Arizona State researcher on leave over video showing him cursing out woman in hijab
A researcher at Arizona State University has been placed on leave as the university investigates a heated confrontation caught on video of him cursing out a woman wearing a hijab.
Viral video from the rally shows Jonathan Yudelman, the postdoctoral scholar, approaching a woman who was wearing a hijab. Yudelman has his arms raised and saying, “I’m literally in your face — that’s right.”
The unidentified woman backs away with her hands in front of her and tries to back away from Yudelman and another man, who was also filming.
She tells them that they are disrespecting her religious boundaries.
“You disrespect my sense of humanity, bitch,” Yudelman responds.
In the video, the other man, not known to be affiliated with the university, tells her, “You don’t like it go back to jihad.”
The university said in a statement that Yudelman is on leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.
The altercation happened Sunday during a pro-Israel rally in Tempe, Ariz. The school said the investigation is following university procedures for employee discipline.
The university said since the exact incident happened on a city sidewalk, not campus, the matter has also been referred to the Tempe Police Department for a criminal investigation.
Yudelman was placed on leave Monday and is “not permitted to come to campus, teach classes, or interact with students or employees.”
Prior to the filmed incident, Yudelman resigned from his position, effective June 30, the university said. He was not scheduled to teach additional courses over the summer until his resignation date.
“Arizona State University protects freedom of speech and expression but does not tolerate threatening or violent behavior,” the university said. “While peaceful protest is welcome, all incidents of violent or threatening behavior will be addressed.”
Arizona State is one of the many college campuses across the country that has seen demonstrations over the last several weeks from pro-Palestinian protesters calling on the university to divest from Israel.
Students filed a lawsuit against the university for infringing on their rights to free speech, after the on-campus demonstrations led to dozens of arrests, The Arizona Republic reported.
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