An apparent case of verbal harassment in Mullins Library Oct. 8 was an isolated incident and not indicative of a larger epidemic of anti-Muslim sentiment, police said.

Doctoral candidate Banan Al-Daraiseh was standing at the main entrance of the library waiting for her friend when an unidentified man began harassing her, as students and staff stood in disbelief, she said.

“There’s no place for you in America,” the man yelled. “There’s no place for Sharia, go back to Sudan.” Sharia law is the sacred law of Islam.

Al-Daraiseh reportedly asked the man whether she was bothering him, to which he responded, “Yes you’re bothering me – the way you’re dressing is bothering me.” Al-Daraiseh and her friend were wearing hijabs – a traditional Muslim head covering.

Library officials attempted to intervene in the conversation and the man eventually left after failing to find an open computer, said Alberta Bailey, director of public services for Mullins Library. Because the library is a state institution, anyone can use the resources it offers, though non-affiliated users are supposed to check in with staff, said Allon Callahan, night circulation supervisor.

The pair subsequently filed a complaint with both the library and UAPD. The man is yet to be identified and the case is still being investigated, said UAPD Lt. Matt Mills. Mills noted that the incident was “definitely not something that occurs frequently.”

Al-Daraiseh also mentioned that she had never previously been approached in such a hateful way.  The incident was likely fueled by misconceptions about the nature of Islam, some of which are perpetuated by news outlets, she said.

The man’s comment about Sharia Law in America may have been fueled by recent statements made by Nevada Senate nominee Sharron Angle, Al-Daraiseh said. Angle told a group of Tea Party supporters earlier this month that two U.S. cities are under Sharia law.

“Misinformation of Muslims in the media can misconstrue people’s thoughts about Islam,” Al-Daraiseh said. “ I feel like some people have misconceptions of Islam because of what they see in the news.”

Reports of the incident were surprising to several UA students, who said a university seemed an unlikely venue for such an intolerant display.

“I’m shocked that in a center of learning and academia a person would say such racist things – especially in the 21^st century,” said junior Evan Sitzes, international relations major.

Junior John Cartwright would have been more surprised if the harasser had been a student or member of the UA community, he said.

“The university encourages a structure of diversity, but outside the university that structure isn’t there,” he said.

Biology student Meenakshi Prajapati was above all frustrated by the incident, and reiterated that the man does not represent the majority opinion in the area, she said.

“What he did is just obnoxious,” Prajapati said. “There are opportunities on campus to educate yourself on Islam.”

The UA offers a contingent major in Middle East Studies and an Arabic language program worth 24 credit hours. The UA is home to the King Fahd Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, where students can apply for an $11,600 scholarship to pursue their Middle Eastern studies.

The Muslimas of UARK, a group of Muslim women in the university, are hosting a lecture at 3:30 p.m. -5:00 p.m. Oct. 22 on “Qur’an, Science and Humanity.” The lecture will take place in the Multicultural Center.

Saba Naseem contributed reporting to this story.