From Streets to State:
A Symptom of Deep-Rooted Islamophobia in U.S. Foreign Policy

It turned out that the man harassing Muslim New York City street vendor with threats to have their parents tortured by Egyptian intelligence (mukhabarat), insulting the beloved Prophet (saw), and other horrendous Islamophobic remarks was the former US State Department Deputy Director in the Office of ‘Israel’ and Palestinian Affairs!  His video went viral as the public tried to identify the vile man. When they discovered who this man was, it highlighted the type of people behind the seditious US foreign policy against Muslims.

The man's identity was quickly confirmed: Stuart Seldowitz. Stuart was a member of the Obama administration's National Security Council and assisted in directing US diplomacy toward ‘Israel’ and Palestine from 1999 to 2003. Seldowitz's identity was verified by his previous employer, Gotham Government Relations, a lobbying firm out of Washington, DC.

In numerous videos, Seldowitz is seen harassing Muslim New York City vendors, showing a persistent campaign of abuse and harassment. He called them terrorists, insulted their belief in Allah (swt), threatened them, made fun of their intelligence and English, said that the Zionist Entity killing thousands of Palestinian children "wasn't enough," and asked, "Did you rape your daughter like the Prophet did?" all while being fully aware that he was being filmed.

The fact that a person with such disgusting qualities could rise to the peaks of the most powerful government in the world, handling matters about Palestine no less, highlights a crucial aspect of the US government. These high-profile Muslim-hating “experts” have a red carpet entrance to become high-level policymakers at the White House, State Department, and Defense Department.  For the past two decades, we have seen some of the most vocal Islamophobes moving up to the highest ranks within the US government, like John Bolton, Victoria Nuland, John Bolton, Sebastian Gorka, Stephen Miller.  These grotesque individuals are deeply entwined with US policymaking.

These Muslim-hating policymakers are the real face of the American empire. They are the most truthful side of America’s domestic and foreign policy toward Muslims. They don’t hide their hate and lust for Muslim blood. These policymakers don’t even care to call the death of the children in Gaza "collateral damage" or “unfortunate,” but they openly say killing 4,000 children wasn’t enough!

The case of Stuart Seldowitz is not an isolated incident but a glaring example of a systemic issue within the U.S. government. It reveals the reality where Islamophobia is not just tolerated but seemingly rewarded with high-ranking positions, and the past two decades resulted in the deaths of millions of Muslims, countless wars, and genocide, with no repercussions from the US government or other foreign entities.  The American government is where bigots find shelter and empowerment to pursue some of the most horrific policies we have seen in human history.

[وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ]

“Never will the Jews or Christians be pleased with you, until you follow their faith. Say, “Allah’s guidance is the only ˹true˺ guidance.” And if you were to follow their desires after ˹all˺ the knowledge that has come to you, there would be none to protect or help you against Allah.” [TMQ 2:120]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Diwan Abu Ibrahim