Muslim Students Association statement

Muslim Student Association

The Muslim Students Association (MSA) would like to issue a statement in regards to a Halloween image shared on Facebook on October 30. Some members of our Muslim community were deeply affected by the content of the photo, and many were negatively impacted by insensitive and bigoted comments that followed. As the Muslim Students Association, we aim to provide a safe space for Muslims at Washington University; however, we cannot do this independent of student culture and administrative support. To that effect, we are invested in moving forward from this incident in a way that is both healing and productive for Muslim students, other minority students, and our larger Washington University community.  

Last Thursday, MSA hosted a solidarity forum during which Muslim students were given a platform to relate their experiences with Islamophobia on campus and discuss the ways in which they were triggered by this recent incident. It was truly heartwarming to see so many friends and allies show their love and support during the forum, and MSA is deeply grateful towards all who attended. However, insights from the forum have made it strikingly clear that there is a woeful lack of resources and support services for Muslim students to utilize during times of need. The need for a Muslim chaplain, a religious authority figure who can serve as a spiritual resource and to whom students can turn to in times of need, is highly evident. In a similar vein, it appears fitting to establish a space on main campus in which Muslims students can not only congregate to pray and fulfill their daily religious duties, but also seek refuge and build community. We are painfully aware of how small our community is and implore the administration to include representation of Islamic religious services/events alongside other religious groups in admissions, prospective students’, and orientation literature.

One of the greatest lessons Islam teaches us as Muslims is the importance of forgiveness and mercy. As such, MSA is not seeking punitive measures against the individuals in the photo in question nor do we support further mobilization around the photo itself. We recognize that this incident is symptomatic of a larger student culture that needs improvement in the way of cultural understanding and inclusivity, and we intend to be part of a larger coalition of student groups and administrators committed to achieving this end. We applaud the statement released by the SU Diversity Affairs Council earlier this week and echo the call to action issued towards students and administrators in making Washington University a safer and more welcoming campus. In that effort, we hope to also engage with the larger Washington University community in dialogue to promote better understanding and acceptance. We invite you to join us.

With peace,

The Washington University in St. Louis Muslim Students Association

  • Jefferson

    Me too! I want a full service bar at work!

    BTW, What are you saying? That this was offensive because Osama Bin Laden is a symbol of Islam?
    Oh, thanks for clarifying that…

    And while we’re discussing your demands, I demand a Synagogue and Church in Mecca.

    • Madison

      Hell, I demand the ability of non-Muslims to enter Mecca.

  • Syed Ahmed

    Excellent statement and handling of the affairs by the Muslim Students. Mercy and forgiveness were the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

    MSA, keep up your good work of educating and informing our fellow Americans about the beautiful faith of Islam.

    Your supporter from Chicago.

  • Patriot Sam

    I hope your poorly veiled attempt at extortion fails miserably. But I thank you for showing us the true nature of the Muslim community at Washington University.

  • G-Money

    Way to manufacture a crisis, then use the “crisis” to ask for religious centers and spiritual leaders and whatever else you can get Washu to fund, out of political correctness, when Washu is laying people off because of funding problems.

    Oh and it’s so nice of you to use the “mercy and forgiveness” you learned in your religion to not ask for any punishments for the students in the photo. Such a peaceful religion spreading throughout the world….

  • obls unrepentant ghost

    When osama does something s—–, muslims everywhere disown him. they say ‘he’s not a real muslim! there’s no way a real muslim who worships allah could do what osama did!’ this is usually followed with ‘Islam is a religion of peace.”

    That’s fine, it’s entirely unreasonable to hold a billion people guilty for the actions of a few.

    But when people dress up as an enemy of the usa and pretend to execute him, somehow Osama is a representation of muslims everywhere?

    talk about double standards

  • Kait

    Well said.

  • Vae Victus

    I was under the impression that Osama Bin Laden wasn’t a real Musilm. I’ve been told so many times by CAIR and other Muslim organizations. Why does it matter to to the MSA if some people dressed up as the happily deceased enemy of both our country and their religion?

  • WUSTL15

    Boo f—— hoo.