Pro-Hamas Activists Ordered To Pay $182,000 After Falsely Accusing Rabbi Of Stalking

A D.C. court has ruled against two pro-Hamas activists, ordering them to pay Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld $182,000 for falsely accusing him of stalking after he peacefully prayed at the Israeli embassy. The judge found that the activists misused the legal system to silence opposing views.

Key Facts:

A D.C. judge ruled that activists Hazami Barmada and Atefeh Rokhvand falsely accused Rabbi Herzfeld of stalking.
Video evidence showed the rabbi was peacefully praying while Barmada mocked him through a megaphone.
The court found no evidence Herzfeld threatened or followed the activists.
The ruling invoked the anti-SLAPP Act, which protects against legal actions meant to silence free speech.
Barmada and Rokhvand, who led protests at the Israeli embassy and Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s home, vowed to appeal.

The Rest of The Story:

Hazami Barmada and Atefeh Rokhvand spent months leading protests outside the Israeli embassy following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack.

When Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld came to pray, they accused him of stalking and sought a restraining order, which would have barred him from the area.

However, video evidence contradicted their claims, showing that Herzfeld did nothing to threaten or harass them.

Judge John McCabe ruled that the activists had weaponized the legal system to target Herzfeld.

He pointed out that Barmada openly mocked the rabbi with a megaphone and did not appear afraid.

Because of the baseless accusations, the court ordered the activists to cover Herzfeld’s legal fees under the anti-SLAPP Act, which protects free speech from retaliatory lawsuits.

The ruling also revealed that Barmada and Rokhvand had engaged in aggressive protest tactics, including throwing fake blood outside Blinken’s home and using loud sirens exceeding legal noise levels.

Despite their claims of victimhood, the court determined that Herzfeld was within his rights to pray at the embassy.

🚨🇺🇸ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS ORDERED TO PAY $182,000 AFTER FALSE CLAIMS AGAINST RABBI

A D.C. judge ruled that anti-Israel activists Hazami Barmada and Atefeh Rokhvand falsely accused Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of stalking after he prayed at the Israeli embassy.

The court found no… pic.twitter.com/nHadxeOaSZ

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 22, 2025

Commentary:

This ruling is a major victory for free speech and a clear warning against weaponizing the legal system for political gain.

Barmada and Rokhvand sought to silence opposing views through baseless legal action, but the court saw through their deception.

The fact that they mocked Herzfeld while claiming to be victims exposes the hypocrisy of their complaint.

For months, these activists have led disruptive demonstrations, throwing fake blood and using deafening sirens to intimidate others.

Their actions are not about peaceful protest but about harassment and suppression of differing opinions.

That they tried to twist the law to punish a rabbi for simply praying speaks volumes about their motives.

It’s also revealing that Barmada, who presents herself as a radical protester, lives in a $1.5 million home with an indoor pool.

Her attempt to paint herself as an oppressed activist while leveraging the legal system to attack a religious figure is beyond dishonest.

The court’s decision was correct—these activists should be held accountable for their deceit.

Too often, radical demonstrators hide behind free speech protections while attempting to strip others of the same rights.

This ruling sets an important precedent: lies and legal manipulation will not go unpunished.

The Bottom Line:

A D.C. judge saw through the lies of two anti-Israel activists who falsely accused a rabbi of stalking.

Their attempt to misuse the legal system failed, and now they must pay $182,000 for their deception.

This ruling is a win for free speech and a message that dishonest activists will be held accountable.