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Belgian magazine faces lawsuit accusing it of ‘incitement to murder’ Jews
European Jewish Association launches legal challenge over ‘psycopathic’ article about cutting Jews’ throats
August 14, 2024 14:46
European Jewish Association launches legal challenge over ‘psycopathic’ article about cutting Jews’ throats
August 14, 2024 14:46The European Jewish Association (EJA) is suing a satirical Belgian magazine for “incitement to murder” Jews after a columnist wrote he wanted to “shove a sharp knife in the throat of every Jew I come across”.
Rabbi Menachem Margolin, chairman of the EJA, condemned the piece as “psycopathic” and has demanded a public apology from the magazine, Humo.
The article, written by columnist Herman Brusselmans, called Benjamin Netanyahu a “small thick, and bald, Jew” and accused him of wanting to wipe out the Arab world, of murdering children and of dragging the world into World War III.
“Such dangerous rhetoric invited real violence,” Rabbi Margolin said. “This is a battle against hate speech, and the EJA is not backing down!”
The EJA are taking legal action against Brusselmans, too, and have demanded he be suspended from the magazine. “What he did is very dangerous,” Margolin told Politico, “and the authorities must stop this gentleman”.
Brusselman’s article has prompted public outcry. Arnon Grunberg, a prominent Dutch Jewish writer, resigned from the magazine, writing: “You are free to downplay and welcome revisionism in your magazine, but that does not mean that I wish to publish alongside the revisionist”.
The Coordination Committee of Jewish Organisation of Belgium also condemned the article. “It cannot be tolerated that in a democratic society, respectful of universal values, freedom of expression is thus used to stir up hatred,” read their statement. “Here, it is not a question of satire, or even bad taste humor, but of incitement to violence and murder against Jews”.
Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, Idit Abu Risenzweig, said Brusselmans had crossed a red line. "What if someone said in Belgian press 'I’m so angry I want to stick a knife in the neck of every Muslim I meet?” she shared on social media. “How did this pass editing?”
Humo, the magazine which published Brusselmans’ column, defended its writer at first. “Herman Brusselmans is a celebrated and respected writer who uses a typically mocking and insulting style,” a spokesperson for the publication said. They defended the article as “satire”.
Brusselmans denied inciting hatred or muder in Instagram posts, which are now deleted, along with his account. “I want this war, which should have never started, to stop,” he said. “I am against any form of violence”.
Ernest Herzof, head of the World Jewish Congress’ Combating Anti-Semitism, Intelligence and Security Division, also condemned Brusselmans. “The caricatures he dreams up and his proclivity to violence should have caused Humo’s editors to reject this article upon first review,” he said. “It is not only deeply offensive but also harmful, as it fosters an environment of hatred and intolerance which has only intensified since October 7”.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 Jews live in Belgium, mostly in Antwerp and Brussels. Antisemitism has spiked across the country since October 7, with attacks on Jewish communities, individuals and cemetaries reported.