Unprecedented Antisemitism: Belgian Doctor Labels 9-Year-Old’s Judaism as a Medical Condition

A Belgian radiologist at the Kronieke-Heist hospital, Dr. Qassem Arkawazi, has been terminated from his position after a complaint was filed against him for a disturbing act of antisemitism. The incident involved a 9-year-old girl who was brought to the hospital with a suspected broken arm after a fall. In her medical report, Dr. Arkawazi noted the child's identity as "Jewish, Israeli" under the section for allergies and medical issues.

The European Jewish Congress (EJC) reacted with fury to the incident. They condemned the act as blatant antisemitism that is dehumanizing, discriminatory, and completely unacceptable. The EJC stated that such behaviour is not only unethical but also dangerous, as no parent should have to worry that their child’s treatment could be compromised due to their Jewish identity. The League of Jewish Defense, an organization active in France and Europe, published the doctor's picture and stated that "for him, Judaism is an allergy."

Dr. Arkawazi, an Iraqi-born radiologist, had a history of social media posts with anti-Israeli, pro-Shiite, and anti-Semitic content. This includes a disturbing graphic depicting Orthodox Jews as vampires preying on a sleeping baby, as well as other offensive cartoons. Jewish organizations in Belgium, including JID which fights antisemitism, have since called on authorities to take legal action and on the Belgian Medical Order to revoke his license to practice medicine, stating that his actions violate the Hippocratic Oath and erode public trust.

The incident has caused public outcry in and outside Belgium. Activists have explained that listing a patient's religious identity as a medical problem is not just offensive but a dangerous precedent that undermines the trust between a patient and a doctor. This could potentially lead to a refusal of treatment based on religious or national identity. Many warn that this case is a symptom of a much broader rise of antisemitism in public institutions across the country.