Punished for Supporting Israel

Alaa Alsaegh is an Iraqi Muslim living in the St. Louis area. Last month he wrote a poem in Arabic for a pro-Israel website, expressing his support for Israel.

His reward? Two strangers trapped him on a deserted street and carved a Star of David in his back with a knife.

Many thanks to Vlad Tepes for uploading this video:


Here’s the accompanying news story from KMOV TV:

St Louis man says he’s the victim of a hate crime
by Diana Zoga

(KMOV) — An on-line political magazine, FrontPage Magazine, published a photo of a man with a Star of David, carved into his back. News 4 interviewed the man, who says he was attacked on Compton Avenue, just south of downtown on August 14th.

Alaa Alsaegh says that two cars followed him as he drove on Compton. The drivers cut him off and Alsaegh says he pulled over. That’s when two men got out of a car, armed with a handgun. They got into Alsaegh’s car and attacked him with a knife.

Alsaegh showed us a photo that his friend took at the hospital. More than a month later, Alsaegh still has scars. News 4’s camera captured the outline of the Star of David, visible on Alsaegh’s back.

Alsaegh is a Muslim from Iraq. He says he recently posted a poem, online, expressing support for Jewish people in Israel. Alsaegh says that his attackers told him not to publish any more poems.

St Louis Police confirm that officers responded to a call for help around 10:45 a.m. on August 14th. The department referred News 4 to the local FBI office. Spokeswoman Rebecca Wu responded via email saying, “The FBI cannot comment”.

Alsaegh says the authorities have been investigating the attack, but have not made any arrests.