Antwerp prosecutors seek trial of two Jewish ritual circumcisers over illegal procedures
The Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking to refer two mohels, Jewish ritual circumcisers, to the correctional court over alleged illegal circumcisions, it confirmed on Wednesday.
The alleged offences have been classified as “intentional assault or battery with premeditation against minors and the unlawful practice of medicine”.
The case stems from a judicial investigation that led to police searches at three locations in Antwerp in May last year. Two of the searches took place in the city’s Jewish quarter and a third in the nearby Groen Kwartier district.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation concerns medical procedures allegedly carried out by individuals without recognised medical training. “The investigation focuses on medical procedures performed by men who have not received medical training,” prosecutors said previously. “In other words: the circumcisions were allegedly not performed by or with a doctor.”
No arrests were made during the searches. Following the investigation, prosecutors now believe there is sufficient evidence to ask the Chamber of Indictments to refer two suspects to the correctional court. The men are currently being granted access to the case file.
The Chamber of Indictments is due to examine the case behind closed doors on 18 June and decide whether the men should stand trial.
Criticism from Jewish organisations
The investigation prompted strong reactions from Jewish organisations in Belgium and abroad.
The European Jewish Association (EJA), which represents Jewish communities across Europe, condemned the searches at the time. “Following the ban on ritual slaughter, the harassment of mohels is a new crossing of the line and a clear warning signal for Belgian Jews and the Belgian government,” the organisation said.
According to the EJA, police confiscated circumcision knives during the searches and requested lists of children circumcised over the previous year. The organisation described the operation as “yet another crossing of a red line in the intimidation of Jewish religious leaders in Belgium”.
The EJA also stressed that a mohel is specially trained in both the ritual and medical aspects of circumcision.
Belgian Jewish umbrella organisations FJO and CCOJB likewise criticised the searches, calling them a “serious infringement of religious freedom” that had caused “great unrest and indignation”.
International reactions
The latest developments have also drawn criticism from Israeli and US officials.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said Belgium, alongside Ireland, was joining a “short and shameful list of countries” that “use criminal law to prosecute Jews for practising Judaism”, he wrote on X.
“Many countries in Europe and the rest of the world have created legal frameworks to facilitate the Brit Mila and freedom of religion for Jews in their countries,” Sa’ar added. “I call on the Belgian government to take immediate action and find a solution.”
US ambassador to Belgium Bill White also reacted sharply, describing the case on X as “a disgrace for Belgium”.
“Belgium will now be regarded by the world as antisemitic. Without a solution, there is no escaping that,” he stated. “The Trump administration condemns this legal action and also condemns the lack of political decisiveness of the Belgian government to find a solution with the beautiful Jewish community here in Belgium.”
White called on the De Wever government to find “an immediate solution” regarding the certification of ritual circumcision. “For the sake of Belgium's reputation in the world, I hope that Belgium takes action NOW,” he wrote.
Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prévot has since rejected the criticism from Saar and White, underscoring that Belgium’s judiciary acts independently and noting that the investigation had been opened following a complaint from within the Jewish community itself. “Portraying this as an attempt by our country to undermine the religious freedom of Jews is slanderous,” he wrote on X. He also told White that “it is not up to an ambassador to determine the government's agenda.”
#FlandersNewsService | © FP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ
Related news
