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Sky News AU
12-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Legal cases of former Bankstown, Sydney nurses charged over antisemitic video return to court
Two former Sydney nurses facing charges over an antisemitic video will have their legal cases return to court on Tuesday. Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 27, and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, were stood down from their jobs at Bankstown Hospital on February 12 after a video emerged of the pair allegedly making threats against Israeli patients. The pair, who are both on conditional bail, are excused from appearing in person when their cases are briefly mentioned in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court from 9.30am. The video, which went viral in February, showed Mr Nadir and Ms Lebdeh wearing nursing uniforms as they spoke to Jewish content creator Max Veifer through an online chat room called Chatruletka, which randomly connects users. In the clip, Ms Lebedh allegedly bragged about refusing to treat Israeli patients at the hospital and threatened to kill them. Mr Nadir allegedly said he had sent Israeli patients to 'Jahannam', which means hell in Arabic. The video was widely circulated online after it was shared to social media by Mr Veifer, sparking an investigation by health authorities and police. On February 25, Ms Lebdeh was arrested and charged with three Commonwealth offences including threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. Mr Nadir was arrested on March 4 and charged with a Commonwealth offence of using a carriage service to menace, harass, offend or threaten. He was also charged with possessing a prohibited drug, which was allegedly found inside his locker at Bankstown Hospital. Dramatic scenes unfolded outside Sydney's Downing Centre in March when the two former nurses appeared in court for the first time since their arrests. Mr Nadir's lawyer Zemarai Khatiz said his client will challenge the charges against him on the grounds of the video being taken without his consent. "My client will be pleading not guilty to the charges. He will be defending the matter on legal and technical grounds," Mr Khatiz told reporters. "The video that was captured and recorded, was done without the consent of my client, without his knowledge. And we'll argue for that to be excluded." Meanwhile, Ms Lebdeh was rushed out of the courthouse while being shielded by an entourage of men in black hoodies before she was whisked away in a waiting black car. Mr Nadir has previously apologised for his remarks in the video through a legal representative who said the former nurse does not 'protect what he has done or hide from it'. A family member of Ms Lebdeh, who identified himself as her uncle, previously told the media she was sorry for her comments. "She will come out and make a statement when she's ready, but you can't talk to her now because she's having a panic attack, an anxiety attack," he told The Australian at the time. On February 13, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed the Nursing and Midwifery Council of New South Wales had suspended Mr Nadir and Ms Lebdeh's nursing registrations. This means they are currently banned from practising nursing anywhere in Australia.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Nurse's bombshell move after viral video
The lawyer of a nurse charged over his involvement in an anti-Semitic video says he will argue in court to have the video excluded from court proceedings. Ahmad Rashad Nadir, and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, both aged 27, made international headlines in February after a video of the pair bragging about killing Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital, in Sydney's west went viral. Mr Nadir and Ms Abu Lebdeh arrived on Wednesday morning at the Downing Centre Local Court where their matters were heard for the first time inside a packed courtroom. Both cases were adjourned for eight weeks. Their bail is to continue and they will return to court on May 13. Mr Nadir's lawyer Zemarai Khatiz told reporters outside court that he would 'intend to argue for the video to be excluded from court', citing 'legal and technical grounds'. Mr Khatiz alleges the video was captured 'without the consent and knowledge' of his client. 'So, he'll be defending the charges on several legal and technical grounds,' Mr Khatiz later told NewsWire. 'We will be challenging the admissibility of the video recording because it was a private conversation which was recorded by the person overseas without my client's consent and without his knowledge. That video recording was made secretly overseas and was unlawfully obtained.' Mr Khatiz also confirmed his client would be pleading not guilty. People shielded Ms Abu Lebdeh from the media scrum on all sides as she walked into the courthouse. Ms Abu Lebdeh is charged with threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. Mr Nadir has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend and possessing a prohibited drug. Both nurses were stood down by NSW Health as soon as they were identified. In the two-and-a-half minute video recorded by Israeli influencer Max Veifer, the nurses threaten to kill Israelis who came to the hospital. Mr Veifer often uses Chatruletka and Omegle, online platforms that pair users in random video chats, to expose instances of anti-Semitism and also to learn English. 'Ahh,' Mr Nadir says. 'I'm gonna be really honest with you, you've actually got really, really beautiful eyes. 'But I'm so upset that you're Israeli … eventually you're gonna get killed and you're gonna go to Jahannam (hell). But those pretty eyes, they should stay in this world for longer.' The exchange quickly gets heated as Mr Veifer explains he served in the IDF (Israeli Defence Force). A woman's voice can then be heard off camera saying: 'you killed innocent people'. The woman's voice continues: 'So you kill innocent people to protect your country? What kind of soul do you have? You have no soul.' Mr Veifer then asked the pair: 'How are you doctors?' Abu Lebdeh then allegedly told Mr Veifer she wanted him to 'remember my face so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death'. Mr Veifer then begins to ask 'Let's say an Israeli, God forbid …' 'I won't treat them, I'll kill them,' Ms Abu Lebdeh says. 'Not God forbid, I hope to God.' 'You'll kill them?' Mr Veifer is heard asking. Mr Nadir then said: 'OK you have no idea how many Israeli haram dogs came to this hospital and (makes throat slitting motion) I send them to Jahannam.' 'For real? If just Jewish people comes (sic) there …' Mr Veifer begins before the chat ends. Following the identification of Mr Nadir in February, Strike Force Pearl raided his home and seized a number of items. Mr Nadir was taken to hospital a few hours later over mental health concerns. Lifeline: 13 11 14 (call), 0477 131 114 (text) or Blue: 1300 224 636 or violence support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Assault Crisis Line: 1800 806 292 or Helpline: 1800 551 800 or Australia: 1300 789 978Other tips about mental health and wellbeing can be found at
The Independent
05-03-2025
- The Independent
Second Sydney nurse who appeared in video threatening Israeli patients charged
Police have charged a second Sydney nurse over a video posted online that allegedly made threats to Israeli patients. Ahmad Rashad Nadir, a 27-year-old nurse who worked at Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, and possessing a prohibited drug, the Sutherland police said. Mr Nadir has been granted conditional bail and was due in court on 19 March. Mr Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, were suspended from their duties at the hospital over antisemitism after a video of them was posted online in which they allegedly threatened to deny treatment to Israeli patients or kill them. Ms Labdeh was arrested in February and charged with the federal offences of threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill and using a carriage service to menace and harass, police said. The charges carried a potential maximum penalty of 22 years in prison. Mr Nadir was interviewed by the police earlier and has reportedly apologised for the video last month through his lawyer. The hospital examined patient records and found no evidence that the nurses had harmed patients. In the video, the nurses, wearing their uniforms, purportedly engaged in a conversation on the chat platform Chatruletka with Jewish content creator Max Veifer. After learning that Mr Veifer was from Israel, one of the nurses allegedly said if patients from the country came to their hospital, she would not treat them. "I won't treat them, I'll kill them," she said. The other nurse, a man, said: "Eventually you're going to get killed and you're going to go to (hell)." The incident comes amid a wave of antisemitic attacks targeting Jews in Australia in the backdrop of Israel's war on Gaza. Recent months have seen attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars belonging to Jews across the country as well as the discovery of a caravan carrying explosives and a list of Jewish targets in Sydney. New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said the antisemitism taskforce called the Strike Force Pearl has arrested 15 people and laid a total of 78 charges. 'I must commend the work Strike Force Pearl detectives are doing to investigate, charge and put these individuals before the courts,' she said on Wednesday, according to The Guardian. 'There is a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work going into all these investigations. 'Detectives have overcome many challenges – including huge public expectation – to put these individuals before the court,' Ms Webb said. The duo have been barred by the Australian health practitioner watchdog from working in the profession nationwide 'in any context'.
The Independent
26-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Sydney nurse who threatened to ‘kill Israeli patients' charged by police
A New South Wales nurse, suspended over a social media video in which she allegedly said she would refuse to treat and kill Israeli patients, has been charged by the police. Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, was charged with three commonwealth offences of threatening violence to a group, using carriage service to threaten to kill and using carriage service to menace/harass/offend. Ms Lebdeh, who worked at the Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital in Sydney 's southwest, was arrested on Tuesday night. Earlier, a video had surfaced in which she and colleague Ahmed Rashid Nadir allegedly made inflammatory remarks. The nurses, wearing their uniforms, engaged in a conversation on video chat platform Chatruletka with Jewish content creator Max Veifer. In the footage, seemingly filmed inside the hospital and shared by Mr Veifer, Ms Lebdeh and Mr Nadir allegedly boasted about denying treatment to Israeli patients, killing them, and 'condemning them to hell'. Both Ms Lebdeh and Mr Nadir were suspended pending an investigation. Mr Nadir, who is undergoing medical treatment, has not been charged but remains under investigation, according to NSW Police. Ms Lebdeh, a Condell Park resident, was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 19 March. Authorities have found no evidence that patients were harmed, but NSW Health is continuing its investigation. Earlier, it was reported that Mr Veifer had provided police with the video showing the two Sydney nurses allegedly boasting about killing Israeli patients. Officers from Strike Force Pearl were in contact with Mr Veifer, who was cooperating with the investigation, local media said. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the case was 'not straight forward' while health minister Ryan Park stated there was no indication patients were adversely affected. 'Given the nature of this offending, where we had two people here in NSW and the recording made overseas. It's been a complex investigation given the nature of, we're talking across borders,' Ms Webb said. '[There] has been a lot of work by investigators and support from overseas jurisdictions to get the statement from the influencer and have it converted to English and have it admissible in court.' "She is on very, very strict bail conditions, namely prohibiting her from going to a point of departure from Australia, but more importantly, banned from using social media," Commissioner Webb said. The footage had earlier sparked public outcry and condemnation from officials, including prime minister Anthony Albanese who called it 'vile' and 'disgusting'. Mr Nadir previously told reporters the incident was a 'big mistake', calling the remarks a joke that went too far and apologising for any offence caused. Australia has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, including an alleged bomb plot and arson attacks on synagogues. Advocacy groups report an increase in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering the war in Gaza.
Saudi Gazette
12-02-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Australian nurses suspended over 'vile' video
SYDNEY — Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video appeared to show them threatening to kill Israeli patients and boasting about refusing to treat man and woman — both employees at a Sydney hospital — are now being investigated by police, officials in New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park said that a "thorough investigation" would be carried out to make sure there had been "no adverse [patient] outcomes", but that a "rapid" examination of hospital records had not turned up anything Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as "sickening and shameful" after it began circulating comes less than a week after Australia passed tougher laws against hate crimes following a wave of high-profile antisemitic Wednesday, NSW Police said that they believed they had "identified the individuals involved" in the health minister said both had been stood down immediately, and promised that they would never work in the NSW healthcare system video was shared on TikTok by content creator Max Veifer, who says he is from account features conversations with people he encounters on the app Chatruletka — an anonymous online platform that pairs people randomly for a video footage, seen by the BBC, appears to have been recorded in a hospital.A man, who claims to be a doctor, tells Veifer that he "has beautiful eyes" but adds "I'm sorry you're Israeli" before saying he sends Israelis to Jahannam (hell).He goes on to make a throat-slitting gesture, before a woman comes on screen and says that "one day" Veifer's "time will come" and that he will die, later adding that she won't treat Israelis."I won't treat them, I will kill them," she video has been edited, emojis have been added, and some comments have been bleeped out — but authorities are not questioning its described it as "disgusting" and "vile", writing on X: "These antisemitic comments, driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia."Individuals found to have committed criminal antisemitic acts will face the full force of our laws."Park also apologized to the Jewish community, and said he wanted to reassure them that they could still expect "first class" health care in NSW."There is no place in our hospital and health system for this sort of view to ever, ever take place. There is no place for this sort of perspective in our society."He added that staff at the hospital in the suburb of Bankstown were embarrassed and ashamed, but said it did not diminish the good work they recent months, in incidents unconnected to the hospital video, there have been a series of arson and graffiti attacks involving homes, cars, and synagogues in Jewish areas across Australia, causing fear in the community.A caravan packed with power gel explosives that police warned had the potential to cause a "mass casualty event" was found in NSW in January, alongside a document with antisemitic sentiments and a list of Jewish targets in Sydney. The co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin said the video served as a "warning sign once again to all Australians about the evil that exists in our midst". — BBC
