CLEVELAND, OHIO: North Ridgefield police arrested Hesham A Ayyad on November 14, 2023, for allegedly playing victim to an anti-Palestinian hate crime, when in reality he was involved in a grievous fight with his brother.
Stating that a driver had hurled anti-Palestinian slurs at him and hit him with his car, Ayyad had reached out to the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for help, who had demanded an investigation into the incident.
Who is Hesham Ayyad and what did he claim?
According to a press release by CAIR, Ayyad, 20, reportedly said that while he was walking home after lunch around 4.10 pm on the day of the incident, near the border of Olmsted Falls and North Ridgeville, a car slowed down next to him. The driver proceeded to shout statements such as “Kill all Palestinians,” and “Long live Israel,” directed at Ayyad.
“The driver then allegedly turned around and hit the man while shouting ‘DIE!’” read the press release.
Faten Odeh, CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Interim Executive Director, said at the time, “We hope the North Ridgeville Police Department and the FBI will collect all the information they need to charge this individual with a hate crime."
A photograph of Ayyad lying in a hospital bed while wearing a neck brace was included in the press release.
How did Hesham Ayyad's claim hold up to investigation?
Upon reviewing video footage from the area, investigators came to the conclusion that Ayyad had lied about being hit by the vehicle as well as about the racial slurs, stated police.
According to the New York Post, police said the "injuries sustained at the time of the incident were caused by a violent fight that the alleged victim had participated in with his brother, which was confirmed by area video surveillance.”
What are the charges against Hesham Ayyad?
The outlet reported that Ayyad has been charged with making false alarms, falsification, obstructing official business, domestic violence, and assault.
Ayyad’s brother Khalil, 19, has also been arrested and charged with domestic violence and assault.
Both of them are presently detained at the Lorain County Jail.
A statement from an Islamic Council spokesperson to the outlet said that they “do not yet know anything more about the nature of the charges. Our understanding is that the brothers have secured their own legal counsel."
