American pleads guilty to beating Islamic center at University of New Jersey | News on Islamophobia

Jacob Beacher vandalized property at the Center for Islamic Living at Rutgers University during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

In the United States, a man pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime after breaking into an Islamic student center at a New Jersey state university.

Jacob Beacher, 24, broke into the Center for Islamic Living at Rutgers University during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in April and damaged property on site, including several religious items, it was announced Thursday the US Department of Justice.

Beacher also stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box from the center, the DOJ said.

CCTV footage showed Beacher approaching the center shortly after 2:30 a.m. on April 10, before an intruder, later determined to be Beacher, forced his way into the center through the back door, according to court documents.

Beacher was arrested April 22 and charged with one count of intentionally obstructing or attempting to obstruct religious practice and one count of making false statements to federal authorities.

“Islamophobic hate crimes have no place in our society today. We will continue to enforce laws that allow people of all faiths to safely practice their religion, including in educational settings,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement.

Beacher faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

Rights groups in the United States and elsewhere have reported a sharp increase in threats and violence against Muslims, Arabs and Jews since the start of the Gaza war, following Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7. 2023.