Thailand Revokes Citizenship of Chief Rabbi Yosef Haim Kantor

Yosef Haim Kantor, the chief rabbi of Chabad in Thailand and a prominent leader of the local Jewish community, has been stripped of his Thai citizenship. The decision was formalized on Thursday, October 29, when the Prime Minister of Thailand signed a decree citing Rabbi Kantor's repeated use of his American passport, even after obtaining Thai citizenship, as the reason for the revocation. According to the Ministry of Interior, the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) documented 16 instances of Rabbi Kantor entering and exiting Australia using his U.S. passport. This action was deemed a violation of the conditions he agreed to when applying for Thai citizenship. The Prime Minister's decree was issued under Section 19.2 of the 1965 Citizenship Act, which mandates the revocation of citizenship for individuals who continue to use their previous nationality. Rabbi Kantor, who had resided in Bangkok for 20 years before receiving Thai citizenship in 2013, had become a central figure in the country's Jewish life. The citizenship revocation follows a series of searches at Jewish centers across several Thai provinces, investigating suspicions of illegal activities and property registration under local straw owners. While documents were seized, authorities have not yet presented evidence of wrongdoing. Additionally, in early September, Thai authorities demanded the exhumation of three bodies from a Jewish cemetery in Bang Klai, claiming it was established illegally. These events have raised concerns about a coordinated campaign against the presence of Israelis and Jews in Thailand. A statement from the Chabad movement expressed regret over the decision, emphasizing Rabbi Kantor's 30-year leadership of the community and their respect for Thailand's institutions. They are pursuing the matter through legal channels. Chabad confirmed that all its centers in Thailand remain operational and continue to welcome Israelis and diaspora Jews.