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Arabic chants disrupt Jewish wedding

January 13, 2009

NEW YORK (JTA) -- A New York waiter disrupted a Jewish wedding with Arabic chants.

Stephen Buttafuoco, 23, was charged with aggravated harassment as a hate crime for allegedly playing a song with the words "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "God is great," over the sound system at a Jewish wedding on Long Island Jan. 4.

Buttafuoco was arraigned in Nassau County Criminal Court and released on $1,500 bail. His attorney said he had acted foolishly but was not dangerous.

"He's not a radical," said Thomas Spreer. "He didn't even know they were on the air. He feels absolutely horrendous."

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