An Arizona State University postdoctoral research scholar is currently on leave as the institution investigates an incident involving a confrontation with a woman wearing a hijab. The incident, which was captured on video, took place at a pro-Israel rally just outside the campus in Tempe.
The viral video shows the scholar, Jonathan Yudelman, and another unidentified man confronting the woman. While the video does not show what led to the confrontation, Yudelman can be heard saying, "I’m literally in your face — that’s right."
In the video, the woman is seen backing away as Yudelman repeatedly advances towards her, sometimes with his hands raised, and gets within inches of her. The woman is heard saying, "You’re disrespecting my religious boundaries," to which Yudelman responds, "You disrespect my sense of humanity, b----."
The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) condemned the incident and called for Yudelman's arrest. Azza Abuseif, executive director of CAIR-AZ, stated, "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."
In response to the video and criticism of Yudelman, Arizona State University issued a statement saying, "ASU is aware of the allegations against Jonathan Yudelman and is investigating them. Dr. Yudelman is on leave and will remain so pending the outcome of the investigation."
Yudelman did not respond to requests for comment sent to his ASU email address or through contacts at other institutions he has been affiliated with.
In an interview before the confrontation, Yudelman described pro-Palestinian protests at universities across the nation as "campuses being taken over by supporters of terrorism" and expressed concern about "Jewish students being intimidated."
Yudelman is a scholar at ASU's School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, where he teaches classes on American politics and political theory. He is also listed as an assistant professor at the University of Austin in Texas and has held postdoctoral positions at Princeton, Harvard, and Baylor.
His current research focuses on early modern political theory, the idea of progress, sources of political authority, and the intersection of politics and religion.
Yudelman is listed as a faculty member of the Tikvah Fund, a nonprofit organization in New York City that promotes Jewish ideas. According to the organization's website, it is "politically Zionist, economically free-market oriented, culturally traditional, and theologically open-minded."
A spokesperson for Arizona State University said that around 100 people attended Sunday's pro-Israel rally, which was in contrast to global protests critical of Israel's actions in Gaza. One person not affiliated with the university was arrested for spray-painting university property during a "pro-Palestine" rally the weekend prior.