Faran Afzal
Overview
Faran Afzal attempted to punch a man while participating in a violent anti-Israel counterprotest in May 2021.Afzal has also mocked the victim of a hate crime, expressed support for terrorism, spread hatred of Israel and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Afzal indicated on Twitter that he studied at Brooklyn College in 2015-2016.
As of September 2022, Afzal used the handle “@farantheld” and the screen name “friizzyy.”
As of March 2023, publicly available online sources indicated Afzal was located in Linden, New Jersey.
For more information, see the Canary Mission page Within Our Lifetime: The NYC Org Inciting Its Activists To Violence.
On May 20, 2021, Afzal participated [01:04:32] in a violent counterprotest against a pro-Israel rally in Times Square.
Afzal’s retweet referred to a news report about a Jewish man, Blake Zavadsky,who was punched and called a “dirty Jew” for wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sweatshirt, in December 2021. Zadavsky reportedly suffered a laceration, bruising, and swelling. He was treated at the scene by emergency medical services.
The alleged attacker, later identified as anti-Israel agitator Suleiman Othman, was arrested on January 11, 2022, by the New York Police Department (NYPD) Hate Crimes Task Force on charges of assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime.
Othman participated [00:01:33] in the May 20, 2021 violent protest, alongside Afzal and Gill.
On December 26, 2021, two Jewish college students, Blake Zavadsky and Ilan Kaganovich, were reportedly assaulted by two men outside a Foot Locker in Brooklyn, New York. Zavadsky, who was wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sweatshirt, waspunched in the face by one of the assailants, who called Zavadsky and Kaganovich “dirty Jews.”
Among Palestinians and anti-Israel activists, the term “resistance” can be a euphemism for nationalistic terror. It is often used to excuse or even glorify anti-Israel and anti-Semitic violence.
theres NYU [New York University] alum’s tryna call me antisemitic & accusing me of spreading misinformation for being against an Israeli apartheid state. Im genuinely embaraaazzzed.”
Afzal retweeted a May 30, 2021 tweet by anti-Israel agitator Mohammed El-Kurd that said: “Today, no amount of crocodile op-eds or Hasbarist TV pundits can reverse the true face of Zionism which was unleashed so vividly onto the watching world. The ‘defense’ forces are a constant aggressor and fundamentally, inarguably a terrorist organization…”
Hasbara roughly means “explaining” and refers to Israeli government efforts aimed at communicating to citizens of other countries the rationale underlying Israeli policies.
Afzal retweeted a June 4, 2021 tweet that said: “if you think Palestinians should coexist with their colonizers & oppressors you’re dead going to hell idc [I don’t care].”
Afzal retweeted a June 9, 2021 tweet that said: “Stop ethnic cleansing in Palestine.”
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Afzal retweeted a May 1, 2022 tweet that said: “This Eid, make the right choice and boycott Coca-Cola! Coca-Cola operates in Atarot Israeli settlement, which [was] built on stolen Palestinian lands… #BoycottCocaCola.”
Eid is one of the main holidays celebrated in Islam. Atarot was built on land purchased by Jews from Arabs in 1912, burned and looted by Jordanian forces in 1948, then recovered by Israel in 1967, after Jordan attacked Israel.
Afzal retweeted a June 5, 2021 tweet that said: “Tomorrow in Elizabeth, NJ! #BlockTheBoat.” Afzal’s retweet included a document that explained this “#BlocktheBoat” protest as a call “against Israeli ZIM-operated cargo ship.”
Acts of violence and physical confrontations with police have frequently occurred at WOL protests and marches. WOL uses harassment campaigns to target pro-Israel organizations or companies that do business with Israel, making it a part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Multiple activists who have either burned Israeli flags or led chants at WOL rallies were later jailed for violent anti-Semitic hate crimes, including Saadah Masoud and Waseem Awawdeh. In Masoud’s case, he received 18 months in jail for an anti-Semitic assault at an April 2022 WOL rally and two other anti-Semitic assaults in 2021.
WOL promotes “resistance” against Israel “by any means necessary,” calls to “Globalize the Intifada,” spreads incitement and idolizes [00:34:06] Palestinian terrorists like Leila Khaled and others at rallies and online events.
WOL was founded by Nerdeen Kiswani and Dan Cione in 2015. Kiswani is a frequent speaker at WOL rallies where she has promoted terrorism against Israelis and called for the death of Zionists. She has also provided support for Masoud and other activists following their arrests.
WOL began as the New York City chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), going by NYC SJP, but changed its name in 2018. The group is not found to be registered in any U.S. state as a nonprofit organization under its official name. Nor is there any listing for WOL under its name on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website for tax-exempt organizations.
Violent Palestinian Counterprotest Instagram 20 May 2021
Fox News Report about the Rise in anti-semitic Attacks Nationwide Video 24 May 2021
May 20, 2021 - Throwing a Punch During a Brawl
Afzal threw [00:12:51] a punch at a man during a violent anti-Israel counterprotest and was present [00:00:17] at the scene of a violent brawl. In a Youtube video, Afzal could be seen [00:12:49] at the center of the screen and later [00:13:49] on the right side of the screen. He wore khaki pants, red sneakers and a red t-shirt with the number “11” on the back.On May 20, 2021, Afzal participated [01:04:32] in a violent counterprotest against a pro-Israel rally in Times Square.
On May 21, 2021, the local anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime (WOL) posted two Instagram posts that offered legal support and advice to anyone arrested. The posts also portrayed the assailants as victims.
Afzal then threw [00:00:44] a punch at a man participating in the pro-Israel rally. Afzal was on the right side of the screen and wore the same outfit described above.
During the protest, the anti-Israel activists chanted: “لا اله الا الله والشهيد حبيب الله [There is no God but Allah and the Martyr is a Beloved of Allah].”
In May 2021, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists fired over 4,300 rockets from Gaza at major population centers in Israel. Israel responded by launching OGW, carrying out targeted military strikes in Gaza.
During the rally, anti-Israel activists pushed against a police barricade erected to separate the two groups. The anti-Israel side breached the barricade and marched toward the pro-Israel side where they verbally assaulted the pro-Israel activists. Separate videos showed some anti-Israel activists also stealing Israeli flags from pro-Israel activists.
The anti-Israel activists then moved back to their side of the barricade, where some of them chanted at the Israel supporters: “Nazis! Nazis!”
After demonstrators threw projectiles, police removed the barricade and proceeded to arrest several anti-Israel activists. Police declared the assembly to be “unlawful” and demanded that the crowd disperse or be arrested. Despite police warnings, some rioters reportedly continued to throw projectiles at police while others fled the scene.
While police used bicycles to disperse the rioters and pursue a number of them, some anti-Israel activists overturned police barricades to obstruct the street. Others threw garbage bags filled with trash onto the street while others dragged traffic barriers onto the street and overturned fencing.
Also during the rally, anti-Israel activists from the counterprotest violently attacked and reportedly yelled anti-Semitic slurs at Joseph Borgen, a Jewish man who was heading to the pro-Israel rally in Times Square.
Borgen was beaten to the ground, kicked and punched. Once he was on the ground he was attacked with a crutch, stomped by several counterprotesters and pepper-sprayed.
Police arrested two of the anti-Israel activists and charged them with assault as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment as a hate crime. That same day, other anti-Israel activists also shot fireworks at people.
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Throwing a Punch at a Protester
During the counterprotest, Afzal approached [00:12:20] the scene of a violent brawl just moments [00:00:42] before he threw a punch at a pro-Israel protester in the melee.Afzal then threw [00:00:44] a punch at a man participating in the pro-Israel rally. Afzal was on the right side of the screen and wore the same outfit described above.
During the protest, the anti-Israel activists chanted: “لا اله الا الله والشهيد حبيب الله [There is no God but Allah and the Martyr is a Beloved of Allah].”
Violent Counterprotest
The anti-Israel counterprotest where the brawl occurred was held the day a ceasefire was announced to end Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Walls(OGW) against terror groups in Gaza.In May 2021, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists fired over 4,300 rockets from Gaza at major population centers in Israel. Israel responded by launching OGW, carrying out targeted military strikes in Gaza.
During the rally, anti-Israel activists pushed against a police barricade erected to separate the two groups. The anti-Israel side breached the barricade and marched toward the pro-Israel side where they verbally assaulted the pro-Israel activists. Separate videos showed some anti-Israel activists also stealing Israeli flags from pro-Israel activists.
The anti-Israel activists then moved back to their side of the barricade, where some of them chanted at the Israel supporters: “Nazis! Nazis!”
After demonstrators threw projectiles, police removed the barricade and proceeded to arrest several anti-Israel activists. Police declared the assembly to be “unlawful” and demanded that the crowd disperse or be arrested. Despite police warnings, some rioters reportedly continued to throw projectiles at police while others fled the scene.
While police used bicycles to disperse the rioters and pursue a number of them, some anti-Israel activists overturned police barricades to obstruct the street. Others threw garbage bags filled with trash onto the street while others dragged traffic barriers onto the street and overturned fencing.
Also during the rally, anti-Israel activists from the counterprotest violently attacked and reportedly yelled anti-Semitic slurs at Joseph Borgen, a Jewish man who was heading to the pro-Israel rally in Times Square.
Borgen was beaten to the ground, kicked and punched. Once he was on the ground he was attacked with a crutch, stomped by several counterprotesters and pepper-sprayed.
Police arrested two of the anti-Israel activists and charged them with assault as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment as a hate crime. That same day, other anti-Israel activists also shot fireworks at people.
Mocking a Victim of a Hate Crime
Afzal retweeted a December 29, 2021, tweet by anti-Israel agitator Rohaan Gill that said: “How you rocking a military hoodie and get washed.”Afzal’s retweet referred to a news report about a Jewish man, Blake Zavadsky,who was punched and called a “dirty Jew” for wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sweatshirt, in December 2021. Zadavsky reportedly suffered a laceration, bruising, and swelling. He was treated at the scene by emergency medical services.
The alleged attacker, later identified as anti-Israel agitator Suleiman Othman, was arrested on January 11, 2022, by the New York Police Department (NYPD) Hate Crimes Task Force on charges of assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime.
Othman participated [00:01:33] in the May 20, 2021 violent protest, alongside Afzal and Gill.
On December 26, 2021, two Jewish college students, Blake Zavadsky and Ilan Kaganovich, were reportedly assaulted by two men outside a Foot Locker in Brooklyn, New York. Zavadsky, who was wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sweatshirt, waspunched in the face by one of the assailants, who called Zavadsky and Kaganovich “dirty Jews.”
Supporting Terrorism
Afzal retweeted a May 28, 2021 tweet during OGW that said: “Normalizing resistance is a matter of survival for Palestinians. Enough of bad PR campaigns that disassociates Hamas from Pali. struggle. Resistance is integral part of our cause, hence, demonizing a leading force of Pali. resistance leads to demonization of resistance as a whole.”Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada, European Union, Israel and other countries. Founded in 1987, it has killed thousands of Israeli civilians through mass shootings and suicide bombings. Hamas has also kidnapped children, families and the elderly and held them hostage in Gaza. It has desecrated [slide 2] dead bodies and launched numerous rocket attacks against Israeli civilians.
Among Palestinians and anti-Israel activists, the term “resistance” can be a euphemism for nationalistic terror. It is often used to excuse or even glorify anti-Israel and anti-Semitic violence.
Hatred of Israel
Afzal retweeted a May 28, 2021 tweet that said: “Not a Zionist tryna tell me that since I’ve never been to Gaza or the West Bank I cant say theres a genocide happeningtheres NYU [New York University] alum’s tryna call me antisemitic & accusing me of spreading misinformation for being against an Israeli apartheid state. Im genuinely embaraaazzzed.”Afzal retweeted a May 30, 2021 tweet by anti-Israel agitator Mohammed El-Kurd that said: “Today, no amount of crocodile op-eds or Hasbarist TV pundits can reverse the true face of Zionism which was unleashed so vividly onto the watching world. The ‘defense’ forces are a constant aggressor and fundamentally, inarguably a terrorist organization…”
Zionism is the belief that Jews have the right to self-determination in their own national home, and the right to develop their national culture.
Hasbara roughly means “explaining” and refers to Israeli government efforts aimed at communicating to citizens of other countries the rationale underlying Israeli policies.
Afzal retweeted a June 4, 2021 tweet that said: “if you think Palestinians should coexist with their colonizers & oppressors you’re dead going to hell idc [I don’t care].”
Afzal retweeted a June 9, 2021 tweet that said: “Stop ethnic cleansing in Palestine.”
Supporting BDS
Afzal retweeted a May 24, 2021 tweet by anti-Israel agitator Sabiha Azad that said: “We really organizing a CUNY divestment-sanctions against Israel! We’re coming for all the boroughs in NYC, highways, institutions both public & private sectors who made our lives hell by supporting Zionists when we were students. The fight for Palestinian liberation continues.”Afzal retweeted a May 1, 2022 tweet that said: “This Eid, make the right choice and boycott Coca-Cola! Coca-Cola operates in Atarot Israeli settlement, which [was] built on stolen Palestinian lands… #BoycottCocaCola.”
Eid is one of the main holidays celebrated in Islam. Atarot was built on land purchased by Jews from Arabs in 1912, burned and looted by Jordanian forces in 1948, then recovered by Israel in 1967, after Jordan attacked Israel.
Afzal retweeted a June 5, 2021 tweet that said: “Tomorrow in Elizabeth, NJ! #BlockTheBoat.” Afzal’s retweet included a document that explained this “#BlocktheBoat” protest as a call “against Israeli ZIM-operated cargo ship.”
WOL
Within Our Lifetime (WOL) is a pro-terror activist group in New York City dedicated to Israel’s destruction within the lifetime of its members.Acts of violence and physical confrontations with police have frequently occurred at WOL protests and marches. WOL uses harassment campaigns to target pro-Israel organizations or companies that do business with Israel, making it a part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Multiple activists who have either burned Israeli flags or led chants at WOL rallies were later jailed for violent anti-Semitic hate crimes, including Saadah Masoud and Waseem Awawdeh. In Masoud’s case, he received 18 months in jail for an anti-Semitic assault at an April 2022 WOL rally and two other anti-Semitic assaults in 2021.
WOL promotes “resistance” against Israel “by any means necessary,” calls to “Globalize the Intifada,” spreads incitement and idolizes [00:34:06] Palestinian terrorists like Leila Khaled and others at rallies and online events.
WOL was founded by Nerdeen Kiswani and Dan Cione in 2015. Kiswani is a frequent speaker at WOL rallies where she has promoted terrorism against Israelis and called for the death of Zionists. She has also provided support for Masoud and other activists following their arrests.
WOL began as the New York City chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), going by NYC SJP, but changed its name in 2018. The group is not found to be registered in any U.S. state as a nonprofit organization under its official name. Nor is there any listing for WOL under its name on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website for tax-exempt organizations.
BDS
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was founded by Omar Barghouti in 2005 to challenge “international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.” BDS is an allegedly “Palestinian-led movement,” although leading BDS activists have admitted [00:01:01] this is not true.
One of the demands of BDS includes [point 3] what is generally known as the “right of return,” a demand discredited as a way to eliminate Israel. Barghouti said the “right of return” is a means to “end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.”
Barghouti has said that BDS “aims to turn Israel into a pariah state, as South Africa once was.”
In his activism, Barghouti has also said [00:05:55] regarding Israel: “Definitely, most definitely, we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No…rational Palestinian, not a sellout Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.”
The movement has been linked to numerous terrorist organizations and received a public endorsement from Hamas in 2017.
BDS initiatives include calling on institutions and individuals to divest from Israeli-affiliated companies, promoting academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, and organizing anti-Israel rallies, protests and campaigns.
The movement’s most notable achievement has been the infiltration of university campuses through lobbying for “BDS resolutions.” In these cases, student governments and student groups, backed by their own anti-Israel members and affiliates, have proposed resolutions on some form of boycott of, or divestment from, Israel and Israeli-affiliated entities.
Boycott resolutions, although non-binding, have been passed by student governments on numerous North American campuses.
BDS activity is often aggressive and disruptive. It has been noted that universities that pass BDS resolutions see a marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents on campus. On one campus, when the student government debated a BDS resolution, reports emerged of violent threats against those opposing it.
Social Media and Weblinks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/farantheldExtra Video
Violent Palestinian Counterprotest Instagram 20 May 2021Violent Palestinian Counterprotest Instagram 20 May 2021
Fox News Report about the Rise in anti-semitic Attacks Nationwide Video 24 May 2021
