Police were called to break up a disturbance that took place on Hornbake Mall yesterday afternoon when members of the Iranian Students’ Foundation reported that a group of three men was harassing them.

Two University Police officers responded to the call and told the men to leave because they did not have a permit and were creating a public disturbance, which is against university policy. The men apparently made a religious-themed speech to Iranian students and several bystanders. They quickly began arguments with the many Muslim ISF members by arguing that Islam was “evil”. One man had a sign with biblical quotes and a copy of the Bible in his hand, according to student observers and ISF officials.

Police spokeswoman Maj. Cathy Atwell said the police officers encountered no trouble when they told the men to leave.

“[The disruptive party] was harassing the Iranian students, and the officers sent them on their way and told them they couldn’t do that,” Atwell said.

Atwell said people have a right to freedom of speech on the campus, but police will disperse demonstrators if the speech “is disruptive to the university’s business.”

She also warned students and the public of the department’s policy on breaking up such disruptions.

“If we get cooperation, then we’re finished,” Atwell said. “If we don’t get cooperation, then we use additional measures to [disperse them].”

ISF President Venous Mokhtari, a junior biology major, said she was with her group at an ISF information booth on the mall when the men, who she said were dressed in old-fashioned clothing, first arrived and set up near the foundation’s tables. She said she largely ignored the men until she got back to her group’s setup about 2 p.m. after a class.

“At first nobody was paying any attention,” Mokhtari said. “But when I got back from class I realized everyone was really getting worked up.”

Mokhtari said the ISF complained to the Hornbake Library desk, where they were instructed to show the men their permit to gather on the mall and to ask them to leave. After a few more minutes of arguing over free speech, the ISF called police, who sent the men away.

Contact reporter Jeremy Arias at ariasdbk@gmail.com.