Berkeley's Broken Promise: CAIR Condemns Campus as "Hostile" to Muslim Students

The University of California, Berkeley, a campus historically celebrated as the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, has been officially designated a "Hostile Campus" by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). This scathing indictment comes after a sustained period of student activism, which has been met with what activists and civil rights groups describe as institutional neglect and a chilling effect on dissent. The designation places UC Berkeley on a growing list of 28 universities nationwide that CAIR says have failed to protect Muslim, Palestinian, and allied students.

A Campus Divided: Harassment and Policy Changes

Students and alumni detail a campus environment where the promise of free expression has seemingly eroded. According to a 2024 report by CAIR-California, a staggering 85% of Muslim students at UC Berkeley have experienced Islamophobic harassment—the highest percentage among 87 campuses surveyed.

Student August Davis described the daily reality for protesters at Sather Gate, where she and her peers were routinely harassed, cursed at, and falsely accused of antisemitism by passersby. "The university's claim to protect free speech evaporated depending on the type of speech offered," she stated.

The situation was exacerbated by the University of California system's revision of its Code of Conduct in August 2024. These new rules, which include a ban on encampments and a prohibition of full-face masks, are seen by many as a direct attempt to silence pro-Palestinian voices. "They have effectively prevented and suppressed students... from sharing their voices and concerns," said alumna Habiba Geweifa.

Allegations of Institutional Neglect

CAIR and student groups argue that the university's actions go beyond policy changes and reflect a deeper institutional bias. Attorney Jeffrey Wang from CAIR stated that the administration has been "not friendly, to say the least," to Muslim student groups, describing the problem as "ongoing."

The organization’s press release specifically points to several incidents as evidence of this hostility:

• The 2016 suspension of a course on Palestine just one week into the semester.
• The arrest of community members, including one student, during a protest for Palestinian rights in 2024.
• The documented cases of professors allegedly singling out students for their pro-Palestinian views, with no meaningful action taken by the university.

In a powerful display of solidarity and frustration, law student Zaid Yousef announced that students are now asking alumni and donors to "withhold donations until we see an improvement in campus climate." CAIR officials have confirmed they have commitments from 1,000 alumni to do exactly that until the Code of Conduct changes are reversed.

While UC Berkeley officials have issued a statement defending their "unwavering commitment to free speech," student and advocacy groups assert that the administration’s actions speak louder than their words. They maintain that true free speech requires the university to protect, rather than silence, those who speak out against what they view as injustice.