University of Kansas fraternity Zeta Beta Tau expels 4 members for mocking Muslims in video

A University of Kansas fraternity has expelled four members for mocking Muslims in a video posted on the social media app Yeti.

Zeta Beta Tau chapter president Jason Finkelstein said the fraternity learned about the video on 10 April, a day after it had been posted to Yeti. The traditionally Jewish fraternity kicked out the four members on 11 April.

The fraternity released a written statement to the university's student newspaper, the University Daily Kansan, over the weekend and to The Associated Press on 29 April. "As an organisation dedicated to our founding as the world's first Jewish fraternity, we take a strong stance against bigotry and intolerance in all forms," the statement submitted by the fraternity's vice president of external affairs Ben Felderstein read.

According to the Daily Kansan, the video was 10-seconds long and showed a group of fraternity members laughing as one yelled "Allahu Akbar". The phrase means "God is greater" in Arabic.

The president of the University's Muslim Student Association, Shegufta Huma, praised the fraternity for its swift action after the video was released.

"They demonstrated their willingness to ensure the Muslim community feels valued," Huma told the Daily Kansan. "The actions of these four individuals do not represent the values and standards of Zeta Beta Tau. This type of hateful behavior is entirely unacceptable and marginalized the Muslim community."

Human added that the MSA was working with the fraternity to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a university spokeswoman, told the AP that the matter was resolved after the fraternity expelled the students.

Another chapter of Zeta Beta Tau in Florida was accused last week of spitting on veterans and urinating on flags during a trip to Panama City Beach. That chapter was officially closed on 29 April, Fox News reported.