By: Fern Sidman – Jewish Voice News

An interfaith gathering at the City College of New York (CCNY) descended into turmoil after a guest imam denounced the presence of a Jewish speaker, urged Muslim students to exit the room, and asserted that full implementation of Sharia law would “solve” American societal problems. The incident, documented in a recording obtained by the Times of Israel and cited in a report on Wednesday by World Israel News, has ignited intense concern about rising campus extremism and the fraying state of interfaith dialogue within New York City’s public university system.

According to the audio reviewed by World Israel News, the imam — who identified himself only as “Abdullah” and provided no affiliation with CCNY or any mosque — used his remarks to advance an uncompromising Islamist worldview. What was intended to be a program fostering mutual respect among Christian, Jewish, and Muslim students abruptly transformed into a political and ideological spectacle, culminating in a mass walkout of Muslim attendees.

Throughout the recording, the imam casts Islamic jurisprudence as the superior governing model for the United States, alleging that America’s social ills stem from its abandonment of religious law. As reported by World Israel News, Abdullah framed Sharia not merely as a religious doctrine but as a sweeping political blueprint that would wipe away entire industries and legal traditions fundamental to American life.

“Sharia stands against the oppressor,” he declared. “When sharia is implemented, pornography — gone. Alcohol industry — gone. Gambling system — gone. Interest is gone, which is what they use to enslave you.”

He further asserted that theft under Sharia would warrant amputation punishments — specifically, “cutting off the tips of the hands” — a penalty he said should apply not only to petty criminals but to corporate leaders and financial executives.

“I’m talking about the elite, the filthy rich,” he said. “Those are the ones that continue to steal from people as we speak today. Those are the ones that deserve their tips to be cut off.”

As the World Israel News report noted, the imam made no effort to situate these arguments within a broader social or theological context, presenting Sharia as the sole legitimate moral and legal order capable of rescuing American society.

The tone of the event shifted dramatically when Abdullah became aware of the religious identity of one of his fellow panelists, Ilya Bratman, a representative of CCNY Hillel. The presence of a Jewish speaker — whom he characterized as a “Zionist” — appeared to enrage him instantly, according to the recording cited by World Israel News and the Times of Israel.

“I came here to this event not knowing that I would be sitting next to a Zionist,” he exclaimed. “This is something I’m not going to accept. My people are being killed right now in Gaza.”

The audience burst into loud applause and cheers, the recording shows. Abdullah then escalated further.

“If you’re a Muslim, out of strength and dignity, I ask you to exit this room immediately!”

What followed stunned the room: according to the information provided in the World Israel News report, approximately 100 Muslim students — virtually the entire Muslim delegation — instantly rose and filed out in unison, leaving behind Jewish and Christian students who remained seated in confusion and discomfort.

The moderator, visibly shaken, attempted to restore order, apologizing and reminding attendees that the event was meant to “remain respectful.”

A Jewish student, however, voiced exasperation instead of surprise. “You’re in shock? We’re not. We’re used to it,” the student responded. “That’s how interfaith goes at CCNY.”

The episode triggered an immediate institutional response. A spokesperson for City College of New York, in comments given to the Times of Israel and echoed in the World Israel News report, confirmed that the university has launched a formal investigation.

“CCNY has zero tolerance for acts of hate or bigotry of any kind,” the spokesperson said. “The college will promptly take all necessary and appropriate actions to address any such discrimination and remedy its effects.”

The spokesperson did not clarify whether Imam Abdullah had been formally invited by the college, vetted, or approved through any university procedure. His refusal to identify his institutional or religious affiliation has prompted further questions from students and community organizations.

World Israel News, which has provided consistent reporting on the rise of antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents across U.S. campuses, noted that the imam’s behavior mirrors a broader national trend in which campus interfaith events, diversity programs, and even religious gatherings have become flashpoints for anti-Jewish hostility, particularly following the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023.

The imam’s call for a mass walkout — and the prompt, seemingly coordinated exit of Muslim students — appeared to reinforce long-standing concerns about growing polarization on campuses, especially within public universities overseen by the City University of New York system.

As highlighted in the World Israel News report, CUNY has faced mounting criticism over several years for allowing anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitic rhetoric to take root within student organizations, faculty circles, and sponsored events.

The CCNY incident, according to Jewish students quoted in The Times of Israel report, fits an increasingly predictable pattern: interfaith events meant to bridge differences instead become arenas for publicly humiliating Jewish students, vilifying Israel, or pressuring Jewish participants to defend themselves against charges of complicity in global events far beyond their control.

“This was supposed to bring us together,” one student told Times of Israel. “Instead, it made it clear who some people think doesn’t belong in the room.”

The uproar comes amid a documented surge in campus antisemitism nationwide. Jewish students across American universities have faced escalating hostility since Hamas’s Oct. 7 atrocities — including intimidation, harassment, and exclusion from student activities.

Several CUNY campuses have been at the epicenter of this trend, with prior events featuring chants calling for “globalize the intifada,” boycotts of Jewish speakers, and attempts to block Jewish faculty from participating in campus governance.

In this context, the CCNY episode aligns with concerns expressed by national Jewish organizations that interfaith spaces are increasingly being weaponized to legitimize anti-Jewish rhetoric — sometimes under the guise of political advocacy for Gaza or in the name of religious solidarity.

CCNY has not disclosed what disciplinary or administrative actions may follow its investigation. Questions remain about who invited the imam, whether student clubs were responsible, and whether future interfaith events will be subject to new screening or oversight procedures.

For Jewish students and faculty, the incident reflects a growing fear: that coexistence efforts on campus are collapsing under the weight of imported geopolitical conflicts, with Jewish students increasingly singled out because of their identity or presumed political beliefs.

Meanwhile, faculty members who had encouraged students to attend the event expressed dismay that what was billed as a moment of unity devolved into an ideological rally infused with religious extremism and political agitation.

“What happened here was not interfaith dialogue,” one said. “It was intimidation.”

As the investigation proceeds, the CCNY incident stands as a stark example of the volatile atmosphere facing Jewish students nationwide. An imam calling for mass walkouts, denouncing a Jewish peer, and advocating extremist religious law at a public college event — and receiving applause for it — reflects a profound shift in the norms governing campus speech and interfaith cooperation.

And as the World Israel News report noted, this shift shows no signs of slowing, even as colleges attempt to restore order and rebuild trust among their diverse student populations.