A petition signed by more than 11,000 individuals has been submitted to US District Judge Richard M. Berman, urging leniency for Tarek Bazrouk, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American student from the City University of New York. Bazrouk, who pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges, is scheduled for sentencing next week. The petition requests that Bazrouk be allowed to complete his sentence under supervised release rather than serving additional jail time. Supporters argue that a lengthy prison sentence would cause further trauma to Bazrouk, who has already spent nearly six months in the Metropolitan Detention Center, known for its harsh conditions. The letter highlights Bazrouk’s personal struggles and emphasizes the potential for restorative justice through his personal growth and community involvement. Bazrouk faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His supporters believe that with community support, he can complete his bachelor’s degree and adhere to probation guidelines. Bazrouk was arrested by the FBI in May on charges of physically assaulting pro-Israel Jewish protestors on three separate occasions between 2024 and 2025. The US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York has reiterated its commitment to pursuing allegations of antisemitic violence under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership.