Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, was sentenced this week in federal court for defacing a monument in Washington, D.C., with pro-terrorist graffiti during last year’s Fourth of July celebrations. The vandalism included the words “Hamas is coming” and a red triangle symbol commonly used by extremist sympathizers to designate intended targets. The act raised security concerns in the nation’s capital, especially given the timing and the nature of the message.
Despite the seriousness of the offense, Mahdawi received a sentence of just 10 days in jail, followed by six months of supervised release, community service, and an order to pay $1,500 in restitution for the damage. Prosecutors had sought a stiffer penalty, arguing that the act was not just vandalism but a veiled threat meant to instill fear and potentially signal future violence.
The case was presided over by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, a judge who has drawn attention in the past for high-profile and controversial rulings. Boasberg previously made headlines when he blocked a Trump administration deportation flight to El Salvador—despite reports that the flight included members of the notorious Venezuelan-linked Tren de Aragua gang, known for violent crime and human trafficking across Latin America. The same judge is currently considering whether to hold government attorneys in contempt in another unrelated legal matter.
Critics of the sentence have voiced frustration over what they see as a lenient outcome for a case that involved a clear political message with potentially dangerous implications. “If someone painted a threat linked to a white supremacist group, I doubt the sentence would be this light,” one D.C. resident remarked. “There seems to be a double standard when it comes to how different types of extremism are treated.”
While Mahdawi did not contest the charges, no formal terrorism-related charges were filed. Authorities have not confirmed whether he is being investigated further or monitored for any ties to extremist groups.
The defaced monument has since been restored, but the incident has left lingering questions about security, radicalization, and the consistent enforcement of justice in politically sensitive cases.
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