A Missouri college student who vandalized a 9/11 display to protest “Islamophobia” got hit with a fine and probation, but will be allowed to continue in his high post in student government.
As The Free Press reported in September, Fadel Alkilani, a student at Washington University in St. Louis, yanked out 2,977 small U.S. flags that the campus College Republicans had planted in a park in memory of each victim of the 9/11 attacks.
When confronted, according to a recent account by the campus newspaper, Alkilani told university police that he was a College Republicans member and was replacing old flags with new ones.
In remarks to the campus newspaper after the incident became public, Alkilani said the flags were a “political prop,” and that he was fighting “Islamophobia.”
“A memorial which uses U.S. flags is especially insidious, as it does not recognize those who have fallen, but uses a symbol that was on the shoulders of those who are responsible for the deaths of 900,000 people, and uses the innocent lives lost during 9/11 as a political prop upholding American hegemony,” he said.
“Muslims such as I have faced fear, harassment, and Islamophobia from those who unjustly use the victims of 9/11 as a political cudgel. Those who died during 9/11 deserve better than to be used as a political tool by those who seek to excuse American imperialism and Islamophobia,” Alkilani added.
A subsequent investigation determined that the Muslim activist violated five provisions of the student code of conduct.
He interfered with the rights of other members of the university community. He knowingly furnished false information to the university, and knowingly made a false claim to represent a student group. He also failed to comply with the reasonable and lawful request of university officials, and he committed theft.
Washington University’s administration punished him with a $500 fine and placed him on probation for the rest of his time at the school, with the threat of additional punishment, including possible expulsion, if he violates that. He also must write a “reflective essay” about his vandalism.
According to the conservative Young America’s Foundation, Nick Rodriguez, president of the College Republicans on campus, hoped for something more.
“It was great to see the school take real disciplinary action, but considering the significance of Fadel’s actions I had hoped to see more,” Rodriguez told YAF.
“This case was a unique one, and understanding the lack of precedence, it would have been great to see the school clearly state they would not stand for this behavior.”
Rodriguez suggested his group would take action on its own, and try to impeach Fakilani as Student Union vice president of finance.
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