Anti-Muslim posters go up at George Washington University
* Students plan awareness week to counter anti-Islam attitude
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: Another sign of the general feeling against growing Islamist radicalism came to light on Monday here when anti-Muslim posters were found plastered on the walls of George Washington University, widely known as a liberal campus.
Campus police removed the posters and fliers as student bodies met to deplore the incident. One poster carried the photo of an Arab with a description of a “typical Muslim” as one who wears a “suicide vest,” carries a “hidden AK-47” and bears a “peg-leg for smuggling children and heroin”. According to press reports, the posters have upset the student body, which is hosting an “Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week” later this month. Some students thought the posters might be a joke at the expense of the conservatives, as fine print at the bottom of one said: “Brought to you by Students for Conservativo-Fascism Awareness” — and a postscript recommending a BBC video on the politics of fear. The Washington Post quoted a New York Muslim student Najah El Bash, a leader of the conservative Muslim Students Association, who said, “I was just really shocked that this sort of hatred exists on our campus. You never think this would come so close to home, from people youu’re in classes with. It’s scary.”
University President Steven Knapp said in a statement, “There is no place for expressions of hatred on our campus.” He called the fliers reprehensible and said students of different faiths would be gathering this week for a community meal with Muslims during Ramazan. “This event speaks of our university’s commitment to global cultural understanding and respect,” he added. The Young America’s Foundation, a group of the university’s conservative students, whose name appeared under the fliers, denied any linkage. Sergio Gor, president of the group, said he was horrified when he heard about the fliers. “We did not put up those posters,” he said. “Someone took our name and used it. It was hateful. We’re a conservative group on campus. We promote liberty and freedom, not bigotry and hatred.” One former president of the group blamed the Left for the outrage.