The European Jewish Association (EJA) is initiating legal action against Belgian magazine Humo and its writer, Herman Brusselmans, following a column that has sparked outrage across Europe’s Jewish community. The column, published on Sunday, included statements that the EJA has condemned as “incitement to murder,” accusing Brusselmans of promoting dangerous rhetoric.
Controversial Column Sparks Outrage
In the contentious column, Brusselmans expressed extreme anger after imagining his own family in the situation of a Palestinian boy screaming beneath rubble, stating he felt so enraged that he wanted to “ram a pointed knife straight down the throat of every Jew I meet.” Although Brusselmans later added that not every Jew is a “murderous bastard,” he continued to express hateful sentiments, ultimately wishing harm upon an imagined elderly Jewish man.
This piece has caused significant distress among Jewish communities, with several rabbis and leaders arguing that such language, even if intended as satire, contributes to the normalization of antisemitism and could incite violence. The incident occurs amid a rise in antisemitic incidents in Europe following the October 7 terror attack in Israel and the subsequent conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has claimed thousands of lives.
EJA Demands Apology and Accountability
The EJA, which represents a large network of Jewish organizations and communities across Europe, labeled Brusselmans’ writing as “psychopathic” and called for a public apology from Humo. They are also demanding the immediate suspension of Brusselmans, stressing that such dangerous rhetoric cannot be tolerated.
“Such dangerous rhetoric invites real violence,” the EJA stated on social media. “This is a battle against hate speech, and the EJA is not backing down!”
Defending Satire or Promoting Hate?
In response to the backlash, Brusselmans defended his column, stating that his intention was to convey the intense anger one feels when loved ones are harmed. Humo also stood by its writer, describing the column as satirical and emphasizing that Brusselmans is known for his provocative and hyperbolic style.
However, the defense has done little to assuage fears that such inflammatory language could lead to real-world violence. Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, expressed concern that the column could inspire acts of violence, particularly in a diverse country like Belgium.
Israeli Ambassador to Belgium Idit Rosenzweig-Abu also condemned the piece, questioning whether similar statements would be tolerated if directed at any other religious or ethnic group.
Calls for Action
EJA Chairman Menachem Margolin has called for legal consequences for both Brusselmans and Humo, stating that the publication of such words constitutes a crime. “The message has to be clear: anyone who has these ideas needs to be very careful,” Margolin told POLITICO.
As the legal proceedings move forward, this case will likely spark further debate over the boundaries of satire and the responsibility of writers and publications in preventing the spread of hate speech.
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