CAA submits complaint to Bar Standards Board regarding Franck Magennis

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted a further complaint to the Bar Standards Board regarding barrister Franck Magennis.

Mr Magennis, who is one of the barristers connected to the application by Hamas to be de-proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK, is the subject of an outstanding complaint by us, which was submitted in May.

This new complaint cites further activity that we consider to be of an extremely serious nature.

Among the social media rhetoric in question is:

• “Zionism is collapsing. Keep hammering anyone who still identifies as a Zionist. Their apartheid state is a pariah. It’s on its way out, just like South Africa, like Jim Crow, like the French in Algeria. Escalate!!”
• “Zionists out there: read the room. You’re pariahs now. Time to shut those racist mouths of yours.”
• “Apparently addressing Lord Walney: Paid up member of the ‘Israel’ lobby, a shill for the arms companies most threatened by @Pal_action’s glorious work. Who cares what you think? Sit down, Zionist wretch. The Palestinian blood will never wash off your hands. You’re a pariah now.”
• “Get my name out of your mouth, fascist-Zionist scum.”
• Responding to a post regarding Palestine Action that read, “The organisation may be banned. The action isn’t. Escalate,” he responded: “Escalate!”
• Addressing the Chief Rabbi: “Sir Ephraim Mirvis shut your racist, Zionist mouth challenge. An apologist for apartheid and genocide, his moral and political authority has collapsed. No one should attach any weight to what he says about racism, Palestinian freedom, or anything else. You’re a pariah. Resign.”
• Regarding the then-imminent proscription of Palestine Action, he said: “So, the High Court does have the power to suspend the effect of the intent to ban. Don’t act as if it’s already happened. It hasn’t happened yet. Keep escalating. But if it does happen, in my opinion, what needs to happen is direct action groups, copycat direct action groups, need to spring up everywhere.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We have told the Bar Standards Board that we consider this to be an extremely serious case of professional misconduct. Mr Magennis must be suspended from practising, pending further investigation and disciplinary action.”