Pro-Palestine Activist’s Radical Rhetoric Surfaces

A recent resurfaced video reveals a young activist expressing extremist views, equating activism with “jihad” and encouraging others to accept suspension or arrest as part of resisting Western colonialism.

In the video, Hadeeqa Malik, a student at City College of New York, states, “The true believer knows that none of this is in vain, that this is all Jihad,” using the controversial Muslim term for holy war. She urges fellow Muslims to see activism, even at personal cost, as a duty aligned with divine struggle, saying, “It’s time for Muslims to start to say, alright so what?”

Malik has held multiple influential roles, including president of Students for Justice in Palestine at CCNY and involvement with organizations like CAIR and Zohran Mamdani’s circle. She has a history of participating in pro-Palestine protests across New York and has embedded herself within activist networks at a young age.

During the webinar titled “Islamic Political Activism,” Malik spoke about “genocide, colonization, and settler colonialism,” calling on Muslims to take a stand. She challenged fears of being doxed, suspended, or arrested, asserting, “When you’re doing something for the sake of Allah in the West, it will never be in vain,” emphasizing her ideological commitment.

Malik’s behavior during protests has also drawn criticism. In one video, she confronts police officers on camera, calling them “pigs” and demanding they “read the badges” and “show respect”—an act that displays hostility toward law enforcement and fellow Muslims who support law and order.

While Malik’s views do not represent all activists or her community, her rhetoric exemplifies a disturbing trend among some pro-Palestine youth—motivated more by extremist fervor than humanitarian concern. Her outspoken hostility towards those who differ in perspective raises concerns about radicalization within activist circles, underscoring the need for principled distancing from such extremism.