Doctor Convicted of ISIS Membership Sentenced to 27 Months
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Dr. Mohamed Azam, a former doctor at Soroka Hospital, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for membership in ISIS. He was convicted of radicalization, pledging allegiance to the group after October 7th, and possessing bomb-making manuals. The court considered his role as a doctor treating soldiers and civilians as an aggravating factor in sentencing.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dr. Mohamed Azam was sentenced to 27 months in prison for ISIS membership.
- He pledged allegiance to ISIS's leader after the October 7th attacks.
- Azam possessed manuals on preparing explosives and poisons.
- The court noted his role as a doctor treating soldiers and civilians.
- He consumed ISIS propaganda systematically for approximately a decade.
A Beersheba Magistrate's Court has sentenced Dr. Mohamed Azam, a physician formerly employed at Soroka Hospital, to 27 months in prison for membership in the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization. The court found Azam guilty after a trial, determining that he underwent a prolonged radicalization process, pledged allegiance to ISIS's leader after the October 7th attacks, and possessed manuals on preparing explosives and poisons on his devices.
According to the ruling, Azam systematically consumed ISIS propaganda for about a decade, from 2014 until his arrest in July 2024. His identification with the organization deepened over the years, culminating in his decision to join its ranks and swear loyalty to its leader following the October 7th Hamas assault. The court emphasized that his actions went beyond mere curiosity, indicating a profound and continuous ideological radicalization that included developing operational capabilities.
The possession of manuals detailing the creation of explosives and poisons was a key finding, posing a significant potential threat to national security and public safety. The court also highlighted the severity of his actions given his role as a doctor in a public hospital, where he treated civilians and wounded soldiers. This professional capacity was a significant factor in sentencing, alongside the duration of his radicalization, the volume of extremist material he accumulated, and his joining the terrorist group during wartime.
Prosecutors noted the stark contrast between the medical profession's values of compassion and saving lives and Azam's choice to join a murderous terrorist organization. In addition to the prison sentence, Azam received a 12-month suspended sentence and a fine of NIS 15,000.
