A vigil for three Muslim students was held Feb. 12 on Main Campus.
A crowd of around 100 students gathered at the Bell Tower at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday to commemorate the lives of Deah Barakat, 23, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19 – three Muslim students killed near the University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill campus on Feb. 10.
The alleged shooter, Craig Stephen Hicks, is facing three accounts of first-degree murder. Hicks was a neighbor of the victims. Police say there was allegedly an ongoing parking dispute, but members of the Muslim community have expressed concern that the shootings were inspired by Islamophobic sentiment.
The vigil was organized by Yafa Dias, a student at the Community College of Philadelphia and Rose Daraz, a journalism and political science major at Temple.
"A bunch of students made the event on Facebook because we felt we had to pay our respects," Dias said.
Candles and roses were provided for attendees. Students also brought posters that expressed solidarity with the victims.
The vigil opened with a passage from the Quran, read by biology major and senior Abdulrahman Nazif.
An Imam from the MAS Islamic Center of Philadelphia spoke to the crowd, while Nazif translated.
The Imam led a prayer, followed by a moment of silence. A last prayer was delivered before the crowd dispersed.
Dias expressed to the group her hope for the future.
"We stand here today because we care, we believe in a better future, and we can only do that if we stand together, respect each other, and see each other as one," she said.
Odai Abushanab, a second-year dental student, said he recognized many parallels between himself and Barakat. However, he said he is not afraid to continue his own life as he did before.
Nazif said the media coverage of the shooting reinforced the American ideal of freedom of religion for him.
A similar protest took place at City Hall on Monday to bring attention to Islamophobia.
On April 23, the Ride Indego bikeshare system will become available for city-wide use.
The Owls remain undefeated after Austin Jones' last second 32-yard field goal against Massachusetts.
And what of the following people? Why are Muslims awarded special treatment when killed by infidels, particularly since facts indicate their religion had nothing to do with their murder?
On Feb 22 in Potiskum, Nigeria 5 Christians are killed by a Muslim CHILD suicide bomber.
On Feb 21 43 moderate Sunnis are burned alive by fellow Muslims in al-Baghdad, Iraq.
On Feb 21 at least four are killed by a Muslim suicide bomber at a hospital in Qardaha, Syria.
On Feb 20 fifty people are blown to bits by three Muslim suicide bombers in al-Quba, Libya.
On Feb 19 at least 30 are killed when Boko Haram randomly open fire on villagers in Chibok, Nigeria.
Why no vigil for the following deaths? Do Muslims only care about themselves? Is it true that the Qur'an insists Muslims treat infidels as not worthy?
On Feb 15th a 37 year old Jewish man was gunned down by a Muslim in Copenhagen, Denmark.
On Feb 15th a teenaged girl blew herself up in a crowded bus terminal killing 16 in Damaturu, Nigeria.
On Feb 14th a Muslim gunman shot into a free speech event and killed one person in Copenhagen, Denmark.
On Feb 14th a driver for a POLIO TEAM was murdered by a Muslim extremist.
On Feb 13 two children and a women were murdered were among six people murdered by a Mujahid extremist in Samrrah, Iraq.
On Feb 13th 20+ Shi'ite worshippers were murdered by Jundallah gunmen in Peshawar, Pakistan.
On Feb 12th twelve villagers are murdered by Boko Haram in Akida, Nigeria.
On Feb 12th a female suicide bomber murders 11 at a market in Biu, Nigeria.
On Feb 11th ten civilians lose their lives when Sunni terrorists lob shells into Baghdad.
On Feb 10th Boko Haram hijacks a bus and kills seven and kidnaps eight young girls in Koza, Cameroon.
On Feb 10th ten people are beheaded and this is videoed by Ansar Bait al-Maqdis in Arish, Egypt.