Muslim Groups Condemn ‘Selective Outrage’ Over Nurses Who Boasted of Harming Jewish Patients

People during a pro-Palestine and pro-Lebanon protest on Whitehall in central London, England, on Sept. 26, 2024. Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

A coalition of Muslim organisations and leaders has signed an open letter condemning what they call “selective outrage” in response to an incident involving two Sydney nurses boasting about harming Jewish patients.

The letter criticised the swift public condemnation of the incident after it was first publicly aired, accusing politicians and the media of ignoring Israeli actions in Gaza.

The controversy began when two Bankstown Hospital nurses, Ahmad Rashad Nadi and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, were caught on a video chat platform—dressed in uniform—telling Israeli content creator Max Veifer they would refuse to treat Israeli patients—in Nadi’s case, boasting that he had let previous patients die.

The response was swift with the Health Minister Ryan Park calling a press conference hours later and ordering the nurses be stood down.

They are currently barred from practicing anywhere in the country and also face an ongoing investigation by New South Wales Police.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns also condemned the nurses’ remarks, as well as federal leaders.

Claims of ‘Calculated, Politically Motivated Outrage’

The letter from the Muslim groups on Feb. 18, denounced the nurses’ comments but argued the reaction was disproportionate and politically driven.

“We condemn the hypocrisy over the nurses’ controversy,” the statement reads.

“As representatives of the Muslim community in Australia, we affirm that all forms of discrimination based on race and religion are unacceptable, and that healthcare should be provided justly to all. However, this statement addresses the selective outrage and political motivations surrounding the recent controversy.”

The signatories accused politicians and the media of double standards, pointing out that Israeli military actions in Gaza often receive little or no condemnation.

“The frustration and anger directed at Israel is a direct response to its violent and inhumane policies—not an expression of hatred toward Jewish people,” the statement said.

The letter further alleged that criticism of the nurses had been “engineered” to manipulate public opinion.

“This is not a failure of consistency; it is the deliberate engineering of public morality,” it states.

In response, former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said it was a “worrying moment.”

“Incredibly poor judgement that sends a very bad message about their commitment to Australia’s democracy and our values,” he wrote on X.

“At this stage, it looks like they are prepared to defend the indefensible. That’s unacceptable.”

Divided Muslim Response

The statement was signed by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, the Islamic Council of Victoria, the Islamic Council of Western Australia, and several local Muslim groups and leaders.

Notably, it was also endorsed by Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia, an Islamist group banned in several countries, including the UK and Germany. As well as the Al Madina Dawah Centre, whose leader Wissam Haddad has been accused of spreading hate speech, also signed the letter.

Grassroots political groups, Muslim Votes Matter and The Muslim Vote, also supported the letter.

However, some of Australia’s largest Muslim organisations, including the Australian National Imams Council and the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), did not sign the letter.

The LMA’s Secretary Gamel Kheir signed in an individual signatory.