Judge Orders Anti-israel Protesters to Pay Rabbi $182,000 Over False Stalking Claim

 

Hazami Barmada (center) and Atefeh Rokhvand (right) protesting the Israel embassy

A judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled against two anti-Israel activists who sought a restraining order against a rabbi, ordering them to pay $182,000 in legal fees after their claims were deemed baseless.

The dispute began when Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld regularly prayed outside the Israeli embassy, where activists Hazami Barmada and Atefeh Rokhvand had been leading protests. They accused Herzfeld of stalking, but the judge found no evidence supporting their claims. Instead, video footage reportedly showed Herzfeld engaged in peaceful prayer while Barmada used a megaphone to taunt him.

Judge John McCabe determined that the activists’ legal action lacked merit and that Herzfeld’s presence at the location was protected under free speech laws. His ruling cited the District of Columbia’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects individuals from lawsuits designed to suppress political expression.

Barmada and Rokhvand have been involved in high-profile demonstrations, including outside the residence of a U.S. government official. Court filings noted that their protests included disruptive tactics such as throwing red liquid at vehicles entering and leaving the premises.

The decision marks a significant legal setback for the activists, reinforcing protections for peaceful expression in public spaces. Herzfeld had also filed a separate civil lawsuit, alleging that protesters attempted to disrupt his prayers by using high-decibel sirens.