Mohsen Mahdawi has built a reputation as a dangerous advocate for violence, terrorism, and antisemitism. His actions and rhetoric reveal a clear alignment with hateful ideologies and a disturbing willingness to glorify atrocities.
Mohsen Mahdawi’s Voice for Hate and Violence
In October 2023, mere weeks after the horrifying Hamas massacre of over 1,200 civilians, Mahdawi brazenly justified these acts, stating, “Hamas is a product of the Israeli occupation.” In a co-authored statement, he claimed, “Occupied peoples have the right to resist the occupation of their land,” using the term “resistance” to validate the horrific crimes committed, including mass murder, beheadings, and the kidnapping of children.
When interviewed on “60 Minutes,” Mahdawi chillingly remarked that he could “empathize” with Hamas, explaining, “To empathize is to understand the root cause and to not look at any event or situation in a vacuum.” These statements expose his willingness to excuse unimaginable violence against innocents.
Celebrating a Terrorist
Mahdawi’s support for violence dates back at least a decade. In 2013, he wrote a poem glorifying Dalal Mughrabi, a terrorist responsible for the 1978 Coastal Road Massacre that killed 38 civilians, including 13 children. His poem described arming oneself and preparing bombs, a chilling endorsement of brutality.
Spreading Hate on Campus
As co-president of DAR Palestine at Columbia University in late 2023, Mahdawi led rallies steeped in hate-filled rhetoric. At one event, he led chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”—a slogan widely condemned as a call for ethnic cleansing. Mahdawi accused Columbia University of “ignoring the genocide in Gaza” and claimed the university’s concerns about campus safety were a “weaponization” to suppress activists like himself.
Mahdawi’s antisemitism and support for violence extended to his defense of actions at Columbia’s Hamilton Hall in April 2024, where extremists vandalized the building, barricaded themselves inside, and took hostages. When confronted about these actions, Mahdawi deflected, claiming, “This [police action] is a strategy that is used by the oppressor.”
A Legacy of Extremism
Mahdawi’s affiliations with radical organizations such as Within Our Lifetime and his leadership roles in extremist student groups underscore his dedication to promoting hate. His continued involvement in events that glorify terror and his unapologetic rhetoric make him a symbol of the destructive power of unchecked extremism.
Final Thoughts…
Mohsen Mahdawi stands as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by those who glorify terror and spread hate. His words and actions, rooted in violence and bigotry, are a testament to his commitment to fostering division and harm. Such rhetoric must be condemned in the strongest possible terms to ensure that hatred and extremism are not normalized or excused.
