mr. Meiloud told The New York Times. “We are the target.”
The university has not yet released an official statement concerning the incident.