Dutch Mosque Fires Imam for Singing Israeli Anthem During Visit to Israel
Imam Youssef Msiabeh dismissed by Alkmaar’s Bilal Mosque after appearing in a video singing Israel’s national anthem in Arabic amid Gaza war.
Watan-In a move that sparked a wave of anger among the Muslim community in the Netherlands, Bilal Mosque in the city of Alkmaar has dismissed Dutch-Moroccan Imam Youssef Msiabeh after he appeared in a video singing the Israeli national anthem in Arabic during an official visit to Israel as part of a European interfaith delegation.
The visit took place amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians. The trip included meetings with Knesset officials, Israeli military officers, and a tour of locations reportedly targeted by Iranian strikes. Social media activists labeled the visit a “stab in the back of Palestinians.”
In an official statement, the mosque’s administration announced it had “cut all ties” with the imam, stressing that:“There is no place among us for those who incite division.”
Msiabeh, dressed in traditional Moroccan attire during the trip, faced sharp criticism for ignoring what critics described as “the ongoing tragedies in Gaza,” while taking part in what appeared to be celebratory events in Israel and standing beside high-level Israeli officials.
The incident has raised serious questions about the motivations behind the imam’s visit and its compatibility with his religious and community role.
