A Florida imam and dentist is under fire after video footage captured him making inflammatory and antisemitic remarks during a sermon, with state lawmakers now calling for an investigation into his professional conduct. Dr. Fadi Kablawi of North Miami has been accused of calling for the murder of Jews and making derogatory statements about the Israeli military, prompting outrage and concern for the safety of his patients.
The controversy ignited when a video was live-streamed on Facebook on April 26 and later shared by MEMRI TV, showing Imam Kablawi during his sermon at Masjid As Sunnah An Nabawiyyah. In it, he can be heard saying, "Oh Allah, annihilate the tyrannical Jews. Oh Allah, annihilate them, for they are no match for you," according to a translation provided by MEMRI TV. Furthermore, Fox News reported that Kablawi went on to directly compare the Israeli military unfavorably to the Nazis and to make baseless accusations of organ trafficking.
In response to the imam's comments, Florida state Representative Randy Fine has written a letter urging the Florida Board of Dentistry to suspend Kablawi's dental license and to thoroughly investigate his practice. According to NBC6 Miami, the Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus echoed these concerns, suggesting Koblawi's "incendiary rhetoric and the potential danger it poses to his patients" should not be allowed to continue unchecked. Kablawi, on the other hand, defended his sermon to NBC6, saying, "I wasn't calling for violence, I wasn't calling for anyone to harm anybody, I was making a pure prayer against tyrannical criminals who are killing my people."
Critics believe that the imam's words carry dangerous implications, particularly in a community with a substantial Jewish population. "North Miami, where dentist Kablawi practices, contains many Jewish residents, none of whom could be considered safe in Imam Kablawi's dental chair, where he could personally implement what he is asking Allah to do," Randy Fine stated in his letter, as Fox News reported. The Anti-Defamation League has noted a significant rise in antisemitic incidents across the U.S. last year, a fact that further heightens concerns.
Kablawi has firmly refuted claims that he poses any threat to his patients. "To target my license that I worked hard for and kept in good standing for 20 years, it's an under-the-belt shot and it's unethical," he told NBC6. Despite his defense, the backlash continues as both his conduct as a religious leader and his suitability to practice dentistry come under intense scrutiny.
