NEW YORK (VINnews) — An indictment has been filed in Belgium against three mohalim who were arrested last year in Antwerp. The indictment follows what has been described as a provocative and outrageous lawsuit against mohalim in the charedi community of Antwerp.

Last year, police raided the homes of mohels and demanded their knives and lists of children. The well-known Antwerp mohel Rabbi Aharon Eckstein and mohel Rabbi Moshe David Landau were arrested at the time and later released.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, wrote this morning: “Belgium has announced the filing of an indictment against the three mohels who were arrested last year in Antwerp. By doing so, Belgium joins a short and shameful list, alongside Ireland, of countries that use criminal law to persecute Jews for practicing Judaism.”

Sa’ar added: “This is a mark of shame on Belgium. Circumcision is a cornerstone of the Jewish faith. Many countries in Europe and around the world have created legal frameworks to facilitate circumcision and Jewish religious freedom within their borders. I call on the Belgian government to act immediately to find an appropriate solution.”

The controversial lawsuit was filed in January 2024 against the mohels in Antwerp and sparked outrage among members of the Jewish community, who were shocked by what they saw as the audacity of the complainant, a Jewish individual who had previously antagonized Jewish communities in Europe. This time, he went further by not only filing a complaint against mohels who continue the traditional practice of circumcision, but also lodging complaints against rabbis and Hasidic leaders who serve as sandaks (those who hold the baby during the ceremony), claiming they were “accomplices to a crime.” Following the complaint, law enforcement authorities began investigating the allegations.

In February 2026, the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, launched a sharp attack against the legal proceedings in Antwerp against the three men, who had been operating without official state certification.

As previously reported the case concerns three mohels who were arrested and later released in May 2024 after a complaint alleged that they performed circumcisions without official state authorization. Their instruments were confiscated, and they were barred from continuing their activities pending a final decision.

White wrote on X that “antisemitism is unacceptable in any form and must be rooted out of our society,” calling on Belgium “to do a much better job on this issue.” He later described the legal proceedings as “a ridiculous and antisemitic prosecution of three Jewish religious figures in Antwerp,” emphasizing that they are religious practitioners carrying out an ancient tradition.

The ambassador addressed Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke directly, demanding that a legal provision be established to allow Jewish mohels to perform their duties lawfully. “This is done in all civilized countries,” he said, adding that Belgium must ensure the religious freedom of Jewish families in the country.

In another post, White personally criticized the minister, claiming that during their first meeting the minister refused to shake his hand or be photographed with him. He also referenced the United States’ role in liberating Belgium during the World Wars and called for immediate action to end the proceedings. He added that he intends to travel to Antwerp next week to meet with the mohels and their families.