The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has designated the University of California, Berkeley as a “hostile campus” for Muslim students in its latest 2024–2025 report. The organization accuses the university of enabling Islamophobia and stifling pro-Palestinian activism, despite the school’s long-standing reputation as a hub for leftist politics and social movements.
The report, titled Islamophobia in Higher Education: Combating Systemic Islamophobic Infrastructure in Academia, identifies UC-Berkeley as one of nine “Tier 1” institutions alleged to have “the most hostile campus environments for Palestinian students and their supporters.” CAIR claims the university has punished faculty and students for expressing support for Gaza and failing to protect Muslim students from harassment or intimidation.
Among the specific complaints, CAIR cites disciplinary actions against pro-Palestinian faculty, the cancellation of events related to Gaza, and alleged collaboration between the university and Zionist organizations. The report contends that such actions create a “systemic infrastructure” of Islamophobia embedded within academic institutions, and calls for sweeping changes in university policy.
CAIR has faced longstanding criticism over its own history, including past ties to organizations accused of supporting Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. While the group positions itself as a civil rights organization for Muslims, its stance on Israel and involvement in campus activism has remained controversial across the political spectrum.
