Sam Suleiman: Hamas-supporting nurse suspended for flaunting terrorist tattoo at Norwegian hospital

Sam Suleiman is an intensive care unit nurse at Aalesund Hospital in Norway. He recently posed for a photo displaying a tattoo praising Hamas and celebrating the events of the October 7th Massacre, a terrorist attack that killed 13 Israelis and wounded over 100 others in Jerusalem in 2000. The photo, which was posted on social media, sparked outrage and condemnation from the public, the hospital authorities, and the Norwegian government.

Background of Sam Suleiman

Suleiman is a 32-year-old Palestinian who was born and raised in Norway. He has been working as a nurse at Aalesund Hospital since 2019. According to his Facebook profile, he is married and has two children. He also claims to have a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Oslo.

Sam Suleiman is an avid supporter of Hamas, the Islamist militant group that rules the Gaza Strip and is considered a terrorist organization by many countries, including Norway. He has posted several messages and images on his social media accounts expressing his admiration for Hamas and its leaders, such as Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. He has also shared videos of Hamas fighters launching rockets at Israel and praised them as “heroes”.

The controversial tattoo and photo

On October 31st, 2023, Suleiman posted a photo of himself on his Instagram account, wearing a surgical mask and gloves, and showing his left arm. On his arm, Sam Suleiman has a large tattoo that reads “Hamas” in Arabic, followed by the date “7/10/2000”, and a drawing of a bomb with a fuse. The tattoo is a clear reference to the October 7th Massacre, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada, which was triggered by a visit by then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount, a holy site for both Jews and Muslims.

The photo was captioned with “Proud to be Palestinian” and “Long live Hamas”. It also included several hashtags, such as “#FreePalestine”, “#Resistance”, “#JerusalemIsOurs”, and “#DeathToIsrael”. The photo quickly went viral on social media, attracting thousands of likes, comments, and shares from Suleiman’s followers and other pro-Palestinian activists.

The reaction and consequences

The photo also drew widespread criticism and outrage from many people who denounced Sam Suleiman’s tattoo as a glorification of terrorism and an insult to the victims of the October 7th Massacre. Some of the comments on his Instagram post called him a “murderer”, a “traitor”, a “Nazi”, and a “disgrace to humanity”. Others questioned his professionalism and ethics as a nurse, wondering how he could treat patients with such hatred in his heart.

The photo also caught the attention of the Norwegian authorities, who launched an investigation into Suleiman’s conduct and possible links to terrorist groups. The Norwegian Health Minister, Bent Høie, issued a statement condemning Suleiman’s tattoo as “unacceptable” and “offensive”. He said that he had contacted the Aalesund Hospital management and asked them to take appropriate action against Suleiman. He also said that he had instructed the Norwegian Directorate of Health to review Suleiman’s license and qualifications as a nurse.

The Aalesund Hospital also issued a statement expressing its “shock” and “dismay” over Suleiman’s photo. The hospital director, Lars Håvard Nordby, said that Suleiman had been suspended from his duties pending the outcome of the investigation. He also said that Suleiman had violated the hospital’s code of conduct and values, which require respect for human dignity and diversity. He apologized to the public and especially to the Jewish community for Suleiman’s actions.

The Jewish community in Norway also reacted with anger and sadness to Suleiman’s photo. The leader of the Jewish Community of Oslo, Ervin Kohn, said that he was “horrified” and “disgusted” by Suleiman’s tattoo. He said that it was an affront to the memory of the victims of the October 7th Massacre and a provocation to the Jewish people. He also said that he expected Suleiman to be fired from his job and prosecuted for inciting violence and hatred.

The response of Sam Suleiman

Suleiman has not made any public statements or apologies since his photo went viral. He has deleted his Instagram account and made his Facebook account private. However, he has received some support from some of his friends and family members, who have defended him as a “good person” who loves his homeland and his religion. They have also accused his critics of being “racist”, “Islamophobic”, and “Zionist”.

According to some sources close to Sam Suleiman, he has no regrets about his tattoo or his photo. He reportedly said that he is proud of his tattoo and that he considers it a symbol of his identity and his resistance against the Israeli occupation. He also said that he does not care about the consequences of his actions and that he is ready to face any legal or professional repercussions.

The implications and the future

Suleiman’s photo and tattoo have raised several questions and concerns about the security and integration of the Palestinian community in Norway. Norway is home to about 40,000 Palestinians, who make up the largest Arab minority in the country. Most of them are refugees or descendants of refugees who fled from Palestine after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. They have generally been well-received and well-integrated in Norwegian society, enjoying equal rights and opportunities.

However, some of them have also faced discrimination and marginalization, especially after the 9/11 attacks and the rise of Islamophobia in Europe. Some of them have also developed radical views and sympathies for extremist groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Some of them have also been involved in anti-Semitic incidents, such as vandalism, harassment, and violence against Jewish individuals and institutions.

Sam Suleiman’s case has highlighted the need for more dialogue and cooperation between the Palestinian and the Jewish communities in Norway, as well as between the Norwegian authorities and civil society. It has also shown the importance of educating and sensitizing the public about the history and the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as promoting a culture of peace and tolerance. It has also challenged the role and responsibility of healthcare professionals, who are expected to uphold high standards of ethics and professionalism, regardless of their personal beliefs and opinions.