An Ohio man pleaded guilty on Friday to an assault against Ohio State University students because they were Jewish, the Justice Department announced the same day.
Tipp City resident Timur Mamatov admitted to violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act when he attacked two students outside a Columbus bar on November 10, 2023.
The 20-year-old and a friend had engaged in an altercation with five students, during which he asked one wearing a Chai pendant if they were Jewish. When the student confirmed that he was, Mamatov punched the victim, resulting in a fractured jaw. A second victim suffered a fractured nose in the fight. The university said at the time that one of the students was hospitalized and released.
Ohio Southern District US Attorney Dominick Gerace II said in a Friday press release that Mamatov had admitted in court “he assaulted victims because they were Jewish.”
“No American should fear being violently attacked based on their religious beliefs,” said Gerace.
FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Jose Perez also noted that “Hate crimes not only impact the victims but have a devastating impact on our entire community.” Mamatov faces up to 10 years in prison for violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Assault follows string of antisemitic incidents across campuses
The incident had startled the university, as it came a day after a Hillel building was vandalized. The Cleveland Jewish News reported in September that the two women who defaced the Wexner Jewish Student Center were found guilty of criminal trespass, but charges of ethnic intimidation, theft, and criminal mischief were dropped after dialogue sessions with Hillel students and local Jewish leaders.
Lena Shabaneh and Oumaima Amri had entered the Hillel building, vandalized Israeli flags, and shouted anti-Israel statements, the Hillel center said on Facebook at the time.