Stuart Seldowitz during his arrest by the New York Police last November (Getty)

Stuart Seldowitz - who worked as an advisor to former US President Barack Obama - reached an agreement to drop “hate crime” charges against him after he harassed an Egyptian food vendor in Manhattan, New York.

Last Thursday, a US court ordered Seldowitz, who previously served as deputy director of the US State Department's Office of Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, to attend several weeks of anti-bias training in exchange for dropping the case against him.

Seldowitz approached the Egyptian halal food vendor's cart for the first time on November 7, then returned at least three other times, according to court documents.

On November 22, 2023, the New York Police arrested Stuart Seldowitz, after he appeared in video clips harassing an Egyptian young man and calling him a “terrorist,” saying that killing 4,000 Palestinian children in Gaza “is not enough.”

According to NBC News, Seldowitz has agreed to a “plea” deal with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in which the 65-year-old will complete a 26-week anti-bias program at Queens Counseling for Change. He must not commit new violations or violate the protection order against the halal cart worker.

The office noted that Seldowitz is a first-time offender with no prior criminal history, and is now one of at least 10 cases in recent years referred to Queens Counseling for Change.

Prosecutors from the Manhattan District of New York said in the court session that if Stewart completes the program required of him, and no arrests or violations are recorded against him, the charges against him will be requested to be dropped and he is scheduled to appear in court on April 17, 2024.

“If we kill 4,000 Palestinian children, it will not be enough.” A former American diplomat, known for his support for Israel, insults an Egyptian worker in #New York and insults the Holy Qur’an and the shrine of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace. pic.twitter.com/pTuumfoEkh

- Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) November 22, 2023

After Obama's former advisor threatened the seller with harm to his family in Egypt, the New York Police issued a statement, saying, "Stuart Seldowitz was arrested on charges of aggravated harassment, hate crimes, stalking causing fear, and stalking in the workplace."

After the scenes spread, the Gotham Government Relations Foundation announced, in a blog post on the “X” platform, the end of its relationship with Seldowitz, who worked for it.

The foundation described Seldowitz's actions in the scenes as "vile, racist, and unbecoming of its standards of honor."

Gotham Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz, an individual who hasn't contributed to our work in years.

The video of his actions is vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our company.

— Gotham Government Relations (@GothamGovt) November 21, 2023

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned what it called a "sweetheart deal" for Seldowitz, who was caught on video harassing and threatening a Muslim vendor in New York City.

Afaf Nasher, CAIR's New York executive director, said in a statement, "Seldowitz's vile verbal abuse and harassment targeting an innocent street vendor was captured on video for all to see. The sweetheart deal he received from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is a shameful affront to our judicial system "It is absolutely proportional to his actions."

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A post shared by CAIR New York (@cairnewyork)

She added, "Anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim intolerance and hate crimes are on the rise across the country, and light penalties are a slap in the face to the victims. They represent a failure to address the seriousness of the problem, perpetuating the cycle of injustice and further marginalization."

The organization concluded the statement by saying, “When deals like these are made, it is no wonder that only 4% of our society reports hate crimes and bias incidents to law enforcement.”

Seldowitz, who was present but did not speak at the session, worked under five presidents and once served as a Security Council advisor to President Barack Obama.

Young Stuart Seldowitz with team Madelene Albright while voting to continue the suffering of Iraqis and killing Iraqi children.


What religion, cult or ideology do these have, I wonder?


You guess.

pic.twitter.com/UpCcoYNjMb

- 𝔇𝔯 𝔄𝔡𝔑𝔞𝔧𝔦.

(@AdamNN) November 21, 2023

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, America has witnessed a noticeable increase in the level of Islamophobia, as the number of hate crimes against Muslim Americans, and against anyone who appears to be Arab or Muslim, has increased throughout the United States.

In March 2023, American Muslim Representative Ilhan Omar announced the submission of a new draft law to combat Islamophobia and hatred against Muslims in order to be discussed and voted on in the House of Representatives.

Rep.

Omar is holding a press conference to announce a new resolution to condemn the rise in Islamophobia https://t.co/bLCPb6cJe0

— Rep.

Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) March 23, 2023

“We must reaffirm that those with different religious faiths must have the right to worship without fear,” the congresswoman said in a press conference in front of the Capitol building.

Source: Al Jazeera + American press + social networking sites