American man admits to vandalizing ‘Islamic Life Center’ at Rutgers University

A New Jersey man has admitted to committing a hate crime in violation of U.S. federal laws by vandalizing property at the “Islamic Life Center” at Rutgers University, which the Department of Justice described as a “hate crime motivated by Islamophobia.”

The incident occurred in April, during Eid al-Fitr, according to Reuters. Human rights groups have been monitoring an increase in threats against Muslims, Arabs, and Jews in the U.S. since the wars in Gaza and Lebanon following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants.