Stuart Seldowitz, an ex-adviser to former US President Barack Obama, has been arrested after&nbsp;videos emerged showing him hurling a racist and Islamophobic tirade against a food cart vendor in New York.&nbsp;

<h2>Seldowitz arrested</h2>

The 64-year-old, said to be a resident of Manhattan, was arrested on Wednesday (Nov 22) on preliminary charges of second-degree aggravated harassment and three counts of stalking – stalking causing fear, stalking at employment, and stalking as a hate crime – according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).&nbsp;

The NYPD also said that Seldowitz was accused of approaching the 24-year-old at his workplace several times and making hate-laden and Islamophobic remarks.&nbsp;

<h2>Gotham Government Relations sacks former adviser</h2>

The former national security adviser’s arrest took place a day after he was fired from his company, Gotham Government Relations.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-obama-adviser-fired-for-racist-and-islamophobic-comments-in-viral-video-661382">Former Obama adviser fired for racist and Islamophobic comments in viral video</a>

“Gotham Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz, an individual who hasn’t contributed to our work in years,” the lobbying firm said in a statement.&nbsp;

It added, “The video of his actions is vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practise at our firm.”

The firm has since removed Seldowitz’s page from its website.&nbsp;

Seldowitz was hired by the firm last year as its foreign affairs chair.

He had served as the acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate in the Obama administration.&nbsp;

From 1999 to 2003, he was also the deputy director/senior political officer in the US State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs.&nbsp;

<h2>Seldowitz’s remarks</h2>

In the video, Seldowitz starts off by saying that the Egyptian intelligence agency will get hold of the cart vendor’s parents and torture them.&nbsp;

“The Mukhabarat wants your picture. The Mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents. Does your father like his fingernails? They’ll take them out one by one,” said the former advisor, in one of the videos, while the man he’s addressing repeatedly tells him to leave and says he doesn’t speak English.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-was-mossad-chief-behind-the-delay-in-hostage-release-deal-661909">Israel-Hamas war: Was Mossad chief behind the delay in hostage release deal?</a>

To which Seldowitz responds by saying, “Why should I go? Tell me why I should go? I’m standing here. I’m an American. It’s a free country. It’s not like Egypt.”&nbsp;

He was also seen mocking Islam and accusing the 24-year-old employee of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. “You support killing little children,” Seldowitz could be heard telling the vendor in one of the videos.&nbsp;

<h2>‘I do regret’</h2>

In a telephonic interview with The New York Times, on Tuesday (Nov 21), Seldowitz said he had not seen the videos but added that the incident began with him asking the vendor if he was Egyptian.

Subsequently, as the conversation progressed the 24-year-old expressed support for Hamas, Seldowitz told the NYT.&nbsp;

“At that point, I got rather upset and I’ve said things to him, that in retrospect, I probably regret, though – that I do regret,” said Seldowitz.

He also went on to admit saying that instead of focusing on him and his remarks he&nbsp;“expanded into insulting his religion and so on.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Stuart Seldowitz, an ex-adviser to former US President Barack Obama, has been arrested after videos emerged showing him hurling a racist and Islamophobic tirade against a food cart vendor in New York.

Stuart Seldowitz, an ex-adviser to former US President Barack Obama, has been arrested after videos emerged showing him hurling a racist and Islamophobic tirade against a food cart vendor in New York. Seldowitz arrested The 64-year-old, said to be a resident of Manhattan, was arrested on Wednesday (Nov 22) on preliminary charges of second-degree aggravated harassment and three counts of stalking – stalking causing fear, stalking at employment, and stalking as a hate crime – according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). The NYPD also said that Seldowitz was accused of approaching the 24-year-old at his workplace several times and making hate-laden and Islamophobic remarks. Gotham Government Relations sacks former adviser The former national security adviser’s arrest took place a day after he was fired from his company, Gotham Government Relations. ALSO READ | Former Obama adviser fired for racist and Islamophobic comments in viral video “Gotham Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz, an individual who hasn’t contributed to our work in years,” the lobbying firm said in a statement. It added, “The video of his actions is vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practise at our firm.” The firm has since removed Seldowitz’s page from its website. Seldowitz was hired by the firm last year as its foreign affairs chair. He had served as the acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate in the Obama administration. From 1999 to 2003, he was also the deputy director/senior political officer in the US State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs. Seldowitz’s remarks In the video, Seldowitz starts off by saying that the Egyptian intelligence agency will get hold of the cart vendor’s parents and torture them. “The Mukhabarat wants your picture. The Mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents. Does your father like his fingernails? They’ll take them out one by one,” said the former advisor, in one of the videos, while the man he’s addressing repeatedly tells him to leave and says he doesn’t speak English. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war: Was Mossad chief behind the delay in hostage release deal? To which Seldowitz responds by saying, “Why should I go? Tell me why I should go? I’m standing here. I’m an American. It’s a free country. It’s not like Egypt.” He was also seen mocking Islam and accusing the 24-year-old employee of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. “You support killing little children,” Seldowitz could be heard telling the vendor in one of the videos. ‘I do regret’ In a telephonic interview with The New York Times, on Tuesday (Nov 21), Seldowitz said he had not seen the videos but added that the incident began with him asking the vendor if he was Egyptian. Subsequently, as the conversation progressed the 24-year-old expressed support for Hamas, Seldowitz told the NYT. “At that point, I got rather upset and I’ve said things to him, that in retrospect, I probably regret, though – that I do regret,” said Seldowitz. He also went on to admit saying that instead of focusing on him and his remarks he “expanded into insulting his religion and so on.” (With inputs from agencies)

US: Ex-Obama adviser arrested after viral video shows Islamophobic comments hurled at food vendor

The Joe Biden administration has warned schools and colleges in the United States that the nation is witnessing an "alarming rise" in antisemitism and Islamophobia. The authorities have urged educational institutions to take immediate action against the rising threats and harassment.

In a letter on Tuesday (Nov 7), the US Education Department said that in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, there was a "renewed urgency" to fight discrimination against students.

"Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred go against everything we stand for as a nation," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement.

However, hate crimes, unfortunately, are nothing new in the United States.&nbsp;

In the wake of history-changing events like the 9/11 terror attack, the Covid pandemic and now the Israel-Hamas war, the 'land of opportunity' as it was once called becomes the hot bed for Xenophobia — the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange.

<h2>Aftermath of Israel-Hamas war</h2>

In the wake of the ongoing war in the Middle East, the US has seen an "alarming rise" in cases of antisemitism and Islamophobia, as per the Biden administration.

In a recent statement released on the 25th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act, President Joe Biden said: "Here at home, we are facing a rising tide of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination that are fuelling violence and hate across our country."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hate-crime-nyu-students-seen-tearing-down-posters-of-young-israeli-children-kidnapped-by-hamas-watch-648203">NYU students seen tearing down posters of young Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas. Watch!</a>

However, the US President said that "in the wake of Hamas' brutal terrorist assault against Israel," they are "working with community partners to identify, prevent, and disrupt any threats that could harm the Jewish, Muslim, Arab American, Palestinian American, or any other communities."

After Hamas militants launched their attack on October 7, incidents of hate crimes started cropping up very rapidly.

One case that left the world shocked involved a six-year-old child, who became the victim of a senseless hate crime borne out of fear.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mom-im-fine-family-reveal-6-year-old-hate-crime-victims-heartbreaking-last-words-647816">'Mom, I'm fine': 6-year-old Muslim boy's heartbreaking last words before dying in hate crime</a>

Soon after the war started, Wadea al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American Muslim boy, was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife in his home in Illinois, US.&nbsp;

The motive of the crime? Hatred.

The assailant, Wadea's landlord, 71-year-old Joseph M Czuba reportedly entered the little boy's family home yelling: "You Muslims must die!".

In the attack, the child's 32-year-old mother also suffered several stabbing wounds and had to be hospitalised.

Similarly, there have been reports of several disturbing spillovers and prejudices against Muslims and Jews. This includes reports of university students beating up their classmates, tearing down posters of Israeli children taken hostage, and more.

Are these once in a blue moon kinds of incidents?

Unfortunately, no. Modern history has already been witness to two such major episodes, where a particular race or religion saw widespread hatred: the Covid pandemic and the 9/11 attacks.

<h2>Asian community becomes the target</h2>

In 2020, the world came face to face with a dangerous common enemy: the coronavirus.&nbsp;

An invisible ailment that targeted our bodies from the inside forced the global population to quarantine themselves from the world.&nbsp;

Millions lost their lives as humanity everywhere grappled with the rapidly strengthening foe, whose origins remain unclear even now.

Origin theories point the finger at China and postulate that the virus which was first recorded in the nation's Wuhan is either a laboratory leak — accidental or intentional, or that it is a zoonotic disease that jumped species in Wuhan's wet markets.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rise-in-hate-crime-against-asian-americans-amid-pandemic-us-senators-296718">Rise in hate crime against Asian-Americans amid pandemic: US senators</a>

During the almost two years when the pandemic was at its peak, in the US, as per the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), crimes against the Asian American community saw a significant rise.

Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 77 per cent increase in hate crimes against Asian people living in the US.

Furthermore, during the period from March 2020 to June 2021, more than 9,000 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported, as per advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate Center. This included verbal harassment, including being called things like the "Chinese Coronavirus".&nbsp;

As per a Health Affairs report, these numbers are not a just reflection of the incidents as hate crimes frequently go unreported. A 2021 poll by Axios/Ipsos, called the 'Hard Truth Civil Rights &amp; Social Justice poll' found that 82 per cent of Asian Americans agreed that as a group they've faced discrimination because of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 57 per cent said they often or sometimes feel unsafe in public.

<h2>Muslims, Arabs and Islamophobia</h2>

After the horrific 9/11 attack in the US, there was a hate crime backlash that targeted&nbsp;people of Arab and Muslim origins. Even Sikhs, South Asians and those perceived to belong to be Arab or Muslim also faced the adverse response.

These incidents were marked by ferocity and included murder, physical assaults, arson, vandalism of places of worship and other property damage, death threats and public harassment.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-antisemitic-islamophobic-incidents-surge-with-war-advocates-say-651470">US antisemitic, Islamophobic incidents surge with war, advocates say</a>

As per the Human Rights Watch, most of these violent incidents occurred in the first months after September 11. FBI data shows a seventeen-fold increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes.&nbsp;

What does this data tell us? Does the United States — the dream destination&nbsp;of many from developing nations — able to fully grasp the concept of tolerance?

The Joe Biden administration has warned schools and colleges in the United States that the nation is witnessing an "alarming rise" in antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The Joe Biden administration has warned schools and colleges in the United States that the nation is witnessing an "alarming rise" in antisemitism and Islamophobia. The authorities have urged educational institutions to take immediate action against the rising threats and harassment. In a letter on Tuesday (Nov 7), the US Education Department said that in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, there was a "renewed urgency" to fight discrimination against students. "Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred go against everything we stand for as a nation," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement. However, hate crimes, unfortunately, are nothing new in the United States. In the wake of history-changing events like the 9/11 terror attack, the Covid pandemic and now the Israel-Hamas war, the 'land of opportunity' as it was once called becomes the hot bed for Xenophobia — the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. Aftermath of Israel-Hamas war In the wake of the ongoing war in the Middle East, the US has seen an "alarming rise" in cases of antisemitism and Islamophobia, as per the Biden administration. In a recent statement released on the 25th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act, President Joe Biden said: "Here at home, we are facing a rising tide of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination that are fuelling violence and hate across our country." Also read | NYU students seen tearing down posters of young Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas. Watch! However, the US President said that "in the wake of Hamas' brutal terrorist assault against Israel," they are "working with community partners to identify, prevent, and disrupt any threats that could harm the Jewish, Muslim, Arab American, Palestinian American, or any other communities." After Hamas militants launched their attack on October 7, incidents of hate crimes started cropping up very rapidly. One case that left the world shocked involved a six-year-old child, who became the victim of a senseless hate crime borne out of fear. Also read | 'Mom, I'm fine': 6-year-old Muslim boy's heartbreaking last words before dying in hate crime Soon after the war started, Wadea al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American Muslim boy, was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife in his home in Illinois, US. The motive of the crime? Hatred. The assailant, Wadea's landlord, 71-year-old Joseph M Czuba reportedly entered the little boy's family home yelling: "You Muslims must die!". In the attack, the child's 32-year-old mother also suffered several stabbing wounds and had to be hospitalised. Similarly, there have been reports of several disturbing spillovers and prejudices against Muslims and Jews. This includes reports of university students beating up their classmates, tearing down posters of Israeli children taken hostage, and more. Are these once in a blue moon kinds of incidents? Unfortunately, no. Modern history has already been witness to two such major episodes, where a particular race or religion saw widespread hatred: the Covid pandemic and the 9/11 attacks. Asian community becomes the target In 2020, the world came face to face with a dangerous common enemy: the coronavirus. An invisible ailment that targeted our bodies from the inside forced the global population to quarantine themselves from the world. Millions lost their lives as humanity everywhere grappled with the rapidly strengthening foe, whose origins remain unclear even now. Origin theories point the finger at China and postulate that the virus which was first recorded in the nation's Wuhan is either a laboratory leak — accidental or intentional, or that it is a zoonotic disease that jumped species in Wuhan's wet markets. Also read | Rise in hate crime against Asian-Americans amid pandemic: US senators During the almost two years when the pandemic was at its peak, in the US, as per the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), crimes against the Asian American community saw a significant rise. Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 77 per cent increase in hate crimes against Asian people living in the US. Furthermore, during the period from March 2020 to June 2021, more than 9,000 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported, as per advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate Center. This included verbal harassment, including being called things like the "Chinese Coronavirus". As per a Health Affairs report, these numbers are not a just reflection of the incidents as hate crimes frequently go unreported. A 2021 poll by Axios/Ipsos, called the 'Hard Truth Civil Rights & Social Justice poll' found that 82 per cent of Asian Americans agreed that as a group they've faced discrimination because of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 57 per cent said they often or sometimes feel unsafe in public. Muslims, Arabs and Islamophobia After the horrific 9/11 attack in the US, there was a hate crime backlash that targeted people of Arab and Muslim origins. Even Sikhs, South Asians and those perceived to belong to be Arab or Muslim also faced the adverse response. These incidents were marked by ferocity and included murder, physical assaults, arson, vandalism of places of worship and other property damage, death threats and public harassment. Also read | US antisemitic, Islamophobic incidents surge with war, advocates say As per the Human Rights Watch, most of these violent incidents occurred in the first months after September 11. FBI data shows a seventeen-fold increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes. What does this data tell us? Does the United States — the dream destination of many from developing nations — able to fully grasp the concept of tolerance?

Explained | Islamophobia, antisemitism, Xenophobia: The many faces of hate in the US

An American teacher was suspended earlier this month after being accused of saying, "We don't negotiate with terrorists," in response to a query from an Arab-Muslim kid in math class.

According to CNN, the alleged incident occurred at Ridgefield Memorial High School, in New Jersey when Mohammed Zubi, 17, requested the teaching assistant whether the class might have more time to do an assignment. 
 
<a href="Also read | Islamophobia: A fungible prop for Muslim religious soft power">Also read | Islamophobia: A fungible prop for Muslim religious soft power</a>

"He responded by saying, 'we don't negotiate with terrorists,' so I looked around in shock. There were people laughing, and there were other people in shock, and I turned around and asked my friend, 'Did he really just say that?' and she said yes," Mohammed Zubi told to WABC-TV. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/has-islamophobia-become-a-political-tool-382813">Also read | Has Islamophobia become a political tool?</a>

"I don’t want to see anyone, and I’ve been in my room all day – don’t want to see my friends, especially after what that teacher said to me," he added.

Ridgefield School District confirmed the teacher's suspension and stated that it "fully intends to pursue any and all legal measures." 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Artificial Intelligence is racist and islamophobic

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-artificial-intelligence-is-racist-and-islamophobic-422781/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to a statement released on October 22, Executive Director Selaedin Maksut of the Council on American Islamic Relations in New Jersey asked for a transparent inquiry.

In addition, the advocacy organisation provided the district "Islamophobia and bullying training for its teachers and employees."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

An American teacher was suspended earlier this month after being accused of saying, "We don't negotiate with terrorists," in response to a query from an Arab-Muslim kid in math class.

An American teacher was suspended earlier this month after being accused of saying, "We don't negotiate with terrorists," in response to a query from an Arab-Muslim kid in math class. According to CNN, the alleged incident occurred at Ridgefield Memorial High School, in New Jersey when Mohammed Zubi, 17, requested the teaching assistant whether the class might have more time to do an assignment. Also read | Islamophobia: A fungible prop for Muslim religious soft power "He responded by saying, 'we don't negotiate with terrorists,' so I looked around in shock. There were people laughing, and there were other people in shock, and I turned around and asked my friend, 'Did he really just say that?' and she said yes," Mohammed Zubi told to WABC-TV. Also read | Has Islamophobia become a political tool? "I don’t want to see anyone, and I’ve been in my room all day – don’t want to see my friends, especially after what that teacher said to me," he added. Ridgefield School District confirmed the teacher's suspension and stated that it "fully intends to pursue any and all legal measures." Watch | Gravitas: Artificial Intelligence is racist and islamophobic According to a statement released on October 22, Executive Director Selaedin Maksut of the Council on American Islamic Relations in New Jersey asked for a transparent inquiry. In addition, the advocacy organisation provided the district "Islamophobia and bullying training for its teachers and employees." (With inputs from agencies)

US teacher suspended for telling Muslim student 'we don't negotiate with terrorists'