When Your Beloved Doctor is A Terrorist Sympathizer

Six years ago, I publicly called for the resignation of then Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino after he made a series of racist comments. Although he later acknowledged and apologized for his words—and despite his otherwise distinguished 47 year career in law enforcement—this lapse in judgment and leadership could not be overlooked. Within a few days of those comments becoming public, he resigned.

I made that call with a heavy heart. On one hand, I recognized that Sheriff Saudino had provided exceptional service to our community; his leadership was instrumental during a time of crisis. In January 2012, when the JCCP/CBT, was among five synagogues in Bergen County attacked by arsonists, law enforcement at every level—Paramus Police, the FBI, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the NJ State Police, and especially the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department—rallied behind our community. It was Sheriff Saudino who personally met with Jewish communal leaders and addressed our concerns during the investigation, the arrest of the perpetrators, and throughout the trial.

Yet, if you were a member of one of the minority communities that Sheriff Saudino disparaged in his comments, would you feel confident that you would receive the same level of professionalism and unbiased protection? Could Black, Latino, Sikh, or LGBTQ community members trust that the same department which allowed racist rhetoric pervade its ranks would now provide equal and fair service? For many, the answer would undoubtedly be no.

I thought about this incident as I read about the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University Assistant Professor of Medicine and nephrologist. Federal agents reported that Dr. Alawieh openly admitted to supporting Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Israelis, attacks on Jewish institutions worldwide, and the deaths of hundreds of Americans. Such an admission raises profound concerns.

The situation worsened when it was revealed that Dr. Alawieh had traveled to Beirut in February to attend the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed during an Israeli military operation last September. While her colleagues at Brown University have attested to her medical expertise, her expressed support for an organization that espouses hatred for Western values and violent opposition to the United States and Israel raises serious questions. How could such a doctor be trusted to provide unbiased, quality care to Jewish or Israeli patients? Would you feel comfortable entrusting your care to someone with such affiliations? Imagine a doctor in your practice displaying a Ku Klux Klan uniform or a swastika tattoo—would you recommend them to a friend or leave a glowing review?

The response from Dr. Douglas Shemin, former Chief of Brown University Medicine's Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, exemplifies the moral confusion prevalent in some academic circles. When asked if he would have hired Dr. Alawieh had he known of her support for Hezbollah, he replied, "I can't answer that question." Fortunately, for the American public in general, and the Jewish community in particular, our department of Homeland Security seems happy to answer that question with a resounding no.

I do not wish to downplay the serious legal and even moral issues involved in this case.  Individuals facing deportation are entitled to certain rights and  protections. It is also important to remember that Dr. Alawieh holds an H-1B visa, not a green card.   But at a time of legitimate concerns about rising antisemitism, it will be interesting to see what compelling arguments Dr. Alawieh's legal team might share that could justify a passionate supporter of a US designated terrorist organization serving the American public at one of our nation's most prestigious medical centers. Will  these arguments address the legitimate concerns raised by this case, or exacerbate them?