A New York City man who attacked Jewish counter-protesters at three separate pro-Palestinian rallies has been sentenced to 17 months in prison, following a hate crime conviction that revealed his self-described identity as a “Jew hater,” reports The Jerusalem Post.
Tarek Bazrouk, 20, pleaded guilty in June to targeting victims for their Jewish or Israeli identity. His sentence, delivered on Tuesday by US District Judge Richard Berman, also includes three years of supervised release.
In court, Judge Berman read aloud a letter Bazrouk had submitted in which he said there was “no excuse for my behaviour” and claimed that he had “let feelings over the suffering in Gaza get the best of me.” The judge, however, made clear that antisemitic violence would not be tolerated, stating: “If you assault somebody unprovoked just because that random somebody is an actual or perceived Jew because you, the assaulter, hate Jews, you are very likely to go to jail. It’s that simple.”
Bazrouk’s conviction followed a series of three antisemitic assaults between early 2023 and January 2024. During these incidents, he punched, kicked, and shouted antisemitic slurs at Jewish pro-Israel protesters. One attack left a victim with a broken nose.
An investigation by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York revealed that Bazrouk had referred to himself in text messages as a “Jew hater” and prayed for “Allah to get us rid of [Jews].” During one of the attacks, he wore a green headband commonly associated with Hamas, and investigators said he had expressed joy upon learning that a family member was involved with the terrorist group.
In court, Bazrouk addressed his victims directly, saying: “I’m sorry, guys, and hope you can forgive me for my actions.”
However, one victim told the court he had suffered from Bazrouk’s “vicious campaign against Jews,” while another said he did not believe Bazrouk’s remorse was genuine.
The case drew strong reactions across the political spectrum. More than 12,000 people signed a Change.org petition urging the court to show leniency and count time served as sufficient punishment, while over 200 pro-Palestinian supporters attended the sentencing hearing outside Manhattan’s federal court. Pro-Israel advocates also gathered to demand a strong sentence, arguing that Bazrouk’s actions exemplified the growing normalisation of antisemitic violence under the guise of political activism.
Judge Berman dismissed the calls for leniency, affirming that hate-motivated violence against Jews would carry serious legal consequences.
Photo credit: US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
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