Tampa: Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism has condemned a "serious religiously motivated assault" on Muslim students at the University of South Florida (USF), calling the incident a "direct targeting of Islamic rituals." Members of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) were harassed while performing prayers on campus, an incident that has sparked widespread concern and calls for an investigation.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the Cairo-based observatory cited a video circulating on social media that showed three individuals approaching the students during prayer and engaging in provocative and insulting behaviour. The observatory noted that one attacker was seen eating pork in front of the praying students, while others hurled insults at them over their faith.

The MSA reported that the harassment included assailants shouting at a female student wearing a hijab, demanding she remove her headscarf and using offensive language. The assailants also stomped near the heads of the praying students with steel-toed boots and spat in their direction, the statement added.

The MSA submitted a formal letter to the USF administration outlining demands to strengthen student safety. These include issuing a public statement against Islamophobia, launching an official investigation, implementing security measures, and designating a secure space for religious practice.

Al-Azhar Observatory expressed deep concern over the incident, noting that it turns academic environments-meant to be safe spaces-into places of intimidation. The observatory urged the university to respond swiftly and transparently, emphasising that delays only heighten the fear of victims and that freedom of worship is a legally protected right.