VIDEO: Hate comments do not deter Islamic prayer

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Despite comments on The Miami Hurricane’s Web site expressing hate and discrimination regarding recent coverage of Islamic Awareness Month, students still gathered around Richter Library last Friday to practice their religion.

The Muslim Students of University of Miami arranged for the Islamic call to prayer, or Adhan, to be played from the library’s clock tower Friday at 1:30 p.m. throughout March.

Although Friday’s call to prayer should have been no different than past Fridays, more than 100 people left comments about the event on The Hurricane’s Web site. Three comments that threatened violence against the worshippers were removed for violating The Hurricane’s online comment policy.

The policy is to remove posts that are defamatory, obscene or threaten violence.

Although anyone — not just members of the UM community — can comment, the director of International Student and Scholar Services Teresa de la Guardia was in front of Richter last Friday to monitor the situation.

De la Guardia, who also helped MSUM arrange the call to prayer, said religious expression on campus is not sponsored by the university, but is facilitated by the university as long as there is “a fair allocation of resources” among organizations.

Aside from starting 24 minutes late, the call to prayer went as planned on Friday. Students also showed their support for MSUM.

“I believe enough in my religion to believe in other religions,” said sophomore Shoshana Gottesman, a member of Jews and Muslims who was listening to the prayer. “If they are suppressed, I’m suppressed.”

Karyn Meshbane may be contacted at k.meshbane@umiami.edu.

Other examples of religious expression on campus

Throughout Hanukkah, a menorah was placed on the UC Rock by Chabad

In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration this January, United Black Students organized a church service held in the lower lounge of the University Center

The Hindu Students Council held Garba-Raas last semester, which included dancing and music on the UC patio

– Compiled by Farah Dosani