The European Jewish Association (EJA) is taking legal action against Belgian magazine Humo and writer Herman Brusselmans following a column published on Sunday, accusing the publication and author of „incitement to murder.”
In his column, influential Belgian author Herman Brusselmans wrote that when he saw the image of a Palestinian boy screaming for his mother beneath the rubble of a building, he imagined his son and wife in the same situation and „became so enraged that I want to ram a pointed knife straight down the throat of every Jew I meet.”
He continued: „You always have to think, of course: not every Jew is a murderous bastard, and to give shape to that thought, I imagine an elderly Jewish man shuffling down my own street, dressed in a washed-out shirt, fake cotton pants and old sandals, and I feel sorry for him and almost get tears in my eyes, but a moment later I wish him to hell.”
The piece has been widely condemned by European Jews, with several rabbis explaining that the language of the author contributes to the normalisation of antisemitism and violence against Jews.
The European Jewish Association (EJA) condemned the piece in a statement posted on X, labelling it as „psychopathic” hate speech. The organisation is taking legal action against Belgian magazine Humo and writer Herman Brusselmans and demands a public apology from the newspaper and the immediate suspension of Brusselmans.
„Such dangerous rhetoric invites real violence,” the statement read. „This is a battle against hate speech, and the EJA is not backing down!”
Pinchas Goldschmidt, the president of the Conference of European Rabbis, also said that he feared Brusselmans’ words would inspire real violence. In his opinion article in the Jewish News Syndicate, the rabbi stresses that Brusselmans’ piece „has crossed the line from provocative to dangerous,” highlighting that „it is despicable and must be protested in and of itself, even before it is deemed antisemitic. It is not just about who these words are directed against; they are inherently wrong and inciteful.”
Brusselmans called the accusations „completely crazy” and argued that his imagery of taking a knife to Jews’ throats was metaphorical. „With my column, I wanted to say that when something is done to your loved ones for no reason, you are filled with total anger,” he said. Brusselmans refuses to retract his statement or acknowledge its harm, continuing his antisemitic ramping, spewing hateful tropes about Jews „who cannot take a joke.”
The Belgian magazine also defended Brusselmans’ column, describing it as „satirical.” „With satirical writers such as Herman Brusselmans, the writing should never be taken 100% literally,” said Humo’s editor-in-chief. That is why the editorial staff did not intervene in our columnist’s text.” Despite defending its journalist, the publication has since removed the antisemitic column.
EJA Chairman Menachem Margolin said the paper had „committed a crime for allowing these words to be published.” „What he did is very dangerous, and the authorities must stop this gentleman,” said Margolin, adding that while the EJA knows Brusselmans is a „shock-jock journalist „, „publicly expressing his desire to stab the throat of any Jew he comes across is psychopathic. Given his popularity and infamy, it is also an invitation for others to do likewise.”
Sources: The Jewish News Syndicate, POLITICO, The Times of Israel, Jewish Breaking News
Photo credit: Dirk Annemans via Wikimedia Commons
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