Khaled Abou El Fadl, a Kuwaiti-born professor at UCLA School of Law and founder of the Institute for Advanced Usuli Studies, has emerged as a prominent academic voice for radical, antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy-laden discourse. Under the guise of scholarly authority and religious leadership, Abou El Fadl has consistently minimized terrorism, denied war crimes committed by Hamas, and engaged in Holocaust inversion—violating both academic standards and the widely accepted IHRA definition of antisemitism.
Holocaust Inversion and Antisemitic Rhetoric
Rather than condemning terrorism or promoting respectful dialogue, Abou El Fadl has repeatedly trafficked in dangerous antisemitic tropes. On December 22, 2023, during a recorded sermon, he made the following statement:
“We are considered like animals. Exactly like the Nazis looked at Jews. Something subhuman, something less than human, exactly like the narrative and the language of the Nazis.”
This comparison—equating Israeli actions with Nazi genocide—constitutes classic Holocaust inversion, which deliberately distorts the historical reality of the Shoah to vilify Jews and the Jewish state. According to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, this rhetoric is not legitimate criticism of Israel, but a modern form of Jew-hatred dressed in moral outrage.
Denial of Hamas Atrocities and Propagation of Blood Libel
In the same sermon, Abou El Fadl denied the well-documented atrocities carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, when over 1,200 civilians were murdered and hundreds of women, children, and elderly were taken hostage. He dismissed these verified war crimes as “lies” fabricated by the U.S. government.
Simultaneously, he accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting women and children—an unsubstantiated claim echoing ancient blood libel narratives. His comments dangerously shift blame away from actual terrorists while inciting hatred against Jews under the pretext of human rights advocacy.
Anti-Israel Conspiracies and Anti-Hindu Incitement
Abou El Fadl’s antisemitic worldview is intertwined with conspiracy theories and sectarian incitement. On January 12, 2023, he made the delusional claim:
“Some of the worst massacres committed against Palestinians in Gaza are by Indian soldiers serving in the Israeli army. Indian Hindu nationalists are volunteering to fight in the Israeli army for the joy of killing Muslims.”
This false and inflammatory accusation demonizes both Jews and Hindus, using fabricated narratives to stir religious hatred. He also alleged that Israel broadcasted pornography on Palestinian television to demoralize Muslims—an absurd, evidence-free claim rooted in antisemitic propaganda traditions.
Affiliated Platforms and Ideological Alignment
While not officially linked to Hamas, Abou El Fadl’s public remarks, consistent defense of Hamas-aligned narratives, and active participation in pro-Hamas discourse put him ideologically in step with this U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
- Institute for Advanced Usuli Studies – As founder and CEO, Abou El Fadl uses this nonprofit to disseminate his views in academic and public forums.
- Campus Activist Networks – His lectures and ideological positions mirror those of groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), whose campaigns have created a hostile climate for Jewish students at UCLA and beyond.
A Threat to Academic Integrity and Campus Safety
Khaled Abou El Fadl has used his prestigious position at UCLA to normalize antisemitic rhetoric, deny terrorism, and promote dangerous conspiracy theories. Rather than fostering respectful legal discourse, he advances an agenda that undermines truth, inflames intercommunal tensions, and legitimizes violent extremism.
His continued presence on campus emboldens radical student movements, erodes the safety of Jewish students and faculty, and tarnishes the reputation of institutions that pride themselves on truth, rigor, and academic responsibility.