‘It’s not OK’: UNL Muslim students speak out over video of alleged Islamophobia

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Muslim students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are speaking out after a possible case of Islamophobia.

Lincoln for Palestine posted a video Saturday in which a man is seen and heard making derogatory comments.

According to the students, the comments were made after an event at UNL where a Nebraska nurse shared his experience serving in Gaza.

“This happened, and it’s not OK, and it needs to be addressed,” one student said.

SEE ALSO: University of Nebraska-Lincoln responds to alleged Islamophobia in social media video

The comments in the video include, “You people are evil; you are beyond demonic,” as well as criticisms of the Prophet Muhammad.

Channel 8 sat down with three of the Muslim students who took the video.

One student said she is frustrated and emotional.

“As a Muslim who wears a hijab, I am walking on campus very observant of the environment around me,” she said. “I have to be very cautious about who is near me. I have to take note of what is happening around me.”

The students are calling for action.

“The university has to hold him accountable,” another student said. “If the university does not hold him accountable, this just makes this behavior acceptable. If you’re not going to publicly acknowledge it and you’re not going to publicly condemn it, then this is a sign to Muslim, Palestinian and non-Christian students that they are not welcome at UNL.”

In a statement released on Saturday, the university said:

“The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is committed to ensuring our community remains a safe and supportive environment where all students, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or other identities, learn and thrive in an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

The University is aware of the video and is following its Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedures to address it.  In addition, UNL is taking steps to support individuals on our campus who have been impacted.

If you or someone you know has been impacted, please contact Institutional Equity and Compliance to connect with resources and support. To report a concern, you may use UNL Report or the Discrimination/Harassment Reporting Form.”