The European Jewish Association (EJA) has initiated legal proceedings against a Belgian satirical magazine, Humo, accusing it of "incitement to murder" Jews.

The lawsuit follows a controversial column by Herman Brusselmans, in which he stated his desire to "shove a sharp knife in the throat of every Jew I come across."

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the EJA, denounced the article as "psychopathic" and demanded a public apology from Humo. The article, in addition to attacking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with derogatory language, also accused him of seeking to annihilate the Arab world, murdering children, and leading the world into a potential World War III.

“This type of rhetoric is extremely dangerous and can lead to real-world violence,” Rabbi Margolin stated. “This is not just a battle against hate speech; it is a fight for the safety and dignity of people.”

In addition to the legal action against Humo, the EJA is also seeking the suspension of Brusselmans from the magazine. "What he has done is extremely dangerous, and it is imperative that the authorities intervene," Margolin told Politico.

The publication of Brusselmans' article has sparked significant public outrage. Notably, Arnon Grunberg, a prominent Dutch Jewish writer, resigned from the magazine in protest. In his resignation statement, Grunberg wrote, “You are free to welcome revisionism in your magazine, but I refuse to be associated with it.”

The Coordination Committee of Jewish Organisations of Belgium also condemned the article, asserting that such content cannot be tolerated in a democratic society that values universal principles. Their statement emphasized, “This is not satire or even poor humor; it is a direct incitement to violence and murder against Jews.”

Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, Idit Abu Risenzweig, also criticized the article, questioning how such content could pass editorial review. "What if someone had written in the Belgian press that they wanted to stab every Muslim they met? This is an unacceptable crossing of a red line," she commented on social media.

Initially, Humo defended Brusselmans, with a spokesperson describing him as a “celebrated and respected writer known for his typically mocking and insulting style,” and framed the article as "satire." However, following backlash, Brusselmans deleted his Instagram account and denied any intent to incite hatred or violence. "I am against all forms of violence and want this war, which should never have started, to end," he stated.

Ernest Herzof, who leads the World Jewish Congress’ Combating Anti-Semitism, Intelligence, and Security Division, also condemned the article, arguing that Humo's editors should have rejected it upon first review. "This piece is not just offensive but dangerous, as it fosters an environment of hatred and intolerance," Herzof stated.

Belgium, home to a Jewish population of between 40,000 and 50,000, mostly in Antwerp and Brussels, has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7. These include attacks on Jewish communities, individuals, and cemeteries across the country. Photo by Quinn Dombrowski from Berkeley, USA, Wikimedia commons.