The Muslim Student Association at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City hosted a speaker on Thursday who recently shared posts mocking the Holocaust and promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories on Instagram.
John Jay is part of the City University of New York (CUNY).
The speaker, Sheikh Abdelraham Badawy, recently circulated antisemitic material through Instagram stories. Several posts promoted conspiracy theories about Jews. Others attempted to justify antisemitism.
Badawy also amplified content from figures with records of antisemitic rhetoric, including Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes.
Holocaust Mockery and Conspiracy Claims
The material recycled several classic antisemitic narratives, including claims of Jewish control, blood libel accusations, and conspiracies portraying Jews as predators or enslavers of non-Jews.
One video targeted a Jewish community in New Jersey for receiving welfare benefits. It accused the community of “scamming the system.” The caption read, “Antisemitism on the rise? Wonder why.”
Another video used the Sesame Street character Elmo to mock antisemitism concerns. In the clip, the character says that “Jews control the weather machines.” It also references the antisemitic Elders of Zion conspiracy.
The character then states, “Elmo knows the Holocaust is very real” and says he will “kiss the cuck wall in Israel,” referring to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
After seeing an image of a Palestinian child, the character retracts the apology. It says, “F*** that. How can Elmo be antisemitic if Jews aren’t semites?”
The video then lists conspiracies blaming Jews for major events. It claims, “9/11 — [Jews]. US Liberty — [Jews]. They’re f***ing children and blackmailing the government people wake up.”
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Badawy also shared a video accusing “powerful Jewish financiers” of driving the Bolshevik Revolution. The video also alleged that Jews killed the Russian royal family “in a ritualistic manner.” The claim echoes a classic antisemitic blood libel.
View this post on Instagram
Other posts alleged that a “Zionist CIA contractor” trafficked children. Two additional videos claimed Jews would enslave “goyim.” Another post used the slogan “Goyim lives matter.”
Other posts accused Jews of sexual abuse.
Badawy shared the material during the previous three weeks through Instagram stories. These posts disappear after 24 hours.
Earlier Speech Included Hostile Remarks About Jews and ‘Zionists’
In a 2024 speech at a New York community center, according to footage archived by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Badawy referred to “the devils, the Zionists.” He said they possess “the envy, the hatred, and just the evil that is in their hearts.”
During the same address, Badawy discussed an ancient Jewish tribe mentioned in the Quran. He said, “These people were cunning, they were conniving, they were foul, and you see the parallels today.” He added that they “go after the women and children.”
It remains unclear what Badawy discussed during Thursday’s campus event. John Jay College said the student-organized event did not represent the institution’s views.
“Student-organized events do not reflect the views of John Jay College of Criminal Justice,” the college said. The statement added that the school supported open dialogue, academic freedom, and free speech. The college also said it sought to maintain an inclusive, discrimination-free learning environment.
The Muslim Student Association did not respond to requests for comment. Badawy also did not respond to a request sent to the Staten Island center where he is based.
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