Two Young Men Sentenced for Antisemitic Harassment in London’s Stamford Hill
Two 21-year-old men, Adam Badawi and Abdelkader Bouslov, were sentenced to six weeks suspended imprisonment for one year after deliberately targeting Orthodox Jews in the Stamford Hill neighborhood of North London. The pair recorded antisemitic videos of their actions, which they intended to share on social media, and harassed an Orthodox Jewish man on the street because of his identity. The British court also ordered them to complete 150 hours of unpaid community service, participate in a 20-day rehabilitation program, and pay 85 pounds in court costs.
According to the prosecution, the men arrived in the predominantly Haredi area armed with a fishing rod as part of a scheme they called "fishing for Jews." The rod had a note attached containing offensive antisemitic stereotypes. Video footage released by the Jewish volunteer security group Shomrim showed the two walking through the neighborhood smiling and holding the rod. Bouslov approached an Orthodox Jewish passerby, shouting antisemitic insults while filming the incident on his phone, with Badawi laughing and joining in the harassment. The victim later reported feeling vulnerable and singled out because of his Jewish identity.
Security camera footage captured the men roaming near Clapton Common, close to Stamford Hill, with the fishing rod before police arrested them after they attempted to flee. The Metropolitan Police stated the men intended to create antisemitic content for social media platforms. Bouslov admitted during questioning that he was inspired by an Instagram video and expected hundreds or thousands of views on TikTok, believing the Jewish community would find it amusing. Badawi chose to remain silent during his investigation.
Crown Prosecutor Ravinder Heer emphasized the deliberate nature of the attack and the intent to amplify harm through social media, stating that hate crimes cause significant damage to victims and communities and that authorities will continue to prosecute such offenses firmly. London police commander Brittany Clark underscored that antisemitic hatred has no place in the city and praised the swift arrest and prosecution of the offenders within 48 hours, sending a clear message against seeking social media fame through hate crimes.
