Islamic Circle of North America

—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

JAMAICA, New York (February 14, 2010) – In a press release issued today, the Islamic Circle of North America condemned the recent arrest of 11 students at the University of California, Irvine.

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On Monday, February 8th, 11 students protested during a speech given by Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren at UCI. The students were promptly arrested and escorted from the premises. While UCI security officers were within their right in removing the students from the area, Chancellor Drake and UCI officials have yet to make clear what crime was committed by these individuals to warrant their arrest. Interruption is not a legal offense, and the students were neither violent nor unlawful in their protesting.

Civil disobedience has a longstanding history in the struggle for justice in America and across the globe; such acts have been key in revolutionizing the world and securing the many freedoms we enjoy today. To arrest and threaten students with suspension and/or expulsion for voicing their opinions is ludicrous and cannot be tolerated.

ICNA encourages the American Muslim community to contact Chancellor Drake and the Dean of Students to oppose the unjust treatment of the Irvine 11. It is imperative that we support students who are being subjected to discriminatory enforcement of university policies. Voice your concerns by contacting:

Michael Drake, UCI Chancellor
chancellor@uci.edu
949-824-5011

Rameen Talesh, Acting Dean of Students
deanstu@uci.edu
949-824-5181

The Islamic Circle of North America is an American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the promotion of Islamic values.