Community groups and Muslim leaders have condemned alleged anti-Israeli comments made by two nurses from Bankstown Hospital, saying the views contradict the teachings of Islam and are not shared by the community.
The two nurses — Ahmed Rashid Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh — appeared to show them saying they would refuse to treat Israeli patients, and would “kill them” if they came under their care.
Australia’s health practitioner watchdog has updated its public records to show both nurses, who worked at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney’s southwest were forbidden from working in the profession nationwide “in any context”.
The pair have also had their registrations suspended by the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Police are considering potential criminal charges, but said on Friday they had not yet received an unedited clip from Israeli influencer Max Veifer, who revealed he was a former Israel Defense Forces soldier in a longer clip posted online that same day.
Nadir was treated by emergency services on Thursday night following a “concern for welfare”. He previously issued an apology through a lawyer after being stood down from the hospital and separately told reporters the incident was a misunderstanding and a mistake.
And in a video published by The Australian newspaper on Wednesday, a man who identified himself as Lebdeh’s uncle said the nurse was “sorry” for her remarks.
Comments ‘contradict the teachings of Islam’
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Perth said the nurses’ comments “not only violate the sanctity of human life, but also fundamentally contradict the teachings”.
Imam Syed Wadood Janud of Perth’s Nasir Mosque said the comments were “factually contradictory to what Islam teaches about the afterlife”.
“Islam teaches respect, compassion, and justice for all humanity, and such vile remarks have no place in our faith,” he said in a statement.
In the same statement, Ata Ul Hadi, a senior resident doctor at Armadale Health Service, said he was shocked that healthcare professionals could hold “such insensitive ideas about human life”.
“As a Muslim, I have a deep regard for the struggles, pains, and vulnerabilities of my patients. I strive every day to go above and beyond to ease their suffering,” he said.
“How anyone in the health sector could see their duty any differently is incomprehensible.”
The statement reiterated Islam is a religion of “peace, compassion and respect for all humanity”, and said the community stands against hatred, bigotry and discrimination.
Imam Kamran Tahir of Adelaide’s largest mosque, Mahmood Mosque, was also critical.
“The comments made by the nurses are completely against the teachings of Islam. Service to mankind is the essence of Islam,” he said.
“The fundamental qualities that we must all acquire to serve mankind are love for humanity and kindness in our hearts for others.”
‘This incident does not represent who we are’
A joint statement by 24 Hazara community organisations said the alleged threats against patients were “abhorrent” and that all individuals “deserve compassionate and equitable treatment” from healthcare providers.
“These comments are deeply disturbing and fly in the face of everything we stand for as a community,” the organisations said in a statement.
“We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.”
Two nurses have been stood down from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins
The statement also said Hazara organisations were “particularly saddened” to learn that one of the nurses, Ahmad Rashad Nadir, had come to Australia from Afghanistan.
It said that individual’s comments “do not reflect the values of diaspora communities from Afghanistan.”
“Our community has always valued inclusivity and understanding,” a spokesperson said. “This incident does not represent who we are.”
Bankstown Hospital surgeon ‘never heard of such a wrongdoing before’
Bankstown Hospital surgeon Ahmad Alrubaii told SBS Arabic that he believes the nurses’ alleged act was an individual and isolated incident. He said it was condemned by other medical professionals working in the hospital.
“I have been working in this hospital [Bankstown] for many years now. I have not ever heard of such a wrongdoing before in the hospital,” he said.
“All the Arab and Muslim medical professionals in the hospital provide services to patients regardless of their faith, race or background.”
Police execute search warrant
NSW Police told SBS News in a statement on Saturday that officers attached to Strike Force Pearl had taken a number of items for examination after executing a search warrant at one of the nurse’s homes in Bankstown at about 6pm on Friday.
It’s understood no arrests have been made.
Strike Force Pearl was recently established in the wake of a string of antisemitic attacks across Sydney.
With reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
