"Violation of Jewish Religious Freedom," MK Rabbi Roth Slams Belgium Following Shocking Police Raids on Mohels

In a disturbing escalation of tensions over religious rights, Belgian police conducted pre-dawn raids earlier today (Wednesday) targeting the homes of mohels in Antwerp, confiscating circumcision (brit milah) knives and demanding records of boys circumcised over the past year. These actions, described as a severe infringement on religious freedom, have sparked outrage among Jewish leaders, prompting Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Rabbi Moshe Roth, to issue an urgent appeal to the Belgian Ambassador to Israel, Stéphane Taymans, and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar for immediate intervention.

The raids, reportedly triggered by a complaint against six prominent mohels, including Rabbi Aharon Ekstein and Rabbi Moshe David Landau in Antwerp, in a move that has been condemned as a direct attack on Jewish tradition. Brit milah, a sacred ritual performed for thousands of years, is a cornerstone of Jewish identity. MK Roth, in his letter to Ambassador Taymans, called the incident “a profoundly disturbing violation of religious freedom and individual rights,” urging Belgium to “act swiftly to correct this injustice.” He emphasized the sanctity of the practice, stating, “The circumcision ceremony is one of the most foundational and sanctified commandments in Jewish tradition for thousands of years. Any attempt to interfere is perceived as a direct attack on the very core of Jewish identity.”

The timing of the raids, just days after Victory Day over Nazi Germany, added a chilling historical context. Roth noted that “such events evoke painful memories of the persecution endured by Jews in Europe merely 80 years ago,” underscoring the sensitivity of targeting religious practices in a community with a painful history of oppression. The confiscation of milah instruments and demands for private records have raised fears of further restrictions on Jewish religious life in Belgium, where legal battles over ritual practices like shechita (kosher slaughter) have already strained relations.

MK Roth demanded an immediate review of the incident, the return of the confiscated instruments, and assurances that Belgium will uphold religious freedom for its Jewish citizens. The raids have drawn condemnation from groups like the European Jewish Association, with Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin calling them “yet another red line crossed in the intimidation of Jewish religious figures in Belgium.” As the Jewish community in Antwerp reels, the international response will be critical in addressing this alarming threat to religious liberty.

Sources: Information compiled from posts on X and web reports, including statements from MK Rabbi Moshe Roth and the European Jewish Association.