Columbus prosecutors charge two in OSU Jewish student center vandalism

Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·2 min read
A Columbus man pleaded guilty Sunday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to a misdemeanor charge related to a 2022 incident threatening a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Columbus city prosecutors have charged two women with ethnic intimidation and other crimes in the November vandalism of a Jewish center for Ohio State University students.

City Attorney Zach Klein's office announced Tuesday that it has filed charges against Oumaima Amri, 21, and Lena Ahmad Shabaneh, 19, both of Hilliard, in Franklin County Municipal Court.

They are each charged with misdemeanor ethnic intimidation, theft, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief.

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If convicted as charged, the defendants could be sentenced to up to 180 days in jail and $2,000 in fines.

Amri and Shabaneh are accused of vandalizing the OSU Hillel Wexner Jewish Student Center building on 16th Avenue on Nov. 10.

Neither woman is a student at OSU, according to a spokesperson for the university.

OSU Hillel said on its social media accounts that two people entered the building, shouted anti-Israel statements and threats and vandalized Israeli flags in the building's lobby. The people also reportedly took photos inside.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel and the responsive Israeli offensive in Gaza, there has been an increase nationally in anti-Semitic rhetoric and threats.

“Hate has no home in Columbus. As City Attorney, I drew a line in the sand on the kinds of hate and bias-fueled attacks directed toward Jewish and Muslim populations that have been on the rise nationwide," said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein.

In a statement posted online, OSU Hillel CEO Naomi Lamb said they welcome the announcement of charges.

"Our primary focus continues to be on keeping Jewish students safe and supporting them as they express their Jewish identities and stand in solidarity with Israel," Lamb said. "We believe that every student should be able to do so without fear of harassment, threats, or attacks. We are resilient in the face of such incidents, and our commitment to providing a place to celebrate Jewish life remains unwavering."

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU Jewish center vandalism: Two face ethnic intimidation charges