US-Belgium diplomatic row erupts over prosecution of mohels in Antwerp

A diplomatic dispute has developed between the United States and Belgium after the prosecution of three ritual circumcisers, known as mohels, in Antwerp, including one American citizen.

US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White sharply criticised the proceedings, describing them as unacceptable and warning of reputational damage to Belgium. He said the case amounted to “a shameful stain on Belgium” and argued that it would lead the world to view the country as anti-Semitic unless resolved, Caliber.Az reports. 

This is a shameful stain on Belgium.

The prosecution of these religious figures (mohels), one of whom is American, is WRONG and won’t be tolerated.

Belgium will be thought of now as anti Semitic by world. Until this is resolved - there is no way around it.

The Trump… https://t.co/XBLp35aPH2

— Ambassador Bill White (@BillWhiteUSA) May 6, 2026

White added that the prosecutions were “wrong and won’t be tolerated,” and called on Belgian authorities to work with Jewish community leaders to establish what he described as a certification solution. He also said the U.S. administration condemned both the judicial action and what he described as political inaction.

“The Trump Administration condemns this judicial action and also condemns the political inaction by the Belgium Government to find a solution with the beautiful Jewish communities here in Belgium," he wrote on X. 

He further urged immediate government engagement, stating: “We call upon the Belgium Government to work with the Jewish leaders and communities to find a certification solution immediately.”

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot responded that it was inappropriate for an ambassador to publicly criticise domestic judicial proceedings, stressing that Belgium’s courts operate independently.

🇺🇸 Mr. Ambassador @BillWhiteUSA,
I urge you to exercise greater restraint and to view your role in its proper context. It is inappropriate to publicly criticize a country and tarnish its image simply because you disagree with judicial proceedings. I have already told you this.… https://t.co/QcGSVGONqY

— Maxime PREVOT (@prevotmaxime) May 6, 2026

He said the ambassador should “exercise greater restraint,” and argued that it was not appropriate to “publicly criticize a country and tarnish its image simply because you disagree with judicial proceedings.” He added that Belgium’s judiciary is “free from any political influence” and emphasised that religious freedom is protected under the country’s constitution.

Prévot also noted that the legal proceedings were initiated following complaints from within the Jewish community itself, warning that portraying the case as an attack on religious freedom was “defamatory.”

"To portray those as a country’s desire to undermine the religious freedom of Jews is defamatory. This freedom has never been called into question and never will be in our country. Our Constitution protects it. And it is not for an ambassador to dictate the government’s agenda," the post reads. 

The case originates from investigations in Antwerp last year, where three mohels were arrested on suspicion of performing circumcisions without the presence of a licensed physician, in violation of Belgian medical regulations.

By Sabina Mammadli