12 Defendants Indicted for Threats Aimed at Causing University of Michigan and Others to Sever Ties with Israel
· Reason
Some excerpts from the long First Superseding Indictment in U.S. v. Hakim (E.D. Mich.), filed Oct. 21, alleging conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate commerce as well as, for two defendants, witness intimidation and destruction of property to prevent seizure (8 of the 12 defendants had originally been indicted in May); the targets included UM officials and businesses connected with them, as well as the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit:
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The defendants are a group of individuals associated with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the defendants and unindicted conspirators orchestrated detailed plans to threaten University of Michigan leaders, law enforcement, and businesses with coordinated criminal acts. Their goal included forcing the University of Michigan and other businesses to sever all perceived ties with the State of Israel.
To accomplish this goal, the defendants and their unindicted conspirators, in the Eastern District of Michigan and elsewhere, used encrypted messages, social media, and overseas collaboration platforms to research, target, and attack their victims. Then, they posted pictures of their attacks on social media, along with additional threats and warnings. Their criminal activity included spray painting threats, breaking windows, and throwing glass jars filled with noxious chemicals into family homes. They marked their victims with threatening symbols used by Hamas, including red inverted triangles and red handprints. They used the internet and social media to broadcast their message to ensure their threats and commitment to continuing criminal activity were heard by their victims and others who support Israel….
The defendants and unindicted conspirators coordinated and planned their criminal activity, targeting selected victims using encrypted online group chats, websites, "teach ins" (seminars designed to encourage action), and other meetings. They also initiated an online campaign against their targets by using social media platforms (Twitter/X and lnstagram) that were, at times, connected to student groups at the University of Michigan, including the former Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE) (University of Michigan's chapter of "Justice in Palestine") and the TAHRIR Coalition.
On or about October 20, 2023, the defendants and unindicted conspirators publicly posted a list of demands on social media directed at University of Michigan leadership. Among other demands, they required the University to make a "full and complete divestment" from the State of Israel and any business supporting the State of Israel. Unsatisfied by the University's response, the defendants and unindicted conspirators "prepared to take action" against the leadership by what they called "autonomous actions." Some of those "autonomous actions" included, but were not limited to, forcibly entering and occupying University of Michigan buildings, defacing buildings, and blocking and disrupting events on campus. The defendants and their unindicted conspirators also posted threats on the internet that included photos of their "autonomous actions." …
On or about May 2024, the defendants and unindicted conspirators participated in a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at the University of Michigan. Local police documented twenty-six criminal incidents directly related to the encampment. During the encampment, the defendants and unindicted conspirators used the internet to warn their opposition that "we look to our martyrs and freedom fighters for guidance … the student intifada will never be silenced." The defendants aspired to achieve the acclaim of the 1960s domestic terrorist organization "Weather Underground."
When the University shut down the encampment, the defendants and unindicted conspirators turned to individual targets for their criminal "autonomous actions." The defendants and unindicted conspirators held meetings where they collaborated to identify various specific targets of their "autonomous actions." The targets included University of Michigan leadership, businesses, and anyone they believed supported—directly or indirectly—the State of Israel.
The defendants and unindicted conspirators used the internet to research personal addresses, photographs, political and social connections, business ownership, and other personal details. They performed surveillance on their targets and counter-surveillance on law enforcement. They discussed methods by which to harm their targets and their families, including poison, bombs, and psychological torture. For example, on or about May 21, 2024, D-3 PAIGE ELIZABETH FEYOCK and D-4 AHMET KEREM KORKAYA (a medical student at the time) exchanged the following messages in which they agreed to "kill," "torment," and "terrorize" their targets:
KORKAYA: we are finding [V-4]'s address if we don't have it already [so I can] drive my car into it.
KORKAYA: [V-4]'s entire family is now on my hit list.
FEYOCK: Let's get [V-4's] kids bruh / and [V-2's] too.
KORKAYA: wallah [by God] paige i wanna do something/ the only way to clear my conscious [sic].
KORKAYA: wallah [by God] I'm gonna be the dirtiest fucking doctor ever/ I'm gonna be [V-l]'s doctor /poison her ass slowly.
FEYOCK: (agreeing) We need people following [V-1]/ get into that house then bum it down.
From approximately October 2023 through and including April 2025, the defendants and unindicted conspirators targeted individuals and businesses in the Eastern District of Michigan and elsewhere, including: The University of Michigan's President, Chief lnvestment Officer, Provost, and members of the Board of Regents and their businesses; a University of Michigan police officer; Rolls Royce Solutions America, Inc.; Maersk, Inc.; and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
The defendants and unindicted conspirators recruited participants to engage with them in their "autonomous actions." Their planning efforts included purchasing supplies, meeting to coordinate and distribute supplies, mapping routes, performing surveillance, and using internet-based collaboration tools to draft threats to their targets.
As part of the conspiracy, the defendants and unindicted conspirators traveled at night to the targeted homes and businesses. They damaged and defaced homes and businesses with spray painted messages, threats, and symbols, including inverted triangles, red handprints, and phrases such as "INTIFADA" and "DIVEST NOW." The defendants and unindicted conspirators also left demand notes containing additional threats, caulked doors shut, bike-locked entryways, broke windows, and threw glass jars filled with butyric acid and dye into the targeted homes.
The defendants and unindicted conspirators took photographs of the destruction and posted the photos online with "official statements" and additional warnings and threats such as "you cannot hide" and "we only come back stronger." …
On or about April 7, 2024, through on or about April 18, 2024, D-2 AMATULLAH ALIASGAR HAKIM, D-3 PAIGE ELIZABETH FEYOCK, Unindicted Co-conspirator One (UCC-1 ), and others used CryptPad.fr to create a meeting agenda that included "targeting the Board of Regents." The plan called for "[m]ore deep-diving on all of regents." Under "House visits," the notes warned: "Be cautious about timing - middle of the night might appear more threatening."
On or about May 15, 2024, at approximately 5:53 a.m., conspirators and others trespassed on [V-1 's] house in the Western District of Michigan. They littered the yard and porch with small tents, sheets wrapped to look like dead bodies, dismembered and bloody baby dolls, and a broken crib. They taped a demand note to the front door ordering, among other things, that the University of Michigan divest from Israel….
On or about June 3, 2024, at approximately 1:38 a.m., D-1 ZAINAB ALIASGAR HAKlM, D-2 AMATULLAH ALIASGAR HAKlM, and other conspirators vandalized V-2's law firm in the Eastern District of Michigan by throwing red paint balloons at the building and leaving imprinted red painted handprints on the windows. They spraypainted messages on the building and sidewalk:
DIVEST OR FUCK OFF FREE PALESTINE
UM KILLS
FUCK YOU [V-2's last name] DIVEST NOWOn or about October 7, 2024, at approximately 4:20 a.m., D-1 ZAINAB ALIASGAR HAKIM, D-2 AMATULLAH ALIASGAR HAKIM, D-4 AHMET KEREM KORKAYA, D-5 JONATHAN HONGRU ZOU, and other conspirators vandalized the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit in the Eastern District of Michigan by spray painting inverted red triangles on the sidewalk and building and painting over surveillance cameras. They spraypainted messages on the building and sidewalk:
FUCK ISRAEL FREE PALESTINE INTIFADA …
On or about March 15, 2025, Unindicted Co-conspirator Seven (UCC-7) provided D-5 JONATHAN HONGRU ZOU and D-6 ALEXANDER MATTHEW SEPULVEDA with a vehicle to drive to V-7's [the University of Michigan Provost's] house in the Eastern District of Michigan, where they, along with conspirators, smashed a large window by throwing two glass jars containing an unknown blue substance and food compost at it, one of which landed in a bedroom of V-7's house. They also spraypainted V-7's house with inverted red triangles and the words:
DIVEST FREE PALESTINE
NO HONOR IN GENOCIDE
Thanks to Prof. Howard Friedman (Religion Clause) for the pointer.
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