Amina Rehman (maiden name Pasricha), a registered nurse (RN) at Northport VA Medical Center, recently made an antisemitic comment on the online platform Threads. Rehman’s comment accused Jews of committing Nazi crimes, a comparison explicitly deemed antisemitic by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
Who is Amina Rehman?
Amina Rehman, also known by her maiden name Pasricha, is a registered nurse currently serving at Northport VA Medical Center. According to her LinkedIn and Facebook profiles, she has been in this role since April 2018, amassing over 5 years of experience in the healthcare field.
Rehman earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science from the CUNY School of Professional Studies in 2019, graduating with an impressive 4.0 GPA. Additionally, she holds an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies from Queensborough Community College of The City University of New York (CUNY), awarded in 2015.
The IHRA working definition of antisemitism explicitly includes drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis as an example of antisemitic behavior. Amina Rehman’s comment falls squarely within this definition, raising concerns about the appropriateness of such statements, especially given her professional background as a healthcare provider.
The incident involving Amina Rehman unfolds against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East. On October 7, around 1,500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in significant casualties and hostage situations in Gaza.
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In response, Israel initiated an intensive campaign of air strikes and a ground invasion with the goal of eliminating Hamas. The conflict has led to a substantial loss of life, with the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reporting 10,500 Palestinian casualties.
Unfortunately, expressions of support for Palestinians have, in some instances, transformed into overt antisemitism. Amina Rehman’s inflammatory comment is a stark example of this concerning trend. Such statements not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also contribute to the escalation of tensions in an already volatile situation.
