An Arizona State University postdoctoral analysis scholar is on leave because the establishment investigates his confrontation with a woman in a hijab that was captured on video, the varsity mentioned Tuesday.
The confrontation occurred Sunday throughout a pro-Israel rally simply exterior campus in Tempe. Viral cellphone video exhibits the scholar, Jonathan Yudelman, and one other man, not recognized, confront the woman, who was carrying a hijab.
It’s not clear what occurred earlier than the video captures the scholar going through off with the woman, however through the clip, Yudelman mentioned, “I’m literally in your face — that’s right.”
During the interplay, the woman might be seen backing away as Yudelman repeatedly advances, typically together with his arms raised, and will get inches away from her.
“You’re disrespecting my religious boundaries,” the woman says.
“You disrespect my sense of humanity, b—-,” Yudelman says again.
In a press release, the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the incident, calling for “law enforcement to arrest Arizona State University (ASU) professor Jonathan Yudelman for allegedly harassing and assaulting a Muslim woman in a hijab during his participation in a pro-Israel protest near campus.”
“Such behavior is not only discriminatory but also violates the fundamental principles of academic integrity and respect for diversity that professors should uphold inside and outside of the classroom,” mentioned Azza Abuseif, government director of the chapter, whereas additionally calling on ASU to fireside Yudelman.
On Tuesday, Arizona State University responded to the video and criticism of Yudelman.
“ASU is aware of the allegations against Jonathan Yudelman and is investigating them,” the varsity mentioned in a press release. “Dr. Yudelman is on leave and will remain so pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Yudelman didn’t reply to requests for remark despatched to his ASU e-mail deal with and thru contacts at different establishments he is been affiliated with lately.
NBC affiliate KPNX of Phoenix interviewed Yudelman earlier than the confrontation. He described pro-Palestinian protests at universities throughout the nation as “campuses being taken over by supporters of terrorism” and decried what he described as “Jewish students being intimidated.”
“It was important to come out and make a statement for the community,” Yudelman mentioned.
A campus rabbi who advises college students who organized the pro-Israel rally and who spoke on the occasion did not instantly reply to a request for remark. One of the coed teams that organized the occasion Sunday, Chabad at ASU, additionally didn’t reply.
The college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter additionally didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Yudelman is a scholar at ASU’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. The college listed him as educating courses titled “Great Debates in American Politics” and “Great Ideas of Politics and Ethics.”
He can be listed as an assistant professor of political principle in mental basis at University of Austin in Texas, and has additionally held postdoctoral positions at Princeton, Harvard and Baylor, based on his University of Austin biography.
“His current research focuses on early modern political theory, the idea of progress, sources of political authority, and the intersection of politics and religion,” it said.
Yudelman is listed as being on the college of the Tikvah Fund, a nonprofit group in New York City that promotes Jewish concepts and describes itself on its web site as “politically Zionist, economically free-market oriented, culturally traditional, and theologically open-minded.”
A spokesperson for Arizona State mentioned round 100 folks attended Sunday’s pro-Israel rally, which was in distinction to global protests and campus encampments vital of Israel’s warfare in neighboring Gaza following Hamas militant’s Oct. 7 shock attack on Israel.
The spokesperson mentioned one particular person not affiliated with the varsity was arrested and accused of spray-painting college property throughout a “pro-Palestine” rally the weekend prior.
Erick Mendoza and Matthew Mulligan contributed.