A Texas man has been sentenced to six months in jail for spray-painting anti-Israel graffiti on a church wall, after a judge overruled a jury's recommendation for community supervision. Raunaq Alam, 32, was convicted of criminal mischief for writing 'Fuck Israel' on the Uncommon Church in Fort Worth, which was flying the Israeli flag and had expressed support for Israel.
The jury had rejected a hate crime enhancement, finding Alam guilty only of criminal mischief and recommending a $10,000 fine with no jail time. However, Judge Brian Bolton overruled this, imposing 180 days of incarceration, calling the graffiti 'disgusting'. The Tarrant County district attorney's office stated that the law allows the judge to set probation terms, including jail time.
Alam was arrested in March 2024 along with two others for the graffiti, with initial damage estimated under $200. Prosecutors later claimed damage exceeded $750, increasing the potential sentence. Alam was released on $20,000 bond but re-arrested for allegedly making false statements about drug use during his trial, requiring a $40,000 bond, house arrest, and an electronic monitor. He has been arrested five times in total related to the case.
Alam's defense argued that the graffiti was protected free speech, noting that 'Fuck America' would not be a hate crime. Attorney Adwoa Asante pointed out that Israel is a state, not a protected class. The case occurs amid a broader US crackdown on protests, with the Trump administration investigating universities for alleged antisemitism. One co-defendant, Afsheen Khan, is scheduled for trial this fall.
