A South Florida imam and dentist is receiving backlash and demands to suspend his dental license following accusations from state lawmakers that he made antisemitic, violent, and inflammatory remarks during a sermon last month.
According to NBC6, Dr. Fadi Kablawi, a dentist from North Miami, clarified that his comments were misconstrued and taken out of context.
Dr. Kablawi expressed his dismay at the offense taken by others regarding his prayer, emphasizing the perceived low level of the situation. He clarified that his prayer was a request to God to address the atrocities committed by certain Jews, rather than a direct attack on the entire Jewish community.
The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus has accused Dr. Kablawi of advocating for the killing of Jews and likening the current Israeli regime to being worse than the Nazis.
According to Dr. Kablawi, he claimed that his statements had a political nature.
Dr. Kablawi clarified that his intention was not to incite violence or harm anyone. Instead, he explained that his words were a heartfelt prayer against the oppressive criminals who are causing harm to his community.
The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus is currently urging the Florida Board of Dentistry to take action and revoke Dr. Kablawi’s dental license. Their primary concern stems from Dr. Kablawi’s use of inflammatory language and the potential harm it may cause to his patients.
According to a recent audit conducted by the Anti-Defamation League, the number of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. last year reached a staggering 8,873, a significant increase compared to the 3,698 incidents reported in 2022.
Former State Representative Joe Geller from North Miami expressed deep concern over the alarming and hateful speech, describing it as unacceptable and frightening. He emphasized that calling for the annihilation of an ethnic group amounts to genocide, a heinous act that cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. Geller stressed the importance of protecting patients from such a violent and dangerous individual, highlighting the need for immediate action.
Dr. Kablawi expressed his determination to take action independently if necessary.
Dr. Kablawi expressed his frustration and disappointment, stating, “It’s unethical to target my hard-earned and well-maintained license, which I have held for 20 years. It feels like a low blow.”
