A 32-year-old activist in North Texas, Raunaq Alam, is set to face trial in early September for spray-painting “Fuck Israel” on a church wall in Euless. The case has drawn attention because prosecutors have used a hate-crimes statute to enhance the charges, potentially leading to a prison sentence of two to ten years.
The Tarrant County indictment argues that Alam acted with “bias or prejudice against a group identified by national origin and/or ancestry and/or religion, namely, the state of Israel or Jewish faith.” However, legal experts say this conflates the state of Israel with Judaism and may infringe on free speech rights, as the graffiti targeted a foreign state, not a protected class under Texas law.
Alam’s attorney, Adwoa Asante, has filed a motion to quash the hate-crime enhancement, noting that Texas’s criminal code does not list governmental entities as protected groups. “If citizens are allowed to say ‘Fuck America’, why would condemnation of a foreign country garner enhanced prosecution?” she argued.
Alam, who has been arrested multiple times, lost his job after police and FBI agents arrested him in March 2024. Initially facing a misdemeanor, the charge was later elevated to a felony after prosecutors claimed damages exceeded $750, despite original records stating under $200. Two other activists face similar charges.
Writer and researcher Yasmin Nair said the case shows how hate-crime laws can be used to suppress unpopular speech, particularly criticism of Israel. Alam insists he is not hateful but speaks out against oppression, especially the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
