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Former State Department Employee May Have Hate Crime Charges Dismissed

A former State Department employee charged with a hate crime in November after he harassed a halal food vendor in Manhattan may have his charges dismissed if he completes a 26-week anti-bias course and fulfills other requirements, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors to Consider Dismissing Charges

During a court appearance on Wednesday, Manhattan prosecutors revealed that if Stuart Seldowitz, the accused, successfully completes the anti-bias program offered by Queens Counseling for Change, has no new arrests, and does not violate a protective order, they would request the dismissal of his charges. Seldowitz reportedly agreed to these conditions.

Seldowitz, who is 65 years old, has no prior criminal history, and it is common for prosecutors to refer individuals charged with nonviolent misdemeanor hate crimes for such training. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has previously referred 10 cases to the Queens organization in recent years, according to a spokeswoman.

Criticism Over Lenient Punishment

Afaf Nasher, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of New York, expressed disappointment in a statement, stating that “light punishments are a slap in the face to the victims.” Nasher further criticized the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, calling the deal given to Seldowitz a “shameful affront” to the justice system.

Seldowitz’s lawyer, Scott Bookstein, declined to comment on the matter.

Escalating Tensions and Increase in Hate Crimes

The incident between Seldowitz and the halal food vendor gained attention when video recordings of their encounters went viral. These incidents occurred during a period of heightened tension between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups following the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. New York City has seen frequent demonstrations relating to the conflict, leading to increased tensions in the area.

During October, the number of hate crimes reported in the city was more than double compared to the previous year. Antisemitic incidents specifically tripled during the same period. The Manhattan district attorney’s office initiated 111 hate crime cases last year through mid-December, indicating a rise compared to the previous two years.

Details of the Harassment Incident

The charges against Seldowitz arose when the vendor, identified as a 24-year-old man, reported being approached by Seldowitz multiple times while working on the Upper East Side. The vendor claimed that Seldowitz made Islamophobic statements, causing him to feel afraid and annoyed.

In the videos, Seldowitz can be seen taking pictures of the vendor, verbally berating him, and referring to him as a “terrorist.” He also made derogatory comments about Islam’s founder, the Prophet Muhammad. Seldowitz even threatened to send pictures of the vendor to “friends in immigration.”

Seldowitz’s Background and Career

Prior to the incident, Seldowitz had a long career in government, serving in both Democratic and Republican administrations. His roles included acting director for the National Security Council’s South Asia Directorate and a position in the State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs.

In 2022, Gotham Government Relations, a Manhattan lobbying firm, announced Seldowitz as its new foreign affairs chair. However, the firm later removed the announcement from its website. David Schwartz, the firm’s president, clarified that Seldowitz was never an employee or registered lobbyist for the company.

In an interview with The New York Times, Seldowitz claimed that his anger towards the vendor stemmed from the latter’s alleged support for Hamas. However, no evidence of such claims was found in the publicly available videos.

Seldowitz expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging that he insulted the vendor’s religion. He stated, “I’ve said things to him that, in retrospect, I probably regret, though — that I do regret.”

The outcome of Seldowitz’s case will likely continue to spark discussions about appropriate punishment for hate crimes and the need for effective anti-bias training programs.

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