A professor at St. Bonaventure University has issued an apology after posting a message on social media that appeared to celebrate the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., before deleting the remarks less than 12 hours later. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of political rhetoric on college campuses.
The social media account identified as belonging to Ibrahim Zabad, a political science professor at the university in western New York, posted a message late Saturday evening containing inflammatory language and the phrase "Rest in Hell," according to Campus Reform. The post, dated 11:56 p.m., described Graham as "a certified anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, anti-Muslim bloodthirsty bigot" who "personified belligerence and evil" and supported "every savage war Israel launched against the Palestinians and the Lebanese and the Syrians and the Iranians and the Iraqis and the Yemenis."
It further stated that Graham "genuinely endorsed Israel's genocidal war and unabashedly supported the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from their native lands." The post concluded, "He was a merciless warmonger and bigot. Rest in Hell."
By early Sunday morning, at 5:09 a.m., the account had deleted the original post and published an apology. "I want to sincerely apologize for the post regarding the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham," the apology read. "My words were inappropriate and disrespectful and failed to show compassion during time of loss and grief. I regretted the post and the words I used."
A spokesperson for St. Bonaventure University told Fox News Digital that the university is aware of the post and subsequent apology. "His post about Sen. Graham was clearly not aligned with our university mission and values and we will be addressing the situation with him to ensure that Franciscan values are maintained and lived out at St. Bonaventure," the spokesperson said.
Sen. Graham, 71, died Saturday night. An autopsy performed on Sunday suggested that Graham died from aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The news surprised many in Washington, as Graham was an active member of the Senate and was scheduled to appear on "Meet the Press" Sunday morning. His office stated that the death certificate will remain pending until all toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized.
Fox News Digital reached out to Zabad and Graham's office for comment.