Saudi Students Praise 9-11 Attack at San Diego State University

San Diego State University Daily Aztec | 10-17-01 | Jason Williams, Editor

[Travis McGee]

10/17/01

Student: Attack praised

Conversation of three Saudi students about Sept. 11 events overheard in library

By Jason Williams

Managing Editor

On Saturday, Sept. 22, Zewdalem Kebede, a political science senior and native Ethiopian, was studying in the Reserve Book Room in Love Library. Nearby, a group of Saudi Arabian students sat talking in Arabic -- a language Kebede speaks fluently, having learned it in his native country.

He was attracted to their conversation when the topic shifted to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"They started talking about the Sept. 11 action," he said. "And with that action they were very pleased. They were happy. And they were regretting of missing the 'Big House.'

"It was a long chitchat."

Kebede tried to continue studying, attempting to ignore the students, but finally he approached their table and spoke to them.

"Guys, what you are talking is unfair. How do you feel happy when those 5 to 6,000 people are buried in two or three buildings?" Kebede said. "They are under the rubble or they became ash.

"And you are talking about the action of bin Laden and his group. You are proud of them. You should have to feel shame."

Kebede spoke to the students in Arabic so as not to disturb others studying in the library.

"I didn't want to spread it," he said. "I didn't want the rest of students to hear it."

Another Saudi student approached from a nearby table and spoke to Kebede in English, asking if he had a problem with the other students speaking in Arabic.

A heated exchange took place.

Kebede told him there was no problem, and the man asked if Kebede was going to threaten them, to which he replied he was not and returned to his table.

After about 30 minutes, two university police officers approached Kebede and asked to speak with him. Kebede related his story of what had occurred.

The officers informed Kebede that he should have reported the incident to them rather than get involved.

"I thought to report it to the police, in order that they follow it and so on, but they would hear my words only, so it is useless," Kebede said.

"It was upsetting. Very upsetting."

University Police said both parties involved in the disturbance were cautioned and statements were taken from one of the Saudi Arabian men and Kebede.

Because the Saudi students are listed as victims in the report and the case is non-criminal, their names cannot be released.

The police report states that University Police responded to a disturbance involving Arab students, that Kebede was contacted and that he understood Arabic.

No specific mention was made in the report regarding what Kebede heard the Saudi students saying.

University Police Crime Prevention Specialist Marc Fox said that it basically boils down to "a free speech issue."

"It's horrific, yet legal," Fox said.

All agencies are operating at a "heightened state" since the Sept. 11 attacks, Fox said, and a background investigation is conducted in any instances resembling a threat to see if a statement was "more than just rhetoric."

Fox said the university routinely networks with off-campus law enforcement, and that this case was passed on to "other agencies," though he could not identify them specifically.

"This case was looked at further," Fox said. "It was not dropped. Let's put it that way."

The case is no longer active with University Police.

On Sept. 27, The Daily Aztec printed a crime brief detailing the verbal harassment of four Saudi Arabian men in the Love Library Reserve Book Room. In the brief, Kebede was described as a "foreign national" who accused the men of being connected to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Shortly before the publication of this brief, Kebede related his experience in the library to his History 514 class during a discussion about the terrorist attacks. Students from the class contacted The Daily Aztec about the inconsistency.

Kebede received a letter from the university's Center for Student Rights, dated Sept. 25, requesting that he set up a meeting to discuss his conduct in the Reserve Book Room. The letter stated that he had allegedly been "verbally abusive to other students" and that he had three days to respond or else face possible sanctions.

The letter also stated that "any student of a campus may be expelled, suspended, placed on probation or given a lesser sanction for: Abusive behavior directed toward, or hazing of, a member of the campus community."

Kebede said he met with University Judicial Officer Antionette Jones on Oct. 3.

"What she had heard previously and what I said to her when I went to give my statement according to the summons is different. She told me what the police officer reported. It was not proper or accurate what she had heard," Kebede said.

Cases handled by the Center for Student Rights are considered private and not made available to the public.

"What have I done to these Arab guys? I have done nothing," Kebede said. "How can they be happy when innocent people just perished? Vanished by the cruel actions of their own brothers.

"It's sad, that's what I told them. Of this am I going to be charged and penalized with a warning or a probation or expelling from school? No, damn. No one would do that.

"I haven't committed any wrong."

In numerous addresses, President George W. Bush has made clear that the war on terrorism is not a war on the Muslim people nor the Islamic faith, stating that Americans should be tolerant and not treat Muslims different than any other American.

Across the nation there have been episodes of hate, some deadly.

University President Stephen Weber entreated students not to give in to and propagate a backlash against international students on campus in an address at the Sept. 13 memorial for those lost in the attacks.

Muslim Student Association President Omar Behnawa has been watching for the backlash on campus, and has yet to see any episodes of hate or anti-U.S. sentiment.

"I have no reason to doubt that it happened," Behnawa said about Kebede's experience. "I'm saying that it's a very sick thing. But I could possibly see that happening."

A decision on the case has since been made, and Kebede will face no penalties at this time, though he was warned in a letter received Oct. 9 that future involvement in "confronting members of the campus community in a manner that is found to be aggressive or abusive" will result in severe disciplinary sanctions.

The letter also stated: "You are admonished to conduct yourself as a responsible member of the campus community in the future."

"I'm naturalized American. I have taken an oath to live to protect this country, so that is my part to do -- for that I am happy," Kebede said. "I am an honest citizen for this country. I showed those guys that there are people who love America, who defend America. That's what I showed.

"Is that a crime?"

[Travis McGee]

Have you gone to their website (reply #97)?

Check out the photo from their New York field trip last spring with the WTC towers behind the student.

[Concentrate]

We don't really know what we have in front of us yet.

Not true. Islam hates whatever is not Islamic.

[Republicus2001]

How can we help this person.

Mabbe a cause for Rev. Jesse Petersen of B.O.N.D

[FITZ]

Will do!! This is a must see.

[cardinal4]

No,every single one of them.Any middle eastern student,worker,etc who is not a citizen must go.They laugh at the tragedy we have suffered,while being educated by us.Then take the knowledge they have gained here in the US,and use it against us.No,deport EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!They are poisoning us as we speak.

[Stultis]

Their site says they just had a "successful Anti-Zionist Week Campaign."

And did you catch this nice little phraseology?

the marginalized citizens of Occupied Palestine known as Israel

IOW Palestine IS Israel. No question of a Palestinian state living in peace with a Jewish state for these young Islamo-fascists.

[cardinal4]

Maybe they could interview this student. Sounds like the type of immigrant we should be welcoming with open arms. Someone that stands up for the USA. Instead the university sends him a warning letter. What do you expect? It was a california school.The Ethiopian Student was lucky they didnt make get invoved with a group hug.

[jrewingjr]

from the "Journal" page:

"This is What New York used to look like.
Those two towers on top right hand corner are now gone!
NEWs!
NEw York, Washington have been bombed. And presz bush's house in Maryland.
The news from the South West Border is that the US Mexican Port of Entry is Closed.
I'm going right now to videotape the event.
email me at zulma@chumitas.com"

Journal page of Terrorist Website

Bush's house! Is this what the plan was? When was this actually posted on her site? Sounds like maybe the Heroes of Flight 93 ruined the itinerary! This needs to be checked out!

[jrewingjr]

I have no idea why the picture isn't showing; it WAS showing when I previewed it. You will see it when you click the "journal" link above though.

[jrewingjr]

Did you read the "bush's house in maryland" bit? I think the bitch knew AHEAD OF TIME of what the real target was. She's so busy with her chicano protest life that maybe she typed this up ahead of time? I'm calling the FBI.

[cardinal4]

It gets worse. Three of the pentagon suicide hijackers lived for years in San Diego, attending the big local mosque "religiously". Two of them lived for a year with the founder of the San Diego Islamic Center, in his house in Lemon Grove. The founder of the Islamic Center is.... a professor at SDSU!!!! This doesnt set off any alarm bells!!??Deport that professor and his accomplices ASAP!!Unbelievable!!!Get rid of every single one of them!!!

[Robert Lomax]

They still haven't seen us pissed yet!

[JJ59]

San Diego State University wants to keep that foreign student money coming. Saudis pay full foreign student price too, since they're not hurting for money. Follow the moolah!

[Ann Archy]

Not only is he lack...but he could be JEWISH!! A Double Hate Crime!!

[TheGoodDoc]

"It's clear that Mr. Kebede is black - so this is clearly a HATE CRIME against HIM"

It is worth pointing out that the Saudis (along with several other muslim states) still purchase and own slaves, who are black.

The Saudi students were therefore deeply offended that a lowly, sub-human negro would dare confront them in their moment of joy, as they celebrated the murders of 6,000 innocent civilain Americans.

Back in Saudi Arabia, these wealthy muslims would have Mr. Kebede as their personal property.

This is a clearest example I have ever seen of the true psychotic and evil nature of contemporary campus political correctness and "hate speech."

[inthesand]

i checked the web site in question, it has a section on border crossing. could this possibly be something that could be used to prepare possible terroist what to expect when trying to enter our country from mexico ?

[fred flinch]

NO NOT GERMANY THAT WE LIVE IN IT'S CLINTON WORLD OF POLITICALLY CORRECTNESS

[a merkin]

Kebede -- a stand-up American.

[fearNlothin]

DEPORT,DEPORT,DEPORT!

[putupon]

"You mean to tell me that none of the men on that campus saw fit to kick those bastards ass?"

What do you mean men? San Diego State is in Kalifornia, the only man I know of is the import from Ethiopia. You need some ass kicking done on the left coast, your best bet is get some diesel dykes from San Fran who got a sex change @ taxpayers expense.