by COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 20-year-old man from Tipp City has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime after brutally assaulting two Jewish Ohio State University students during an altercation outside a bar. The attack, which left one victim with a broken jaw and another with a broken nose, has drawn strong condemnation from both federal authorities and civil rights leaders.
Details of the Attack
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the incident occurred on November 10, 2023, near North High Street in Columbus. Five Ohio State students were leaving a bar when a confrontation erupted.
Court records reveal that one of the students was wearing a “Chai” pendant, a piece of jewelry symbolizing life and commonly associated with Judaism. This appeared to draw the attention of Timur Mamatov, who was nearby with a friend.
Prosecutors said Mamatov approached the students and demanded to know whether they were Jewish. When several confirmed that they were, Mamatov allegedly struck one of them in the face, fracturing his jaw. The fight escalated into the street, where another student suffered a broken nose.
Hate Crime Charges and Plea
Federal prosecutors charged Mamatov on July 3, 2024, under the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which makes it a crime to attack someone because of their religion. He formally pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Columbus.
Mamatov was not a student at Ohio State and had no connection to the university. As part of his plea, he also agreed to pay more than $780 in restitution to cover medical expenses for the injured students.
He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison when sentenced at a later date.
Context of Rising Tensions
The assault came just a month after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. That war has heightened tensions worldwide, including in the United States, where universities have seen a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents and campus protests.
Prosecutors emphasized that this case was not an isolated bar fight but a targeted act of religiously motivated violence. “When individuals are singled out for their faith and subjected to violence, it is not just an assault—it is an attack on the principles of safety and freedom that our society stands for,” officials said in court filings.
Federal Authorities Respond
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, condemned the violence in a statement.
“Violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable. This Department of Justice will aggressively enforce federal laws to ensure that all Americans feel safe in practicing and expressing their faith,” Dhillon said.
Dhillon, confirmed to her role in April, has shifted the division’s priorities, focusing heavily on antisemitism-related cases, particularly those connected to university protests and incidents tied to the Middle East conflict.
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Impact on Victims and Community
The attack deeply affected the victims, who not only suffered physical injuries but also the trauma of being targeted for their religious identity. Jewish community leaders in Ohio have expressed relief that the case was prosecuted as a hate crime, emphasizing the need for accountability.
“This case is a stark reminder of the real dangers faced by Jewish students across the country,” one local advocacy group stated. “College campuses should be places of learning and safety, not fear and violence.”
What’s Next
Mamatov is being held until his sentencing, where a federal judge will decide the length of his prison term. He faces up to 10 years but could receive a reduced sentence depending on federal sentencing guidelines and other factors.
The Department of Justice has reiterated its commitment to prosecuting religiously motivated crimes, noting that hate crimes remain a significant threat in the U.S.
The case of Timur Mamatov underscores the persistence of antisemitic violence in America and highlights the importance of federal protections under the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. With Ohio State students and the wider community still reeling, federal prosecutors say the guilty plea is a step toward justice, but more must be done to ensure the safety of religious minorities nationwide.
Do you think federal hate crime laws are strong enough to deter future attacks? Share your thoughts in the comments at ibwhsmag.com.
