The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Wednesday that it has filed a Title IX complaint with the University of Maryland’s Office of Civil Rights on behalf of two Muslim students who reportedly received death threats and were harassed online.
The incident followed the release of a video on a public social media account in which a former roommate allegedly accused the students of antisemitism and disclosed their private information, including their full names and places of employment. One doxxing video had 207,000 views, 15,500 likes, and 800 comments at the time of CAIR’s complaint.
The former roommate allegedly made anti-Palestinian slurs, including referring to the students as “Hamas terrorists,” creating what CAIR described as a hostile environment. This occurred after a University of Maryland investigation found insufficient evidence to support the accusations against the students.
“Without evidence or justification, this former roommate allegedly made false allegations in a public video, revealing these students’ personal information and exposing them to harassment, hate, and death threats,” said Zainab Chaudry, CAIR’s Maryland director. “By reportedly posting these doxxing videos after the students were cleared by the university, she has jeopardized their lives and caused significant emotional and mental distress.”
Chaudry added that the students have been forced to take security precautions, limit their time on campus, alter their daily routines, and deactivate online accounts to protect themselves. “This is impacting their education, and they fear for their future. University officials have a responsibility to support the victims, ensure their safety, and condemn such malicious and retaliatory behavior,” she said.
CAIR is urging the university to hold the former roommate accountable and to prioritize the victims’ safety in any disciplinary action.The organization is also working with legislators of the Maryland General Assembly to introduce a bill in 2025 to impose stricter penalties for doxxing incidents.
