Western Europe slowly returns to the 1930s, where antisemitism was not only tolerated but also constantly being fueled. University professors are under fire, Jewish/ Israeli music groups are being banned, and Jewish students are hiding their identity. There are numerous examples to give from the last year alone. An unstoppable trend that worsens with the government's complicity,

By Sam van Rooy
At the renowned Erasmus University in Rotterdam, a professor was under fire for pro-Israel posts on social media. Muslim Rights Watch Netherlands (MRWN), which has a Belgian branch as well, demanded her resignation and threatened to deregulate student life on campus. The case has caused an uproar both domestically and internationally.

The advocacy group collected dozens of posts by the professor, including reposts calling Palestinians "bloodthirsty Nazi Arab jihadists" and stating that Gazans "should never again be allowed to kidnap and murder Israelis." According to MRWN, these posts are "condoning genocide" and are making students feel unsafe. That is, of course, an Orwellian inversion of reality.

The university confirmed that the professor had previously been confronted about her statements but, for privacy reasons, refused to provide further details.

Jewish students concealing their identity
Another incident last year in Belgium included the well-known writer Herman Brusselmans, who openly declared he wanted to "stick a sharp knife through the throat of every Jew,” without being punished.

Jewish students face threats and bullying, making collective action vital to support victims and foster a sense of community among concerned citizens. It even goes as far as Jewish students concealing their identity for fear of violence. There have been weeks when antisemitic incidents have occurred every day in Antwerp. That is shameful, to say the least.

The decision to cancel the Munich Philharmonic's concert in Ghent, based solely on the conductor's Israeli and Jewish identity, exemplifies threats to artistic freedom. This boycott of the Munich Philharmonic, supported by local leftist authorities, underscores the need to defend artistic freedom and shared cultural values.

This is not a detail, not an "incident": this is the public humiliation of a Jewish-Israeli artist simply for who he is. In 1933, signs in Berlin read "Don't buy from Jews." In 2025, subsidised cultural institutions in Flanders decided: “Don't let Jews conduct in our cathedrals.”

Let’s also not forget the controversy when the Royal Concert Hall in Amsterdam (Concertgebouw) decided to cancel a Chanukah concert in late November. The Concertgebouw terminated its agreement with the Chanukah concert because the Chief Cantor was deemed a visible representative of the Israeli Defence Forces and was involved in controversy.

With a different cantor, they could have proceeded, but the Jewish organisation insisted on this performer, so the contract was terminated.

Need I say more?

Islamic intimidation
The broader pressure on criticism of Islam, exemplified by groups like ‘Muslim Rights Watch,' should concern us all and motivate collective resistance against Islamic intimidation.

The controversy touches on a more fundamental problem. “Anyone who speaks pro-Israel insults Muslims to the core, because it is a non-Islamic (Jewish and democratic) state in what Islam considers ‘dar al-Islam’ (House of Islam). Something which, incidentally, also applies to the rest of the world, including the West. That's why I receive hate messages and threats from Muslims every day.”

Stating facts should never be punished
Coming back to the reports of the Erasmus professor. Nothing here is fabricated; the reposts name Palestinians “bloodthirsty Nazi Arab jihadists who want to kill all Jews and destroy the State of Israel’. Another repost says that Gazans “must never be allowed to kidnap and murder Israelis again.”

Unfortunately, these are not fabrications. That is literally what has been instilled in both Gaza and the West Bank for so many decades and propagated through the media, mosques, and education. It is, therefore, unfortunately, the view of most of the Palestinians.

This radicalisation trend is even noted as far as the Arabian Gulf, where the UAE in January removed UK universities from its approved list for state-sponsored scholarships, citing concerns over potential radicalisation of students by the Muslim Brotherhood on British campuses. A restriction aimed at protecting students from Islamic fundamentalist ideology.

If we continue to look backwards, I fear for the future of Western Europe, and we must all fully support individuals like this professor from the now-infamous Erasmus University Rotterdam. Let’s see how much the university will show a backbone against Muslim Rights Watch, against Islamic intimidation, and against jihad.

Sam van Rooy(40) is a Belgian-Flemish politician, author, and blogger. He is a deputy in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. He is known for strong stances against migration and the Islamisation of Belgium and Western Europe. This is his first contribution to The Liberum.