Ex-Soroka Doctor Sentenced for ISIS Membership and Radicalization
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
A Beersheba court sentenced former Soroka Hospital intern Dr. Muhammad Azam to 27 months in prison and a suspended sentence for ISIS membership. Azam was arrested in July 2024 after investigators found he had radicalized, pledged allegiance to ISIS after the October 7th attack, and possessed bomb-making manuals. Prosecutors noted his position as a doctor treating civilians and soldiers as an aggravating factor. The Health Ministry will review his medical license.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dr. Muhammad Azam, ex-Soroka Hospital intern, received 27 months prison for ISIS membership.
- Azam pledged allegiance to ISIS leader after October 7th attack, court documents show.
- He possessed manuals on explosives and poisons on his electronic devices.
- Prosecutors cited his doctor role treating civilians and soldiers as an aggravating factor.
- The Health Ministry will review Azam's medical license.
A Beersheba Magistrate's Court sentenced Dr. Muhammad Azam, a former intern at Soroka Hospital, to 27 months in prison and a 12-month suspended sentence on Monday, October 19. He was also fined 15,000 shekels for membership in the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization. Azam was arrested in mid-July 2024 and charged on August 22 with belonging to a terror group. Investigators determined that Azam underwent a prolonged period of ideological radicalization and pledged allegiance to the ISIS leader after the October 7, 2023, attack. He possessed manuals on explosives and poisons on his electronic devices.
According to the court's ruling, read by Judge Shosh Shitrit, Azam systematically consumed ISIS propaganda online from 2014 until his arrest. His solidarity with the group grew, and he decided to join its ranks following the Hamas attack. His views became more extreme after pledging allegiance. The judge emphasized that Azam's actions were not mere curiosity but indicated a desire to engage in terrorism, potentially leveraging his medical position.
Hofit Kantorovich, a prosecutor from the Southern District who handled the case, stated that the court considered Azam's employment as a doctor at a public hospital, treating both civilians and wounded soldiers, an aggravating factor. She highlighted the stark contrast between a doctor's duty to save lives and the desire to join a "bloodthirsty terrorist organization." Kantorovich added that the sentence reflects the severity of his actions and aims to deter others from joining terrorist groups. The Health Ministry will review Azam's medical license.
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