developing· Security· Updated
Doctor Sentenced to 27 Months for ISIS Membership and Radicalization
The Beersheba Magistrate's Court has sentenced Dr. Muhammad Azam, a former physician at Soroka Hospital, to 27 months in prison for membership in the Islamic State terrorist organization.
6 newsrooms · 3 languages · since
What happened
- 01Former Soroka Hospital physician Dr. Muhammad Azam was sentenced to 27 months in prison for membership in the Islamic State terrorist organization.
- 02Azam pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State terrorist organization following the October 7th attacks.
- 03Authorities discovered instructions and manuals for preparing explosives and poisons on Azam's electronic devices.
- 04The court cited Azam's role as a doctor treating soldiers and civilians as a severe aggravating factor in his sentencing.
- 05According to Israel National News, Azam wished for the death of a wounded IDF soldier being treated at his hospital.
- 06Azam systematically consumed Islamic State propaganda, including combat and execution footage, from 2014 until his arrest in July 2024.
- 07The Ministry of Health is reviewing Azam's medical license for potential revocation following his conviction.
Azam underwent a decade-long process of ideological radicalization, systematically consuming Islamic State propaganda from 2014 until his arrest in July 2024. Following the October 7th attacks, he pledged allegiance to the leader of the terrorist organization, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, and officially joined the group. Authorities discovered files on his electronic devices containing instructions for preparing explosives and poisons.
The court considered Azam's position as a practicing doctor treating both soldiers and civilians to be a major aggravating factor. According to Israel National News, Azam expressed delight over the October 7th atrocities in conversations with an extremist abroad and wished for the death of a wounded IDF soldier who was being treated at his hospital. The Shin Bet security service assessed him as an extremely high security risk.
In addition to the 27-month prison term, Azam was handed a suspended sentence and a fine of 15,000 shekels. The Ministry of Health is currently reviewing his medical license for potential revocation.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Israel National News. Read Israel National News’s original
The coverage
6 newsrooms on this story
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Doctor Sentenced to 27 Months for ISIS Membership and Radicalization