2 men accused of spray painting ‘FREE GAZA’ on Israeli flag at northwest suburban grocery store facing hate crime charges

BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. — Two men accused of spray painting “FREE GAZA” on an Israeli flag at a grocery store in the northwest suburbs last month are now facing hate crime charges.

Prosecutors said the alleged incident unfolded just before 11:30 p.m. on Monday, June 24, at a Woodman’s Food Market along Stratford Drive in Bloomingdale.

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Tabshir Rizvi, a 23-year-old Bloomingdale resident, and Mohammed Faroun, a 22-year-old Hoffman Estates resident, have each been charged with two counts of hate crime as well as additional misdemeanor charges of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

According to prosecutors, the two men allegedly entered the grocery store and grabbed a can of red spray paint before walking to the international food section where an Israeli flag was hanging.

The men then allegedly climbed the shelving unit beneath the flag and painted “FREE GAZA” on the flag.

Following the alleged incident, the two men then left the store.

An investigation was launched and authorities identified Rizvi and Faroun as suspects in the case.

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Prosecutors said Faroun eventually turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday, July 16 and Rizvi turned himself in the next day.

Both men were subsequently released on personal recognizance and are set to appear in court for arraignment on August 13.

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