Samian Quazi: The psychiatric nurse who spreads hate and violence against Jews and Israelis

Samian Quazi is a licensed psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner who has sparked outrage and controversy for his online posts that praised Hamas and spread anti-Semitism in the wake of the recent attack on Israel. Quazi, who works in Pacifica, California, called Israelis “Ziopigs” and said Hamas was “the hero” and “infinitely better” than Israel. His tweets were widely condemned by Jewish groups, human rights organizations, and his own professional association.

What did Quazi tweet?

Quazi’s tweets were posted on October 15, 2023, eight days after Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1,400 people and taking at least 239 hostages. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron”, in which more than 8,500 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Samian Quazi tweeted: “The Ziopigs are killing innocent children through their ‘no electricity, no food, no water’ Gaza Genocide policy. Which means Hamas is now the hero.”

The term “Zio” is a common derogatory reference to Zionists, as well as an often-used anti-Semitic slur among white supremacists.

Quazi also tweeted: “Hamas is more like the Soviet Union. Pretty bad, but when they are fighting the Nazis (in this case, Israel), they’re still infinitely better than their enemy.”

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) highlights as one possible contemporary example of anti-Semitism: “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.” The U.S. State Department adopted the IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism in 2016. Over 40 countries have adopted the definition as well.

Quazi used the name “Samian Quazi # rivertothesea” on Twitter. “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” is a chant used to call for the elimination of the State of Israel. It has also been employed by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal to call for the replacement of Israel with an Islamic state.

What is Samian Quazi’s background?

According to his online profile, Quazi is a “Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)” in Pacifica, California. He is licensed to practice in California, license number 95022837. His National Provider Information (NPI) number is 1134820384. On the NPI registry, he was listed as “Samian Hassan Quazi.”

Quazi graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015. He then obtained his Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University in 2018. He has been working as a PMHNP since 2019.

Samian Quazi’s LinkedIn profile says he is interested in “mental health advocacy, social justice, human rights, and global health.” He also says he is fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali.

What are the reactions to Quazi’s tweets?

Quazi’s tweets have been met with widespread criticism and condemnation from various groups and individuals.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), which represents more than 14,000 psychiatric-mental health nurses in the U.S., issued a statement on October 18, 2023, denouncing Quazi’s tweets as “abhorrent” and “inconsistent” with its values and standards.

The APNA strongly condemns any expressions of hatred, bigotry, or violence against any group of people based on their religion, ethnicity, race, or any other identity. The statement reads

We are appalled by the recent tweets by Samian Quazi, a PMHNP and a member of our association. His views are abhorrent and inconsistent with our values and standards as psychiatric-mental health nurses. We have initiated an investigation into his conduct and will take appropriate actions as per our bylaws and policies.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a leading Jewish civil rights organization that fights anti-Semitism and hate, also denounced Quazi’s tweets as “vile” and “dangerous”. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL said

Quazi’s vile tweets praising Hamas and demonizing Israelis are not only offensive and hateful, but also dangerous. They fuel anti-Semitism and incite violence against Jews and Israelis. As a mental health professional who is supposed to care for people’s well-being, he should know better than to spread such toxic rhetoric. We urge his employer and licensing board to take swift action to hold him accountable for his actions.

Quazi’s employer, Pacifica Psychiatric Services (PPS), a private practice that provides mental health care to individuals and families, said it was “shocked” and “dismayed” by Quazi’s tweets and announced that it had suspended him pending an investigation.

We are shocked and dismayed by the recent tweets by Samian Quazi, a PMHNP who works at our practice. His views are completely contrary to our mission and values as a mental health care provider. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination, hatred, or violence against anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, race, or any other identity. We have suspended him from our practice pending a thorough investigation. We apologize to anyone who has been hurt or offended by his tweets.

Quazi’s tweets also sparked outrage and disgust among many social media users, who called for his license to be revoked, his patients to be protected, and his tweets to be reported.

Quazi is a disgrace to his profession and a danger to his patients. How can he provide mental health care to people when he is full of hate and prejudice? He should lose his license and face legal consequences for his hateful speech.

This is horrifying. Samian Quazi is a psychiatric nurse who praises Hamas and calls Israelis Ziopigs. He works in California. How can he be trusted to treat people with mental health issues? His patients need to be protected from him. He needs to be fired and reported.

Samian is a psychiatric nurse who supports Hamas and compares Israel to Nazis. He is spreading anti-Semitism and inciting violence. This is unacceptable and dangerous. Please report his tweets and his license to the authorities. He should not be allowed to practice.

What are the implications of Quazi’s tweets?

Quazi’s tweets have raised serious questions and concerns about his fitness and suitability to practice as a psychiatric nurse, as well as the potential harm he could cause to his patients, colleagues, and the public.

As a psychiatric nurse, Quazi is expected to adhere to the ethical principles and standards of his profession, which include respect for human dignity, diversity, and autonomy; compassion and empathy; honesty and integrity; accountability and responsibility; and advocacy and social justice.

Quazi’s tweets violate these principles and standards by expressing hatred, bigotry, and violence against a group of people based on their religion, ethnicity, race, or any other identity; by endorsing a terrorist organization that commits war crimes and human rights violations; by trivializing the Holocaust and the suffering of its victims; and by promoting a genocidal agenda that seeks to eliminate the State of Israel.

His tweets also undermine his credibility and trustworthiness as a mental health professional who is supposed to provide care and support to people with mental health issues. His tweets suggest that he is biased, prejudiced, and hostile towards certain groups of people, which could compromise his ability to provide quality care that is respectful, compassionate, empathetic, honest, accountable, responsible, and culturally competent.

Samian Quazi’s tweets also pose a risk of harm to his patients, colleagues, and the public. His tweets could negatively affect the mental health and well-being of his patients, especially those who are Jewish or Israeli or have ties to them. His tweets could also create a hostile and unsafe work environment for his colleagues, especially those who are Jewish or Israeli or have ties to them. His tweets could also incite violence or retaliation against him or others by extremists or vigilantes who oppose his views.

What are the possible outcomes of Quazi’s tweets?

Quazi’s tweets have triggered investigations by various authorities and organizations that could result in different outcomes depending on their findings.

The APNA has initiated an investigation into Quazi’s conduct and will take appropriate actions as per its bylaws and policies. The APNA could decide to expel Quazi from its membership, censure him publicly, suspend or revoke his certification as a PMHNP, or impose other sanctions or remedial measures.

The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), which regulates the practice of registered nurses in California, including PMHNPs, could also investigate Quazi’s conduct and take disciplinary actions against him if he is found to have violated the Nursing Practice Act or other laws or regulations. The BRN could decide to revoke or suspend Quazi’s license as a registered nurse, place him on probation with terms and conditions, issue him a citation or fine, or take other actions.

The PPS has suspended Quazi from its practice pending a thorough investigation. The PPS could decide to terminate Quazi’s employment contract, report him to the BRN or other authorities, sue him for damages or breach of contract, or take other actions.

Samian Quazi could also face legal consequences for his tweets if they are found to constitute hate speech, incitement to violence, defamation, or other crimes under federal or state laws. He could be sued by individuals or groups who have been harmed or offended by his statement.