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Wave of “anti-Jewish hate” in Greater Toronto Area

Swastikas have been spray-painted on Toronto’s Beth Sholom Synagogue, at a school and on a bus shelter during what was described by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre as a “wave of antisemitic vandalism” in the Greater Toronto Area.

The synagogue incident is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence, according to police who have released a surveillance-camera image of a suspect.

Beth Sholom minister, Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich, said that the antisemitic graffiti wasn’t only an attack on the Jewish community of Toronto, but on “every person who calls the city their home and every Canadian who calls this country their home.” 

In a statement, Michael Levitt, President and CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies, said that it was “extremely disturbing to see such anti-Jewish hate being spread across the Greater Toronto Area.”

The Ontario New Democratic Party has also condemned the vandalism stating: “There is no place for antisemitism and white supremacy in our city, our province, or our country.”

Telling the Government to “act urgently to stamp out antisemitism and white supremacy wherever they occur,” the statement added: “Meaningful action is long overdue.”

The Toronto incidents follow the daubing of swastikas on the election posters of two Jewish Liberal candidates in Montreal earlier the same week.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project. 

Image credit: StandWithUs

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Former UKIP candidate claims wearing yellow star is “ultimate tribute” to Holocaust victims

It has been reported that at a demonstration held outside Westminster yesterday, an anti-vaccination protester claimed that wearing the yellow star that was forced upon Jews during the Holocaust was the “ultimate tribute” to Holocaust victims.

The protester, identified as Jeff Wyatt, wore a yellow star armband with the words “Not Vaccinated” written below, as well as the German translation of “Nicht Geimpft”. “It’s the ultimate tribute – because where we are heading is where the Jews went,” Mr Wyatt reportedly said.

He added: “Bear in mind in the 1930s, the Nazis didn’t just suddenly become the tyrants they were – they slowly had their evil way over the public of Germany. And the Jews, for years and years, said ‘just do what they say’ – and eventually they gassed them.”

The individual is believed to be the same Jeff Wyatt as the former Deputy Leader of the For Britain Movement who stood as a UKIP candidate in Milton Keynes. The For Britain Movement has been described as a “far-right UKIP splinter group” and has been accused of antisemitism and racism.

On a video uploaded to the official YouTube account for UKIP Cambridge & SE Cambs, Mr Wyatt can be seen talking to the camera at an anti-lockdown rally from last year whilst holding a sign that reads “No Gestapo Policing”.

This is not the first time that the yellow star or comparisons to the Nazis have been used by anti-vaccination demonstrators.

In April, protesters at an anti-vaccination rally held in London were pictured wearing the yellow star. Comedian David Baddiel took to Twitter to share a photo of a woman wearing the yellow star, accompanying it with the caption: “Take. That. Off.”

Footage taken on 13th July showed Piers Corbyn comparing vaccinations to Nazi policy outside the Houses of Parliament, despite being arrested after a similar incident in February. The video shows Mr Corbyn and another man standing in front of a sign which reads “No Nazi forced jab” and yelling “arrest Matt Hancock” through a megaphone. 

The inflammatory and misleading comparison has also been used among international anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown circles.

Earlier this week, we reported that antisemitic protest signs have prompted hate speech and incitement of violence investigations in France. In addition to this, several people have been spotted wearing yellow stars. In March, organisers of an anti-vaccine demonstration in the city of Avignon were described as “brainless” by Eric Ciotti, the Deputy (parliamentarian) for the region, for using the Nazi yellow star in their protest. Joseph Szwarc, a Holocaust survivor, spoke out against these acts, saying: “You can’t imagine how much that upset me. This comparison is hateful. We must all rise up against this ignominy.” With tears in his eyes, Mr Szwarc added: “I wore the star, I know what that is, I still have it in my flesh. It is everyone’s duty to not allow this outrageous, antisemitic, racist wave to pass over us.”

The comparison has been made across the world, including in the United States, Canada, Ukraine and elsewhere.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “disgusted and angry” at swastika graffiti on election signs for Jewish Members of Parliament

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that he is “disgusted and angry” after it was revealed that election signs belonging to two Jewish MPs had been vandalised with swastikas.

The MPs, Anthony Housefather and Rachel Bendayan, are both members of Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal Party of Canada.

The Canadian leader took to Twitter to voice condemnation of the graffiti, writing: “I am disgusted and I am angry that @RachelBendayan and @AHousefather had signs vandalized with antisemitic graffiti. It is completely unacceptable. I stand in solidarity with Rachel and Anthony, and the entire Jewish community, against this type of hatred.”

Both MPs, who are representing different areas of Quebec in Canada’s upcoming election, used their own Twitter accounts to address the vandalism.

Ms Bendayan, the MP for Outremont, an area that is understood to have a large Jewish population, posted images showing that at least two of her placards had been defaced with the Nazi symbol. She wrote: “Whatever your political views, spreading hateful and violent messages is not the way to go. We’ve seen the road that the politics of the far right leads us to in the US and around the world. That is not us. That is not our Canada.”

Mr Housefather, representing Mount Royal, tweeted that it was “Pretty sad to see #antisemitism hitting the campaign on Day 3.” He added: “I can assure whoever did this that no swastika is going to scare me or stop me from speaking up for Jewish Canadians.”

The graffiti was denounced on Twitter by several Canadian politicians from a variety of parties.

In May, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau offered his support to Canada’s Jews after the country saw a surge in antisemitism. In a tweet, he wrote: “I am deeply disturbed by recent reports of antisemitic acts in Montreal and across the country. This intimidation and violence is absolutely unacceptable – and it must stop immediately. There is no place for hate of any kind in Canada.”

A few weeks ago, a swastika was found spray-painted onto the pavement next to a Jewish man’s car in Kelowna, Canada.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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“Antisemitism is unacceptable and evil”, says Premier Daniel Andrews in Victoria, Australia   

The Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, has condemned antisemitism in the Australian State of Victoria as “unacceptable and evil”.

In a press conference held yesterday, Mr Andrews responded to remarks made by a hospital worker in which she stated that the people who attended an “illegal” engagement party should be “should be put in a gas chamber”.

The hospital subsequently dismissed the employee from her role and said in a statement: “We are aware of a hospital support staff member who made an abhorrent and disgraceful antisemitic comment on Facebook. The comment does not reflect the Royal Melbourne Hospital and our values. We do not tolerate racial or religious hatred, contempt or ridicule. The staff member is no longer an employee of the hospital and we apologise for the hurt and anger this has caused. We stand with and support our Jewish staff members, patients and community.”

Mr Andrews, stating that he wanted to “call out some pretty appalling commentary”, said that “antisemitism is unacceptable and evil, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to that in our State”. Referring to the engagement party, Mr Andrews stated that “it was a stupid function, it was an illegal function” and that “those people are being dealt with”, but was keen to emphasise that the individuals who broke the rules were “not a reflection of the Jewish community more broadly” and that “it was not an act of faith or culture”. “It was not something that anyone should use to reflect upon a broader group of people in our Victorian community,” Mr Andrews said.

The Victorian Premier added: “We have a proud, Jewish community. A significant, Jewish community. And it is simply unacceptable and evil for anyone to be trading in some of the antisemitic behaviour and comments that we’ve seen recently…there is never, ever a place in Victoria for antisemitic behaviour or language. It’s simply evil.”

Last week, it was reported that 60 percent of Jews in Queensland have experienced antisemitism, according to a new survey.

The results of this survey come only a few months after a separate survey was published which, in contrast, showed that Australians generally have a very positive view of the Jewish community.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz to serve another seven weeks in prison after humiliatingly losing appeal against conviction secured following action by CAA

The notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz has today humiliatingly been sent back to prison for seven weeks after losing her own appeal last week.

The appeal was against her conviction under section 127 of the Communications Act for sending by a public communications network an offensive, indecent message or material. That conviction was secured following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism, which has been pursuing justice against Ms Chabloz for years.

Ms Chabloz had been held on remand since the two-day hearing before Judge Martin Beddoe at Southwark Crown Court ended last Friday, with sentencing due to take place on Monday. However, the court had not yet heard from the probation service about which elements of Ms Chabloz’s original sentence – nine weeks in prison (half of an eighteen week sentence), 180 hours of unpaid work and twenty days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) – had been served. The prosecution noted on Monday that “it’s a concern of the prosecution that she will do exactly the same thing again,” that Ms Chabloz has an “obsession” with Jewish people and Judaism and is “incapable of not abusing Jewish people,” and therefore should be sentenced accordingly. Without a complete update from the probation order, the court adjourned until this morning.

Today, the probation officer took the stand and revealed that, after serving her custodial sentence, Ms Chabloz had only served 43 of the 180-hour unpaid work requirement and only four days of RAR. Ms Chabloz had disputed part of this testimony, with Judge Beddoe, sitting today with magistrates, cautioning her: “If you don’t shut up, I’ll have to send you downstairs. Please be quiet. Just stop. This is the last order!”

“These records have a lot to be desired,” Judge Beddoe observed, noting that he would need to make adjustments to his anticipated sentence. After a brief adjournment, Judge Beddoe reminded Ms Chabloz that “you knew when you lodged the appeal and persisted that the sentence would be at large should it fail.” This is because defendants convicted in magistrates’ court, as Ms Chabloz was, are usually given leave to appeal their cases to a crown court, but with the risk that, if their appeal is dismissed, there is a possibility that their sentence may be increased.

Judge Beddoe noted that “the first of the offences was barely one month after the suspended sentence order and the second for the same thing was two months after that” and denied Ms Chabloz’s earlier claim that hate crimes do not generate violence, adding that the court’s experience was “that they very much do.”

Ms Chabloz presented herself as a victim of online trolling, claiming also that she lost her job in 2014 after someone wrote to her employer about her antisemitic views. Judge Beddoe dismissed these contentions, observing that this was the result of her behaviour, and that if she changed her ways, the supposed trolling would likely cease. He concluded that “there’s no mitigation that we can find.” Observing further that “there’s no remorse on your part, simply defiance,” he concluded that the enhanced sentencing is “entirely a consequence of your actions.”

Ms Chabloz was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison, which represents both an uplift from the original eighteen-week sentence and the re-imposition of part of the suspended sentence that Ms Chabloz received in her first conviction in 2018. That verdict arose from a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism that was later continued by the Crown Prosecution Service and set a major legal precedent, as Ms Chabloz became the first person in Britain to be convicted over Holocaust denial.

She must serve half of this 32-week sentence, i.e. sixteen weeks, of which she has already served nine, leaving seven weeks of the custodial sentence to be served. There is no criminal behaviour order, because the court did not consider that such an order would prevent Ms Chabloz from re-offending, but she must pay the court £1,800. Judge Beddoe warned her that, if she is convicted again, the sentence will be “merely more severe next time.”

On leaving court, Ms Chabloz was heard calling out: “I hope to have a jury trial next time.”

Ms Chabloz’s conviction arose on the basis of the previous landmark precedent secured against her by Campaign Against Antisemitism over her obsessive Holocaust denial used to hound Jews. Some of the offences of which Ms Chabloz was convicted in her more recent case arose from comments that she made on Graham Hart’s internet radio show. Since her earlier conviction and incarceration, Mr Hart, who called Jews “filth” and asked listeners for a gun, pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Public Order Act 1986 after investigations by Campaign Against Antisemitism, and was sentenced to 32 months in prison, of which he will serve half.

Ms Chabloz is a virulent antisemite and Holocaust denier who has an extensive record of using social media to publicise her hatred for Jews and to convert others to her views about Jewish people. She is fixated on the idea that the Holocaust did not occur, and that it was fabricated by Jews and their supporters as a vehicle for fraudulently extorting money in the form of reparations. This forms the basis for her second obsession, that Jews are liars and thieves who are working to undermine Western society. Ms Chabloz is also connected to extremist right-wing movements, at whose meetings she gives speeches and performs her songs, in the UK, France and North America. 

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Six years ago, we watched in horror as Alison Chabloz made liberal use of social media to abuse and harass the descendants of Holocaust victims, accuse Jews of endorsing paedophilia and murdering Christian children and bait rabbis with tweets that exonerated Hitler. We decided then that, however long it took and whatever obstacles were put in our way, we would ensure that British Jews were protected against her virulent antisemitism.

“With this enhanced custodial sentence that draws together her numerous convictions, she is now reaping the rewards of her own hateful behaviour. Jew haters like Ms Chabloz and the recently-convicted radio host Graham Hart now know that we will not rest in our defence of the Jewish community. Others with similar views should take note.”

In separate proceedings also resulting from action by Campaign Against Antisemitism, Ms Chabloz is due back in court on 1st September to be tried for further alleged offences under the Communications Act (the original charges have been downgraded to this lesser offence). 

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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John Ware wins first stage of libel case against JVL’s Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi

John Ware, the maker of the BBC Panorama documentary “Is Labour Antisemitic”, has won the first stage of his libel lawsuit against two members of the antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation, Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL).

The libel action concerns comments made by Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, one of the group’s founders and its Media Officer, on Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 show, in which she claimed that Mr Ware allegedly had a “terrible record of Islamophobia, far-right politics” and that the BBC had in the past had to “apologise” for his journalism and discipline him.

The claims were then repeated on the JVL website, and JVL’s Web Officer, Richard Kuper, is also a defendant. Mr Kuper is the founder of Pluto Press, which was previously the publishing arm of the International Socialists, now known as the Socialist Workers Party.

Mr Ware denies the claims made by Ms Wimborne-Idrissi.

The programme, which was televised in July 2019, showed former Labour Party employees speaking out publicly to reveal Jeremy Corbyn’s personal meddling in disciplinary cases relating to antisemitism. The programme explained how senior Labour Party staffers, some of whom Campaign Against Antisemitism has known for years, used to run Labour’s disciplinary process independently, but soon after Mr Corbyn’s election as Party leader found themselves contending with his most senior aides, who were brazen in their efforts to subvert due process. During the programme Labour’s press team made claims that the staffers featured had political axes to grind and lacked credibility, and the whistleblowers and Mr Ware commenced libel proceedings against the Labour Party.

At a preliminary hearing to determine the ordinary meaning of Ms Wimborne- Idrissi’s words, she argued that they were just “honest opinion.” However, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled that reasonable listeners would have understood the comments as statements of fact, namely that Mr Ware had “engaged in Islamophobia and extreme, far right politics, as a consequence of which the BBC has had to apologise for his conduct,” and that there were “reasonable grounds to suspect” that Mr Ware “has an extensive record of Islamophobia and of involvement in extreme, far’right politics.”

Mr Ware has observed that he has never been disciplined on any matter by the BBC, has no “record of Islamophobia” and has never promoted “extreme far-right politics”. Following this ruling, Ms Wimborne-Idrissi will have to prove that these assertions of fact are true, which is a higher threshold than showing that they are mere honest opinions.

Mr Ware said: “I’m pleased to have prevailed at this first stage of the proceedings and look forward to clearing my name from these very hurtful and false allegations that they have made against me. They need to understand that there’s a high price to pay if you go around making false claims. The accusations that I am an ‘Islamophobe, racist and engaged in far-right politics’ are grossly offensive. The Court will decide whether they are lies.”

Mr Ware’s cases have been brought by Mark Lewis, a highly esteemed media lawyer who is also an honorary patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Lewis said that “the case will now fight on to trial so that John can prove that these allegations were completely baseless. It’s one thing to hold a different opinion but you can’t have different facts.”

Several weeks ago, Ms Wimborne-Idrissi was reportedly removed from Chingford and Woodford Green Constituency Labour Party’s executive committee.

Mr Ware is also reportedly suing the editor of the Press Gang blog, Paddy French, over claims made by Mr French that the Panorama documentary “bent the truth to breaking point” and that Mr Ware was a “rogue reporter.” Last February, Mr Ware won the first stage of that libel action as well, leaving Mr French having to defend his statements as assertions of fact.

Previously, in explaining why he was commencing these libel lawsuits, Mr Ware said: “It was an unwritten code amongst we journalists that we don’t sue because free speech is sacrosanct, but the world has changed thanks to social media.  You either accept and shrug your shoulders when people call you a liar and say you fabricated evidence and deliberately promoted falsehoods – as the Labour Party did – or you decide to do something about it. So I decided to do something about it.”

On 28th May 2019, the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched a full statutory investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party following a formal referral and detailed legal representations from Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is the complainant.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2019 showed that antisemitism on the far-left of British politics has surpassed that of the far-right.

Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.

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68-year-old man arrested for painting swastika outside of synagogue in Spain

A 68-year-old man was arrested last week for allegedly painting a swastika outside of a synagogue in Spain.

The swastika was reportedly painted onto one of the bollards in front of the Chamberí synagogue in Madrid on Saturday 31st July, the Jewish Sabbath.

The suspect, who is accused of having committed a crime against Fundamental Rights, is not believed to have committed any other crimes of this nature.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Google

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Argentina condemns Iran over promotion of man allegedly to linked to fatal Jewish community centre attack

Argentina has strongly condemned the nomination by Iran of Ahmad Vahidi to be the new interior minister.

Mr Vahidi is a former head of Quds, the paramilitary wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. In that role, Mr Vahidi is a leading suspect in the planning of the 1994 terrorist attack on the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires in which 85 died and hundreds more were seriously wounded.

Argentina’s Foreign Ministry described the news as “an affront to Argentine justice and to the victims of the brutal terrorist attack.” The Foreign Ministry also reiterated that Mr Vahidi was wanted by the Argentine courts which considered him to be “a key participant in the decision-making and planning” of the AMIA attack.

Mr Vahidi is one of four Iranians who – since 2007 – have been the subject of an Interpol Red Alert for their alleged role in the 1994 bombing. Iran denies any involvement in the attack and refuses to allow its officials to be investigated. 

If Mr Vahidi’s nomination by Iran’s new President Ebrahim Raisi is confirmed by parliament, this will be his second Cabinet post. He was Defence Minister from 2009 to 2013 and he has also served as chancellor of the Supreme University of National Defence.

The Foreign Ministry statement added: “The Argentine government once more requires the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to co-operate fully with the Argentine courts, permitting the persons accused of participating in the attack against AMIA to be tried.”

America’s Simon Wiesenthal Centre also expressed criticism of the appointment, describing it as “an insult to Argentina” and “a blow to the families” of the victims.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project. 

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Police investigate assault on Jewish pensioner outside London West End theatre

Police are investigating an assault on a Jewish pensioner that occurred outside a theatre in London’s West End.

Ronnie Phillips, 72, was leaving a performance of Leopoldstadt, a play about the Holocaust, at Wyndham’s Theatre last Thursday when he was “slapped round the head and his kippah thrown to the ground”, according to his wife Emma.

The Metropolitan Police said that officers attended “Charing Cross Road, WC2 shortly before 22:10hrs on Thursday 12th August to reports of a religiously-aggravated assault. Officers spoke to the victim. He was not injured during the incident. Enquiries are ongoing, no arrests. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 7778/12Aug.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“You need gassing you dirty Jew”: Lancashire Police looks into vile abuse from Asda employee

Lancashire Police are looking into an incident of vile abuse that was reportedly sent from an Asda employee.

Yesterday, a Twitter user shared a screenshot revealing a torrent of abusive messages that they had received from someone on Facebook. The messages included calling the individual a “dirty Jew” that needed “gassing”, as well as a “Jewish c*nt”.

Accompanying the screenshot, the Twitter user wrote: “@AsdaServiceTeam @asda This disgusting, hate-filled antisemite states, on Facebook, that they work for you… @LancsPolice Please investigate this individual.”

Three hours later, Lancashire Police responded on Twitter, writing: “Hi there, thank you for raising your concern about this. We were made aware of this incident earlier today and can assure you that we are dealing with it appropriately. Thanks.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues its robust engagement with social media companies over the content that they enable to be published, and we continue to make representations to the Government in this connection.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has long called for tougher regulations on social media sites and that social networks proactively search for and remove hate speech from their platforms.

Image credit: Google

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Protestors near Nablus build and set alight swastika inside Star of David in ceremony reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan

A video uploaded to Twitter on Saturday showed protesters in the town of Beita, a town under the Palestinian Authority control near Nablus, holding flaming sticks and watching on as a handmade structure depicting a Star of David with a swastika in the centre burned.

The act, reminiscent of a Ku Klux Klan ceremony, was reportedly a part of the ongoing protests toward the nearby Jewish town of Evyatar.

Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Ghassan Alian, said: “In using these symbols of hate, the demonstrators crossed a line. Any comparison between Nazi and Zionist ideas indicates just how ignorant the person who does such a thing really is, both historically and morally.”

“This type of act does not represent the values of any society, particularly not the Palestinian one…Anyone who took part in this dreadful event should be ashamed of himself,” said Major General Alian. He added: “We strongly condemn this shameful act and call upon the Palestinian people to do the same.”

Mohammed Zain, a local activist from the Nablus area, defended the actions as a means of “peaceful protest”. He said: “The young men demonstrating against the illegal settlements are heroes. We will continue the peaceful protests until we foil the Israeli Government’s plan to seize our lands. What happened on Saturday is not because we are against the Jewish religion, or because we support Hitler. We just wanted to send a message that there isn’t much of a difference between Israel and the Nazis.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz sent back to prison after humiliatingly losing her own appeal in case launched following action by CAA

Notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz has humiliatingly been sent back to prison on remand, pending sentencing on Monday, after losing her own appeal.

The appeal was against her conviction under section 127 of the Communications Act for sending by a public communications network an offensive, indecent message or material. That conviction was secured following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism, which had been pursuing justice against Ms Chabloz for over four years.

In a two-day hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday and Friday, Ms Chabloz, 57, sought to have her conviction overturned, having already served nine weeks in prison, representing half of her original eighteen week sentence. Defendants convicted in magistrates’ court are usually given leave to appeal their cases to a crown court, but with the risk that, if their appeal is dismissed, there is a possibility that their sentence may be increased. This looks likely to happen on Monday, after Ms Chabloz’s appeal was dismissed on Friday and she was held on remand, pending sentencing on Monday.

Judge Martin Beddoe said that he made his judgment in accordance with “standards of an open and multiracial society,” and that “the prosecution is proportionate in response to a pressing social need.” He also stated that there are consequences for being found guilty of being grossly offensive, as Ms Chabloz has been.

In his remarks, Judge Beddoe highlighted Ms Chabloz’s “hostility to people of Jewish extraction” and her “irrational” views and “misguided beliefs.” He said that he was quite sure that her grossly offensive statements were “deliberately said.”

Over the course of the hearing, Ms Chabloz said that she was upset that “an English court is applying the dictatorship of opinion imposed by Zionist organisations”, on several occasions also mentioning Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Director of Investigations and Enforcement by name.

Ms Chabloz, whose conviction arose on the basis of a previous landmark precedent secured against her by Campaign Against Antisemitism over her obsessive Holocaust denial used to hound Jews, also told the court this week that Jewish people turn their children into “psychopathic maniacs” by teaching them about the Holocaust, which she described as “frantic babble”.

She added that “English Zionists work together in their own group interests” and at one point declared that she would like English people to “remain the majority in my country.” Judge Beddoe asked her “Who is English? How do you distinguish?” She answered: “By identity and ethnicity.” The judge pressed her, “Are Jewish people in your view English?” to which she responded: “They may be half-English or a quarter English.”.

In her defence, Ms Chabloz claimed that she has Jewish collaborators in her work, has taught Jewish songs to children and that she received support from Jewish people while she was in prison. Scarce evidence was provided to support most of these contentions.

Her testimony was rambling, with the judge castigating her for failing to answer questions and even her own counsel urging her at times to focus. Despite this, she continued to insist that “the Holocaust narrative” is fraudulent, referring to “all the fake survivors who survived” and accusing the Auschwitz Museum of being “a fraudulent enterprise.”

She also repeated her claim that “the Holocaust is a state religion here and in the West,” and accused Jews of being “the main group behind clamping down on freedom of expression.”

Some of the offences of which Ms Chabloz was convicted arose from comments that she made on Graham Hart’s internet radio show. Since her earlier conviction and incarceration, Mr Hart pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Public Order Act 1986 after investigations by Campaign Against Antisemitism, and was sentenced to thirty-two months in prison, of which he will serve half.

Ms Chabloz is a virulent antisemite and Holocaust denier who has an extensive record of using social media to publicise her hatred for Jews and to convert others to her views about Jewish people. Following a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism, which was later continued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Ms Chabloz became the first person in Britain to be convicted over Holocaust denial in a precedent-setting case. Ms Chabloz previously spent a short time in custody for breaching the conditions of her sentence, but this will be her first substantial period in prison.

Ms Chabloz is fixated on the idea that the Holocaust did not occur, and that it was fabricated by Jews and their supporters as a vehicle for fraudulently extorting money in the form of reparations. This forms the basis for her second obsession, that Jews are liars and thieves who are working to undermine Western society. Ms Chabloz is also connected to extremist right-wing movements, at whose meetings she gives speeches and performs her songs, in the UK, France and North America. 

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Alison Chabloz’s repulsive opinions about Jews can be traced back to the beer halls of 1930s Germany. The dismissal of her appeal affirms the just decision of the magistrates’ court and its decision to incarcerate her, signaling that the judiciary is united in its disgust of people who make a vocation out of denying the Holocaust and baiting Jews. The likely enhancement of her sentence, which is entirely of her own making, is nothing less than she deserves.

“This decision comes on the heels of the imprisonment of Graham Hart, on whose radio show Ms Chabloz made some of the comments that lead to her conviction. We will continue to ensure not only that individual antisemites are brought to justice, but that their networks of indoctrination are disrupted as well.”

In separate proceedings also resulting from action by Campaign Against Antisemitism, Ms Chabloz is due back in court on 1st September to be tried for further alleged offences under the Communications Act (the original charges have been downgraded to this lesser offence). 

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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New York Police search for attacker who assaulted elderly Jewish man on camera

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is searching for the person who assaulted an elderly Jewish man.

The incident reportedly occurred at 11:50 am on Wednesday in Borough Park, Brooklyn, and it is understood that the NYPD is investigating it as a hate crime.

The assault allegedly occurred when a dispute arose over a parking space. It was reported that the Jewish man was asked by a woman to move his van, to which he replied that he would move it when another vehicle arrived. A video seemingly shows an angry man approach the Jewish man, telling him to “get off [his] property” and to “get the f**k out of here” while behaving aggressively.

The attacker can be heard yelling: “You disrespected my woman”, to which the Jewish man replies: “I told her I’m gonna move it.” The assailant then shouts “no, you told her no”, before slapping the Jewish man across the face, knocking him over and causing his skullcap, or “kippah”, to fall off of his head.

The Jewish man reported that he suffered a cut on his mouth and a bruise under his eye. He added that he lost consciousness after receiving the blow.

Borough Park Shomrim appealed for witnesses on Twitter, writing: “An elderly resident was viciously assaulted at approx 12pm, on 39th Street and 12th Avenue. Our volunteers were on scene and a report was filed with @NYPD66Pct. If you see him, please call 911 and the #Shomrim hotline 718-871-6666. #YourCityYourCall”

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio condemned the attack on social media, tweeting: “This kind of vicious act of violence won’t be tolerated in our city. The NYPD is investigating and make no mistake, the perpetrator WILL be brought to justice. If you have any information, please contact @NYPDTips immediately.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Memorial to Holocaust survivor Simone Veil vandalised with swastikas in France

A memorial in Perros-Guirec, France dedicated to Simone Veil, a Holocaust survivor and former Minister of Health, was found vandalised on Wednesday.

The stone memorial in north-western France was daubed with red swastikas and has prompted a police investigation.

Ms Veil, born in 1917, was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp as a teenager where she narrowly avoided murder. Her father and brother were deported and presumed dead, her sister was sent to Ravensbrück camp, and her mother died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. She went on to become President of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982 and served as the French Ministry of Health.

Minister Delegate for Citizenship Marlène Schiappa wrote on Twitter that “Simone Veil is a French and global figure in women’s rights, in Europe and in the fight against antisemitism,” adding that “these heinous acts must not go unpunished.”

In 2019, letterboxes depicting images of Simone Veil were also defaced with swastikas.

In a similar incident that took place last month, antisemitic vandals used a blowtorch to engrave a Holocaust memorial with swastikas in Grenoble, France.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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60% of Jews in Queensland, Australia have experienced antisemitism, survey shows

60 percent of Jews in Queensland, Australia have experienced antisemitism, a new survey conducted by the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies shows.  

Speaking to the Brisbane Times on Monday, Board of Deputies Vice-President Jason Steinberg said that of those Jews who reported antisemitism, “half were either abused, harassed, intimidated or bullied simply because they are Jewish and, distressingly, many of these incidents occur in the workplace.” He added that nine in ten victims would not report incidents of antisemitism for fear of retaliation and the belief that the police could not help them.

Mr Steinberg also said that fifteen percent of Queensland Jews “also reported hate-fuelled incidents that related to Israel and/or Zionism”, and that the community had seen “an increase in activity by white supremacist, neo-Nazi and other far-right extremist groups whose members seem to act with impunity, as well as anti-Israel activists targeting local Jews.”

It was reported that Mr Steinberg urged authorities to increase efforts in tackling antisemitism, and urged to ban displaying the swastika.  

Reported antisemitic incidents in Queensland from this year and last include “ZIONISTS F*** OFF” scrawled outside an Israeli restaurant in Brisbane, the Nazi slogan “blood and soil” spray-painted on a Brisbane train carriage, abuse on social media sent to a Jewish person in which the sender called for “another Holocaust”, and a poster of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk being defaced with the words “ZIONIST PAWN”.

Members of Queensland’s Jewish community came forward to reveal details of antisemitic abuse that they had received. A 60-year-old Jewish man, living on the Gold Coast, had his home office defaced with the words “Heil Hitler” and Nazi symbols. He said: “I just think that antisemitism and the behaviour towards Jewish people in this country is treated as if it’s not important — as if it’s a joke.”

A mother from Townsville revealed that her daughters’ peers mocked the Holocaust, drew swastikas, and lauded Adolf Hitler. She also alleged that her daughter was told that she prayed “to the devil”. The woman said: “Where are they obtaining that information from? … I just feel like, they don’t take it as seriously as they do with other race issues.”

The results of this survey come only a few months after a separate survey was published which, in contrast, showed that Australians generally have a very positive view of the Jewish community.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies

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“Jews should be killed” said Norwegian imam in Facebook posts

Police are investigating after a series of antisemitic Facebook posts, apparently spanning years, from a Norwegian imam were revealed recently.

Noor Ahmad Noor is an imam who served as the Director for the Norway branch of Minhaj-ul-Quran, an international non-governmental Muslim organisation that is said to be thought of as moderate and geared toward outreach, for many years. As part of his role as Director, Mr Noor would have participated in meetings with top government officials.

However, he was suspended indefinitely in light of the recent news concerning his history of antisemitic Facebook posts. One of the posts allegedly stated that Jews were dangerous and “should be killed”, while another from 2019 asserted that Jews “put the world in danger” and it was “necessary to kill them.”

Addressing the allegations, the imam said: “My posts were published in frustration over attacks in Gaza. Innocent children and women were killed. My criticism and frustration should have been directed at the regime. And not against a group of people. I apologise.”

Releasing its own statement, Minhaj-ul-Quran wrote: “These are attitudes and values we have zero tolerance for as a religious community. This is contrary to what we have been working for for decades.”

In February, a host on Norway’s state-owned broadcaster went on an antisemitic rant on live radio referring pejoratively to Israel as “God’s chosen people”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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“F*** all the Jews, Allah will kill you all…Free Palestine!”: two men suspected of assaulting Jewish customers at Bournemouth bike hire shop

Two men have allegedly assaulted two Jewish customers at a bicycle shop in Bournemouth.

Two men, who were returning their bicycles after a rental session, unleashed a tirade, which continued for some time, telling them: “F*** all the Jews, Allah will kill you all” and “Free Palestine”.

The two Jewish customers, who were speaking to the owner of the shop about renting bicycles, reported that, based on the assailants’ body language and hand gestures, they believed that the assailants were going to attack them physically. Legally, an assault is an attack in which violence is feared, even if it does not materialise.

The victims took photographs of the two alleged suspects.

The alleged incident took place at 15:55 on 3rd August at outside Front Bike Hire at Bournemouth beach and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: 5521 0129 860.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is just the latest incident in a record-breaking surge of anti-Jewish racism in Britain in the wake of the war between Hamas and Israel. Jewish people should be as free to live and holiday in Bournemouth without racist harassment as anyone else. There are clear photographs of the suspects so we expect a swift investigation.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that three in five British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

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Bedfordshire Police remove Nazi ‘Death’s Head Units’ flag flying at private home

Bedfordshire Police have removed a Nazi skull and crossbones flag flying outside a private home.

The flag bore the symbol of the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV), or ‘Death’s Head Units’, which were responsible for administering concentration camps and death camps in Nazi-controlled territories.

The flag was reported to the police, who visited the residence and issued a Community Resolution Order requiring the owner to remove it, which they did. The case was reported as a hate incident, as flying that flag is not a crime.

A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Police told the Bedford Independent: “Officers visited the resident who claimed it was his right to fly the flag. It was not a criminal act and was dealt with by way of a Community Resolution Order with the resident agreeing to take it down.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Jewish grave vandalised in Ioannina, Greece

A Jewish grave has been vandalised in Ioannina, Greece.

The news of the incident emerged last week and has prompted “outrage and resentment” from The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS). They reported that the grave had the covering slab removed from it in addition to also having smashed pieces of marble scattered around.

The KIS said that this is not the first time that the Jewish cemetery of Ioannina has been vandalised. “We strongly condemn this shameful act of sacrilege which indicates that the hatred of the perpetrators leads to villainous manifestations of violence and fanaticism,” the organisation stated.

It added: “We call upon the competent authorities to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The Jewish cemetery of Ioannina is…a place of memory and cultural heritage for the city of Ioannina as a whole.”  

Earlier this year, the KIS denounced what it called “another attempt to diminish and exploit the Holocaust” following the publication of a cartoon in a Greek newspaper.

Last month, the Deputy Leader of the neo-Nazi organisation Golden Dawn was arrested after he was found hiding in Athens, Greece.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Eli Nahum/Monitoring Antisemitism Worldwide

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Pig skulls used to desecrate grave of Rabbi Nachman’s daughter in Ukraine

Pig skulls were used to desecrate the grave of Rabbi Nachman’s daughter, it was reported last week.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov is one of the key figures in the Hasidic Jewish movement. Both he and his daughter, Sarah, died in the first half of the nineteenth century, however, vandals have continued to target their graves.

Last week, Sarah’s grave in Kremenchuk, Ukraine was defaced with pig skulls as well as pieces of pig. She was buried there 186 years ago, and other family members are buried in the same cemetery.

Members from Breslov Hasidim, the branch of Hasidic Judaism that Rabbi Nachman founded, discovered the vandalism on 2nd August and reported it to the police.

Breslov Hasid and businessman, Rabbi Avraham Chezin, said: “Following this horrific event, I spoke with a senior official from the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, which is directed by the Chabad emissary in the city of Dnieper. He was horrified by the horrible scenes, and immediately began to work on the issue together with the local police authorities. From past experience, every incident like this is immediately handled by them, and successfully.”

He added: “This is not the first pogrom in which antisemites have harmed the grave of Sarah, of blessed memory. I believe that following the inquiry to the organisation, this time a solution will be found and the vandals will be taken to court.”

In 2016, Rabbi Nachman’s grave in Uman, Ukraine was similarly desecrated using a pig’s head and red paint.

In June, a synagogue in Kremenchuk was found with bullet holes after being reportedly shot at.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Restaurant owners in Pennsylvania receive antisemitic remarks after asking customers for proof of vaccination

Restaurant owners have received a torrent of online abuse, including some antisemitic remarks, after they asked customers wishing to dine indoors for proof that they had been vaccinated.

Christine Kondra, one of the owners of Cornerstone restaurant in Wayne, Pennsylvania, said: “There were antisemitic remarks made…I just was blown away.” 

Ms Kondra stressed the importance of the health of Cornerstone’s team, guests, and the community at large. “We can’t reverse backwards as to what happened over the course of the last seventeen months,” she added.

It was also reported that some of the comments had a “violent nature” and that the owners have had to seek extra protection from the police.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Success for CAA as Hitler-loving radio host who called for Jews to be murdered and asked listeners for a gun sentenced to 32 months in prison

A Hitler-loving radio host has today been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of inciting racial hatred after action by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Following an investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism that was acted upon by Devon and Cornwall Police, Graham Hart, 68, of Penponds, Camborne, was charged earlier this year with five counts of incitement to racial hatred. The charges related to “using offending words or behaviour in a programme involving threatening, abusive or insulting visual images or sounds which was included in a programme service, intending thereby to stir up racial hatred or, having regard to all the circumstances, whereby racial hatred was likely to be stirred up.”

Three further charges were subsequently added following a further investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Hart is an amateur singer-songwriter from Cornwall who has hosted numerous controversial figures on his online radio show, including the notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz, who was sentenced to eighteen weeks in prison in March of this year for offences committed during an interview with Mr Hart. Mr Hart also previously courted controversy after a local rugby team banned his music due to concerns about a Holocaust-denial song of his that was circulating on the internet.

An investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism revealed that Mr Hart repeatedly claimed that Jews are “filth”; questioned whether six million Jews were really murdered in the Holocaust; praised Adolf Hitler as “the greatest man of the twentieth century”; said that “is isn’t just the white people who hate the Jews…it’s everyone hates the Jews. Everyone”; claimed that the Jews “run everything”, are “evil” and are “not of this world”; and argued that the Jews have “got to go down, they’ve just got to go down”.

Among numerous other inflammatory statements, he said: “To be honest, I get more and more pissed off every day at what I find out about the Jews. It just gets worse and worse and worse. And I have to say the more I find out, the more I hate you and the more I spread the word.”

The three further charges arose from comments that Mr Hart made on this radio show in late December, including: “Let’s get rid of the Jews. It’s time for them to go…I’ve had enough of these people now … the chaos that they cause”; and “it’s always these same people that are behind everything. So, they’ve got to go. That’s the bottom line. How we’re going to do it…I don’t know”.

Other comments included: “I can’t think what else we can do. I don’t want to go with bloodshed but if that’s what it’s going to take, let’s get it done” and “I’m not armed….I wish I was. If anyone in the chatroom or any of the listeners want to send me a gun, it would be nice.”

Invoking another antisemitic trope, he also compared Jews to vermin, saying: “‘Ah but they’re children… they’re children.’ Yeah I know. They’re like a rat. If you’ve got a rat with four babies, you don’t kill the babies because they’re cute, aren’t they? You just kill the mother. Well, guess what. If you don’t kill those babies, if you just leave them, they’ll grow up to be big rats. So, I hope you go…you go as well. Screw you, you’ve taken too many of our people. We’ve got to start looking after our own.”

He has also said: “I’m a little bit over the top but I say wipe them all out” and “So, if you’re listening out there Mr Jew, we’re coming to get you.”

Mr Hart has also referenced Campaign Against Antisemitism, saying: “I’m involved with the Campaign Against Antisemitism. I’ve got my own little thing going on there and when I’m ready, I’ll pounce. And I’m not far from it either. I’m not far from it. I’ve had enough of these people, guys. Call them out. They run the bloody world and it’s got to stop. And we’ve got to stop talking. That’s why I say … Can we get organised?”

Mr Hart appeared in Truro Crown Court on 26th April for a hearing but was held on remand after refusing to engage with the court or appoint legal counsel. He subsequently did so and appeared on 7th June in Truro Crown Court for the pre-trial hearing, where he entered pleas of guilty on all counts.

Today at the same venue, Judge Robert Linford sentenced Mr Hart to sixteen months in prison, which comprises two years’ imprisonment on the first five counts and 32 months for the remaining three counts to run concurrently and of which he will serve half. He was also sentenced to a criminal behaviour order of ten years, prohibiting him from engaging in similar activities on the internet, as well as a forfeiture order allowing the police to destroy the equipment that they seized. The sentence reflects the one-third discount for Mr Hart’s guilty pleas.

Mr Hart’s counsel had argued that Mr Hart was a victim of reading things on the internet that he came to believe, and that his twelve days’ incarceration (while he refused to engage with the court earlier this year) brought him to his senses and that he no longer holds any of the beliefs he expressed. Judge Linford rejected these arguments.

The Judge was visibly angry as he delivered his judgment, telling Mr Hart that “you set out to whip up feelings of hatred of people of the Jewish faith”. He pointed out that Mr Hart’s activities continued while he was already under investigation, and the judge considered that this showed a total unwillingness on Mr Hart’s part to reflect on his behaviour. Judge Linford added that Mr Hart’s performance in interviews with the police was almost as bad as his radio shows, and that police found further troubling evidence of entrenched antisemitic feeling in his home. The judge determined that the offending was far too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.

Campaign Against Antisemitism wishes to commend Devon and Cornwall Police — and in particular officers DC Sean McDonnell and DI Daniel Massey — for their tireless commitment to seeing Mr Hart face justice.

It was regrettable that, once again, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was not nearly as proactive as the police in this case. It took an intervention by one of our honorary patrons, Lord Austin, for the CPS to issue charges thirteen months after the CPS received the file from the police. We do, however, commend the CPS for its diligence once it agreed to pursue the case, appointing the same counsel who recently prosecuted a neo-Nazi police officer in the Metropolitan Police.

In a statement, Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “The sentencing of Graham Hart brings an end to a lengthy and difficult investigation. Hart’s antisemitic views are completely unacceptable in every way and have caused considerable distress to the Jewish community and many other people over the years. His behaviour towards the Officer in the Case was also an issue at times and shows Hart’s complete disregard for anyone who dares to challenge his views or actions, however, I am grateful for the hard work, dedication and professionalism that brought about this conviction.

“I am also grateful to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which initiated this investigation and has remained positively engaged throughout a protracted enquiry. Additionally, I would like to thank the CPS for its support and guidance in prosecuting this challenging case. This sends a strong message to Graham Hart, and those who share these types of views, that antisemitic behaviour and all hate crime will be dealt with robustly.”

Nick Price, Head of the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division in the CPS, said: “Graham Hart used his position to influence people as a radio host to stir up racial hatred and incite violence against the Jewish race. I am pleased that he has been brought to justice and we have put an end to his abusive and insulting broadcasts. The CPS are committed to prosecuting hate crime and will continue to work as an independent body to ensure justice is served.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Thanks to the diligence of officers DC Sean McDonnell and DI Daniel Massey, who acted on our investigations, Graham Hart will be in prison and restricted from reoffending for the next ten years. The offences he committed constitute some of the most extreme hatred towards Jews that we have ever encountered. It is vital that the Jewish community is protected from this man, which this sentence achieves. It also sends a necessary message to like-minded people that hate towards British Jews will not be tolerated.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Teenager admits shouting “I f***ing hate the Jews” at Jewish man inside Oxford Circus Underground station

A teenager has admitted to shouting “I f***ing hate the Jews” at a Jewish man inside Oxford Circus Underground station.

The seventeen-year-old admitted to the charge of a religiously aggravated public order offence after the Jewish man was targeted with antisemitic abuse inside Oxford Circus Underground station on 4th July. It was reported that the teenager handed himself in to the police on 11th July and on 23rd July, he was charged with the offence.

Prosecutor Valerie Benjamin told Highbury Corner Youth Court on Monday that the victim had been wearing “distinctive Jewish attire”, and that “the defendant said ‘I f****** hate Jews’ while banging on the side of the escalator.” Ms Benjamin added that the victim was now too anxious to use public transport and was incurring significant costs due to having to take taxis instead.

It was also alleged that the defendant yelled “take off your hat”, although the teenager has denied this claim.

The defendant allegedly said during his police interview that he yelled the abuse as he thought “it might have been funny at the time”, but that he now knows that “it was stupid and offensive.”

Mohammed Zeb, defending, told the court that the defendant had “done the right thing” by handing himself in, but acknowledged that he “made a stupid comment for no reason”. Mr Zeb added: “He told me ‘I’ve got no problem with anybody, I’m not into religion, it was spur of the moment’.”

The defendant told District Judge Susan Williams: “I didn’t really think through [the comment], it just came out, and I just left and ran.” He added that he understands that the victim must have been frightened. “Especially as he was by himself – I think I would have been scared as well,” the defendant said.

Judge Williams told the teenager: “There is nothing wrong with a bit of friendly rivalry but we have fought a world war about this sort of racial discrimination, dreadful things were done and this sort of thing leaves scars on people’s memories. You don’t know if [the victim] lost a grandfather or a father or half his family in a concentration camp because of who he is.”

The judge continued: “That is the kind of memories that you are stirring up when you attack him about who he is…you give the beautiful game a bad name.”

It was also said that the teenager has previous convictions for theft and driving offences.

“You have got to take a serious decision about which way you are going in life – do you mind your manners, mind your mouth and mind the way you drive?”, the judge added. “Either cut [drinking] down or cut it out, or you are going to find yourself in serious trouble.”

The defendant is due to be sentenced on 3rd September. It has been reported that he has been granted bail on the condition that he does not “attend or loiter outside Wembley Stadium regardless of the event taking place inside”, in addition to any stadium where either Millwall or England are playing.

In a statement after the incident on 4th July, British Transport Police said: “We’re aware of a video posted online of…antisemitic behaviour on a London Underground escalator. We take such incidents very seriously and are investigating. If anybody has any information contact us on 0800 405040 or text 61016 quoting ref 90 of 4 July 2021.”

Immediately following the incident, Campaign Against Antisemitism released a statement thanking the victim’s brother for publicising the incident. The statement added: “We will be following up privately, but for those reading the thread [on Twitter] we wanted to note that police investigations have now been opened and we are in touch with police and Transport for London. #ZeroTolerance”

Earlier on in the night of the committed offence, the same Jewish man reported a separate incident of antisemitic abuse, in which an aggressive passenger can be heard threatening him and saying: “I’ve got a shank, I will slit your throat for Palestine” and “I’ll beat the s**t out of you.”

The passenger was then ordered off the bus, where he proceeded to swear at the Jewish man and bang on the doors of the bus.  

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently launched an appeal for information about the suspect in the earlier incident.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently met with Transport for London as part of work to improve the response to antisemitic incidents on public transport.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Lawyer struck off after allegedly making racist and sexist comments

A lawyer has reportedly been struck off the roll after allegedly making racist and sexist comments.

Complaints were reportedly brought by three women against Victor Stockinger, 61, of Bloomsbury. He is reported to have blamed their concerns on “wokeism”, but a panel of the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal found the evidence against him to be “entirely sincere”, leaving with him legal costs of £41,850.

Among the comments attributed to Mr Stockinger at a work event at the High Court, held by the Solicitors’ Association of Higher Court Advocates in 2019, was a question to a Jewish lawyer on whether she really was Jewish. He also allegedly made inflammatory remarks to a procurement boss of African heritage, as well as numerous sexist comments.

The Solicitors’ Regulatory Authority (SRA) argued that Stockinger’s remarks were racially, ethically, and religiously motivated. The Chair of the Tribunal observed that solicitors must conduct themselves in a way “which reflects everyone’s personal characteristics” and they should “embrace the qualities of equality, diversity and inclusion,” in contrast to Mr Stockinger, who had made “stereotypical assumptions and been patronising.”

Mr Stockinger had claimed that his comments were mere “icebreakers”, but the Tribunal found that “the depth of hurt, humiliation and anger felt, even two years later by the young and diverse legal professionals to whom Mr Stockinger misspoke at that meeting was plain by their evidence to us, which we found entirely sincere. People should not be expected to tolerate this on the basis that in the past people did so.”

Mr Stockinger was also reportedly found guilty of dishonesty – a more serious allegation – by misleading the regulator over a client complaint. He had denied all of the charges.

Mr Stockinger was struck off after 31 years of practice, and reacted to the verdict saying “I’m traumatised”.

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CUNY faculty member said that “Muslims will erase this filth called Israel” in sermon

An adjunct professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) has said in a sermon that “Muslims will erase this filth called Israel”, it was reported earlier this week.

The sermon was given by Mohammed Abbasi on 25th June at the Islamic Center of Union County in New Jersey. In it, he spoke extensively about how the “Children of Israel” have enacted “corruption” onto the world.

Mr Abbasi seemingly ended the sermon by saying: “Here’s the conclusion, I don’t want to leave you depressed. I want to give you the good news now. With the help of Allah, [Muslims] will erase this filth called Israel.”

New York Congressman Lee Zeldin condemned Mr Abbasi’s sermon and called for his dismissal, saying: “At a time when antisemitic violence is on the rise throughout the United States, no one, especially someone charged with educating young adults, should be further fanning the flames of antisemitism like this and endorsing violence against Israel.

“As we saw last month, the CUNY faculty has an antisemitism problem, and this is just another example. Mohammad Abbasi and his hateful anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric have absolutely no place in any American classroom, and we cannot afford to have him brainwashing any students with his antisemitism. He must be fired immediately, and CUNY needs to take thorough measures to purge antisemitism from the ranks of its faculty.”

Earlier this year, CUNY students rejected the prospective adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism. At the end of a contentious five-hour debate, however, the Student Senate of CUNY also rejected a resolution which asserted that equating opposition to Israel with antisemitism was “a form of anti-Palestinian racism.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Man who admitted to defacing Welsh war memorial with antisemitic graffiti spared jail  

A man who admitted to defacing a Welsh war memorial with antisemitic graffiti has been spared jail, it was revealed earlier this week.

The graffiti on the memorial in Rhyl, Wales was discovered in February and included swastikas and vile messages which refer to the murder of Jews and gassing of soldiers.

The graffiti also contained the line, in German, that “the time has come for a Reich [empire]: we must exterminate the Jews.”

Gareth Bradley, 31, confessed last month to committing the act of hateful vandalism. He also pleaded guilty to defacing his prison cell with graffiti of a swastika in April. 

After taking the defendant’s mental health into consideration, Judge Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones handed him an eighteen-month sentence that has been suspended for two years for this offence, in addition to several other offences, which included racially abusing policing officers. Mr Bradley was also told to carry out a 50-day rehabilitation requirement.

Frances Wilmott, defending, told Caernarfon Crown Court: “None of the offences are sophisticated…they are the product of someone suffering ill mental health.”

The judge, taking Mr Bradley’s psychiatric reports into consideration, said: “It’s obvious he has serious mental health issues which go back to a very early age. His behaviour is disgraceful but anyone reading those documents will understand why he behaves the way he does.”

He added: “You clearly have long standing mental health problems which is a very important consideration in this case – a very difficult childhood clearly affected you in later life but I accept you are now remorseful for what you did.

“I have to consider and to decide what is best for society and what is best for you – it seems to me, having regard to your accommodation, your change of attitudes, possibly because of medication, there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation…that’s why I’ve suspended the sentence. Your mental health is at the heart of this case and I’ve tried to have regard to that at every stage.”

Image credit: Richard Kendrick

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Journalist posts tweet suggesting witness against Roman Abramovich and other Jewish businessmen may have changed his story in return for “a few shekels”

A freelance journalist formerly employed by Bloomberg has posted a tweet claiming that a witness against Roman Abramovich and other prominent Jewish businessmen may have changed his story in exchange for “a few shekels”.

The tweet relates to a recent case in the High Court, in which three prominent Jewish businessmen – Roman Abramovich, Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven – have asserted that a book by author Catherine Belton makes defamatory claims about them.

Following last week’s hearing, one of the sources in the book, Sergei Pugachev, whose statements are central to Mr Abramovich’s High Court case, gave an interview about what he had and had not said to the author. In the interview, Mr Pugachev appeared to distance himself from some of the claims attributed to him in the book.

Responding to this interview, Jason Corcoran, a freelance journalist formerly at Bloomberg, tweeted: “Talk about throwing Belton under a trolleybus. What has Pugachev to gain? A few shekels from an oligarch or is he trying to curry favour with the Kremlin after burning his bridges years ago.”

The notion that someone takes ‘treacherous’ action in return for “shekels” is a classic trope going back millennia. It is particularly poignant, given that Mr Abramovich and his fellow claimants, to whom Mr Pugachev is supposedly endearing himself by allegedly backtracking, are Jewish. The Shekel is the currency of the State of Israel.

The trope was recently used by Labour Party MP Barry Sheerman, who claimed that two wealthy British Jewish businessmen missed out on seats in the House of Lords because there had been “a run on silver shekels”, before apologising.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Suggestions that wealthy Jewish businesspeople induce treachery by others in return for the payment of ‘shekels’ is about as old a trope as one could find. However passionately Jason Corcoran may feel about this court case, it is no justification for his appalling comment. He must apologise immediately, before any media outlet agrees to collaborate with him again.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors traditional media and regularly holds outlets to account. If members of the public are concerned about reportage in the media, they should contact us at [email protected].

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Antisemitic mural of Dutch footballer Steven Berghuis investigated by police

An antisemitic mural of Dutch footballer Steven Berghuis, who is not himself Jewish, is being investigated by police, it was reported last Friday.

The image depicts the footballer wearing a concentration camp uniform and the yellow star that the Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust. The player’s nose was exaggerated in size, a key feature in antisemitic Nazi propaganda, and a skullcap was also drawn on his head. The words “Joden lopen altijd weg” were spray-painted beside the image, which translates to “Jews always run away”.

The mural appeared after the footballer announced that he was signing from Feyenoord Rotterdam to rivals Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax, a club that has embraced its associations to Judaism (although it has no formal ties), even referring to themselves as “Joden”, which has often seen them on the receiving end of antisemitic chants.

Feyenoord Rotterdam have said that they have “no idea who is doing this and therefore not to what extent they really have a relationship with the club,” but a representative also added that if the culprit was found to be a supporter of the team, that person would be “banned from the club’s stadium for life.”

They also added that the club had “been working for many years to combat antisemitism,” which “ranges from webinars and workshops to educational trips to Auschwitz and Birkenau.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: CIDI

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Mezuzah ripped off doorpost at University of British Columbia

A student’s mezuzah was ripped off its doorpost at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University’s student newspaper reported last week.

A mezuzah is a decorative case containing a Jewish prayer which is traditionally fixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home.

The incident was said to have occurred on 22nd July, where three individuals were believed to have ripped the mezuzah off of the doorpost and vandalised it. It has since been reported to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and is being investigated.

An e-mail from UBC Housing to its residences said that “Antisemitic behaviours and actions such as these are absolutely reprehensible,” and also said that this incident was “the second time this has occurred.” In the e-mail, there was also a link that explained the significance of mezuzahs.

Andrew Parr, Associate Vice President of Student Housing and Community Services, said that “If those found responsible are student residents they will face significant repercussions — up to an including eviction.”

“In consultation with the resident we shared information about this occurrence with others in their residence community to both shine a light on and reaffirm how unacceptable this type of activity is in our community and encourage reporting information that may aid the police investigation,” Mr Parr added.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Piers Corbyn suggests “troublemakers” in Jewish areas posted leaflets comparing COVID-19 to Auschwitz through their own doors in “plot” to portray him as antisemitic

Piers Corbyn has suggested that “troublemakers” in Jewish areas posted leaflets created and distributed by Mr Corbyn, which compared the COVID-19 vaccines to the Auschwitz death camp, through their own doors in a “plot” to portray him as antisemitic.

Referencing a headline in the Evening Standard that the new COVID-19 vaccines are a “safe path to freedom”, the leaflets showed the slogan atop the infamous gates to Auschwitz.

In an interview clip that was uploaded to Twitter on Sunday, Mr Corbyn discussed the leaflets that he distributed last December, an incident that saw him arrested.

At one point during the interview, the interviewer held up a leaflet and said: “This was accused of being antisemitic,” to which Mr Corbyn responded by saying that he and his team were attacking the Evening Standard headline.

Mr Corbyn added: “We were then accused of being antisemitic, but that is insane. We were anti-Nazi. We’re against what the Nazis were doing.”

When asked “Why was it leafleted in Jewish areas?”, Mr Corbyn replied: “It wasn’t specifically leafleted in any particular areas. That is a lie made up by the media. Or, some troublemakers leafleted it through their own doors, I suspect, and then came forward.”

“To try and portray you as antisemitic?”, the interviewer asked, to which Mr Corbyn responded “Yes, yes.” When the interviewer asked whether it was a conspiracy or not, Mr Corbyn replied: “Well, certainly a plot.”

Mr Corbyn also stated that he was arrested before the police allegedly returned his leaflets and dropped the charge of “giving out leaflets of malicious intent.” Mr Corbyn then went on to reiterate that “there’s no justification whatsoever” that the leaflets were antisemitic.

Responding to his arrest in the past, Mr Corbyn absurdly argued that he could not be antisemitic because he had been married to a Jewish woman and once employed a Jewish person who was a “superb worker.” Mr Corbyn reportedly protested: “The idea we’re antisemitic in any way is completely absurd. I was married for 22 years to a Jewess and obviously her mother’s forebears fled the Baltic states just before the war because of Hitler or the Nazis in general. I’ve worked with Jewish leading world scientists over the last 30 years. I’ve also employed Jewish people in my business Weather Action, one of whom was a superb worker.” 

Recent footage showed Mr Corbyn comparing vaccinations to Nazi policy outside the Houses of Parliament. The video showed Mr Corbyn and another man standing in front of a sign which reads “No Nazi forced jab” and yelling “arrest Matt Hancock” through a megaphone. 

On 20th July, Mr Corbyn, alongside other anti-vaccination protesters, showed their support at a far-left demonstration that was held outside of Labour Party headquarters. Speaking about the COVID-19 vaccination and the lockdown, Mr Corbyn said: “You know what happened in Germany. The left there, they were begging Hitler to support them. They believed in Hitler. You know what happened. The rest is history…the Jews were labelled as a danger and were locked up.” Mr Corbyn also gave an interview at the demonstration in which he denied that he, or his brother Jeremy Corbyn, were antisemites.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

Mr Corbyn has a history of controversy in relation to antisemitic conspiracy theories. He has previously retweeted @whiteknight0011, a notorious neo-Nazi who declared that “They will force Trump in to war What do you think happened to Hitler? Bilderberg CIA IMF Banker Gangsters They are the problem” along with four images. The @whiteknight0011 account has since been suspended. One image showed Lord Jacob Rothschild, the Jewish banker and philanthropist, against the background of a Nazi flag, claiming that he controls the world. A second showed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a puppeteer controlling ISIS through Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, orchestrating the war in Syria and Paris attacks as Lord Rothschild and the Queen look on approvingly. A third image showed the faces of supposed Jewish conspirators who run the world to society’s detriment, proclaiming: “Know your enemy”. The last image showed a family photo of the Royal Family, claiming that they are in cahoots with these Jewish conspirators in committing “the worst genocides, invasions and theft in all history.”

Mr Corbyn has also claimed that “Zionists” were conspiring against his brother: when Jewish then-MP Louise Ellman complained of antisemitic attacks against her, Piers accused her of using it as a cover for political attack, tweeting: “ABSURD! JC+ All #Corbyns are committed #AntiNazi. #Zionists can’t cope with anyone supporting rights for #Palestine”.

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Melbourne barrister apologises for tweet comparing Israel to Nazi Germany

A furious row has broken out in Melbourne after a leading Australian barrister posted a tweet comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.

Melbourne QC Julian Burnside sparked outrage at the Victoria Bar after he tweeted that Israel’s “treatment of Palestinians looks horribly like the German treatment of the Jews.” The barrister later issued an apology for his tweet and removed it saying that a “friend at the bar” who had lost family during the Holocaust had contacted him and explained why his comparison was offensive.

Subsequently, Mr Burnside’s wife, Kate Durham, tried to defend the tweet but added fuel to the fire when she told Jewish federal politician Josh Frydenberg that Mr Burnside “knew more about the Holocaust and its subsequent trials” than Mr Frydenberg, adding: “You’re just a Hungarian.”

She subsequently removed her tweet, apologised, and said that she was “unreservedly sorry” for her remarks and that in defending Mr Burnside, she had “made things worse.”

The row had escalated sharply after Mark Leibler, senior partner at one of Australia’s top law firms and a Jewish community leader, expressed his “astonishment” that the President of the West Australia Bar Association, Martin Cuerden, had criticised a senator for suggesting that Mr Burnside should face sanctions from his professional body.

Mr Leibler also rebuked Mr Cuerden for failing to condemn the “blatantly antisemitic post” and said it was “disingenuous at best” for Mr Cuerden to try and defend it “using the principle of free speech.” “Let’s be clear, no one is seeking to limit Julian Burnside’s freedom of speech,” he said.

Mr Leibler also wrote that it was “inconceivable” that in 2021, the president of a State bar association “would suggest that it was ‘a matter of public interest’” for a “respected” member of the Bar to be “spreading antisemitic hate.”  

Mr Cuerden subsequently acknowledged that the tweet was antisemitic. Welcoming this acknowledgment, Mr Leibler said that he “hoped and trusted” the Bar Association President now understood the issue had nothing to do with freedom of speech. “People can speak as freely as they wish in this country,” Mr Leibler wrote “but when public figures promote ideas that are antisemitic…their suitability to hold a position of influence is called into question. That is what this issue is about.”

Mr Leibler also noted that by deleting the tweet, Mr Burnside himself “recognised, after the fact, that his comments had crossed the line into antisemitism.”

Mr Burnside is a former high-profile candidate for the Greens Party whose leader Adam Bandt moved to distance his party from the comment.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project. 

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Neo-Nazi teenager who admired Anders Breivik spared jail after judge was told he could get all A-grades in A-levels

A teenage neo-Nazi has been spared jail after the presiding judge was told that he could get all As in his A-level exams, it was reported last week.

It was said that police found images of the seventeen-year-old boy performing Nazi salutes, along with memes that glorified the Norwegian neo-Nazi terrorist Anders Breivik. It was also said that the boy had downloaded several terrorist manuals.

Kelly Brocklehurst, prosecuting, told the court how thousands of images depicting a “concerning level of commitment to an extreme ideology” were found by investigating officers. Ms Brocklehurst added that the boy had shown interest in James Mason’s “Siege Culture”, a collection of neo-Nazi writings which was found in his bedroom during the police raid.

Bristol Youth Court was also told that the teenager had swastikas, a noose, and the letters “DOTR” carved into his bedroom desk, a reference to the Day of the Rope ideology that advocates the mass lynching of all those considered to be “race traitors”. Detailed methods of how to murder someone were also allegedly found on his phone by Gloucestershire Police.

The teenager admitted eleven counts of collecting material of use to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it was reported.

Stephen Donnelly, defending, was reportedly adamant that there was an “air of optimism for the future and the way [the youth] can be confronted by his actions in the past,” adding that the teenager is “very much loved.”

“The court can take assurance from the fact there is that network of support in the future,” Mr Donnelly said. He added: “He is still on course to achieve high grades if allowed to complete his A-level studies next year. That should be a pointer for the court. Rehabilitation outside the custodial environment is the best course.”

Chief Magistrate and Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring handed the boy, who was fifteen and sixteen-years-old at the time of the committed offenses, a twelve-month referral order at Bristol Youth Court for terror offences, after changing his mind about giving him a twelve-month custody sentence.

Senior District Judge Goldspring said: “My initial view was to send you into custody for twelve months, I have taken a step back, I am satisfied I don’t need to do that…it is really important that you take this opportunity to pause and think. I have to be honest there will be almost no way out if I see you in court again.”

He added: “You clearly work very hard in school and are obviously very, very intelligent. Although, I don’t want anyone to get the impression that someone less intelligent should be treated less well.”

Detective Superintendent Craig McWhinnie, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing South West, said: “Whilst there was no risk to the county, individuals such as this who promote dangerous extremist views and content have no place in our society. We will continue to seek them out and prosecute them.

“The entrenched views and hatred displayed by this young person combined with their consumption of violent and disturbing literature remain deeply concerning. This investigation is another stark reminder of the hateful and damaging material found online that for all of us, is only a few clicks away. This material creates a very real risk to the young and vulnerable in our communities, in our schools and indeed, in our own homes. This is especially true over the course of the pandemic where young people spend more time online, often alone and unsupervised.

“We would encourage those who care for young persons to have honest and frank conversations about online activity, to look out for the signs that indicate a potential shift in beliefs or attitude and to be intrusive on occasion to ensure they are safe online. The Act Early website has a wealth of information for anyone with concerns to help them understand what radicalisation looks like and provides advice on what to do in the first instance.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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Russian police fake murder of rabbi to catch members of USSR fringe group

Undercover police in Russia have arrested two members of a Soviet nostalgia group after an elaborate “sting” that involved faking the murder of a rabbi, it was revealed over the weekend.

The 60-year-old man and the 70-year-old woman who allegedly ordered the rabbi’s killing are now on trial in the southern Krasnodar region. They are alleged members of Citizens of the USSR, a fringe group that believes the Soviet Union still exists and that they are in charge of the Communist state.

The pair, Alexander Dudarenko and Zoya Malova, are said to have hired a “hit-man” to carry out the crime last year. According to police, the “hit-man” was an undercover officer who had infiltrated the group. To increase authenticity, instead of asking for money, the “killer” demanded to be appointed as head of the group’s KGB Directorate for the Krasnodar region.

The rabbi, Yury Tkach, 52, agreed to take part in the sting operation after learning of the group’s reported antisemitism and its beliefs that members of Citizens of the USSR were “superior“ to Jewish people.

A make-up artist applied fake blood and a “wound” to his temple. Pictures of him slumped in the stairwell of his apartment block were shown to Mr Dudarenko and Ms Malova by the “killer” as evidence of the murder.

Police shared a video of the rabbi being prepared for his “death”, in which the make-up artist could be seen at work, as well as “blood” being added over his neck, beard, and shirt.

During the regional court hearing, both defendants denied the charges and Mr Dudarenko said he did not recognise the legitimacy of the proceedings. Members of the group consider Russia’s current government to be illegitimate and many refuse to pay taxes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project. 

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Antisemitic graffiti found in Grafton State Park, New York State

Antisemitic graffiti was found in Grafton State Park in New York State, it was reported earlier this week.

A statement from the New York State Police Newsroom read: “State Police are currently investigating a bias-related incident at Grafton State Park in Rensselaer County, after antisemitic graffiti was discovered by park personnel.

“On July 25, 2021, State Police were notified after park personnel found antisemitic graffiti spray painted on trees approximately 75 yards from a walking trail. Also spray painted on one of the trees were the initials ‘N + S’.

“Investigators are asking for the public’s assistance. Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to contact SP Brunswick at 518-279-4427.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: New York State Police

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New York woman arraigned over stickers with swastikas and antisemitic messages

It was announced on Tuesday that a 49-year-old New York woman who is alleged to have links to a white supremacist organisation has been arrested after allegedly posting stickers and flyers containing swastikas and antisemitic messages.

Gina Aversano from the New Dorp neighbourhood of Staten Island was arraigned in Criminal Court on two counts of first-degree aggravated harassment and four counts of making graffiti.

District Attorney Michael McMahon said that the arrest comes after a joint investigation between the Cyber Crimes Unit run by his office and the New York Police Department’s Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism Unit.

Ms Aversano allegedly posted stickers featuring swastikas in November 2020. Between 31st December 2020 and 1st January 2021, she allegedly posted flyers from the New Jersey European Heritage Association (NJEHA) which both the ADL and the Southern Poverty Law Centre claim is a white supremacist organisation. It has a small but growing presence on Staten Island and was under investigation by the district attorney’s office early last year

NJEHA’s main form of exposure is through the distribution of flyers and stickers, which it encourages followers to print out and place in their neighbourhood. The group promotes those postings on social media sites such as Gab.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: ADL 

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“Antisemitism has no place in my administration” tweets President Joe Biden after swastika found in State Department

“Antisemitism has no place in the State Department, in my administration, or anywhere in the world,” declared US President Joe Biden on Tuesday after a swastika was found inside the US State Department building.

The Nazi symbol was found etched into the wall of a lift close to the office normally occupied by the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. The State Department is working on the nomination of a new special envoy following the departure of Elan Carr in May.

He added that it was “up to all of us” to “stand up to bigotry wherever we find it” and ensure that hate had “no safe harbour”.

Meanwhile, four Republican members of Congress introduced a resolution condemning “the malignant and metastasising ideology of antisemitism.”

The resolution states that the House of Representatives “reaffirms the First Amendment Right to practise religion in public; its commitment to reject those who attack others based on ethnicity and race, and the right of Israel to exist and defend her citizens.”

It also reaffirms its commitment to “the necessity of law enforcement” to “protect Jewish citizens” from attacks in the United States. It also calls for the designation of Hamas as “a terrorist organisation” and calls for rocket attacks against civilians to be designated as “a terrorist tactic.” It also “upholds all Federal and local programmes dedicated to eliminating antisemitism.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Neo-Nazi “1488” message removed from park scoreboard in San Anselmo, California

A message that is believed to have been a neo-Nazi code has been removed from a park in San Anselmo, California, it was reported earlier this week.

San Anselmo residents reported the numbers “1488” that were found on the Memorial Park scoreboard. 1488 is likely a coded reference to the neo-Nazi fourteen-word oath: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children”, a slogan initially devised by David Lane, a member of the white supremacist terrorist group “The Order” which was responsible for the murder of Jewish radio host Alan Berg. The number 88 refers to the eighth letter of the alphabet, H, and is intended as a code for “Heil Hitler.”

San Anselmo Town Manager, David Donery, said: “These numbers are known to represent white nationalism and antisemitism. The town of San Anselmo takes all reports of hate crimes and hate speech seriously.”

Police Chief Michael Norton of the Central Marin Police Authority said his agency is “looking into the matter to see if it’s determined to be hate speech or a hate crime.”

Mayor Brian Colber condemned the news, saying: “It’s deeply troubling to me on many levels.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Three men charged in New York State after stealing Jewish man’s hat and yelling antisemitic slurs as he left synagogue on the Sabbath

Three men have been charged after stealing a Jewish man’s religious hat (shtreimel) and yelling antisemitic slurs in New York State.

The Jewish man reportedly told the police that whilst in the village of Fleischmanns, one of three assailants jumped out of a van, stole his shtreimel, and returned to the van before the suspects started yelling antisemitic slurs towards him.

The reported incident occurred in Delaware Country on 24th July at approximately 10:45 am, whilst the man was walking back from a synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath. State police charged the three men, all in their early twenties, with grand larceny in the third degree as a hate crime, a class C felony. The shtreimel has since been returned to the Jewish man.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement on Twitter regarding the incident, writing: “I’d like to commend the New York State Police on a prompt, successful investigation following a disturbing antisemitic hate crime that took place in Delaware County. It is unacceptable for a Jewish man walking from a synagogue on Sabbath to be singled out, have his shtreimel ripped from his head and be verbally attacked because of his religion.

“This is New York, one of the most diverse collection of people from around the globe, and we will continue to stand together, united in our commonalities, and call out these vile incidents of hate whenever they occur. We will use every tool at our [disposal] to weed this hatred out of our state and ensure that love will always win.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Former nurse who previously described NHS as the “new Auschwitz” is under investigation after comparing NHS workers to Nazis

A former nurse who had reportedly described the NHS as the “new Auschwitz” last year is now under investigation after comparing NHS workers to Nazis at an anti-vaccination rally on Saturday.

Kate Shemirani was removed from the nursing register after she was suspended as a registered nurse for eighteen months last July, pending an investigation into her past alleged comments on COVID-19 and 5G conspiracy theories.

However, it was reportedly decided last month by the NMC Fitness to Practise Committee that she would be permanently struck off from the register. Ms Shemrani can appeal this ruling in five years. In the meantime, however, she will be unable to practice as a registered nurse.

Ms Shemirani, a leading figure in the anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination movement, spoke at a rally on Saturday in which she allegedly called for the names of NHS workers before comparing them to Nazis, saying: “At the Nuremberg trials, the doctors and nurses stood trial and they hung.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the comments on Twitter, writing: “This is utterly appalling, and I have raised it directly with the Met Police. Our NHS staff are the heroes of this pandemic and Londoners from across this city roundly reject this hate.”

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated: “We are aware of [a] video circulating online showing a speech that occurred during a rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 24th July. Officers are carrying out enquiries to establish whether any offences have been committed. No arrests have been made.”

Ms Shemirani’s comments have also been condemned by both the Prime Minister and the Labour Party Leader, Sir Keir Starmer.

A spokesperson for Boris Johnson said: “The Prime Minister absolutely condemns those comments. Doctors and nurses have done a truly heroic job throughout this pandemic and continue to do so. Any violence, threats or intimidation is completely unacceptable,” while Sir Keir reportedly told the radio channel LBC that “some of the things that are said and done, in the names of some of these protests, I think are an affront to all of us that believe in everything the NHS and the frontline are doing.”

Last year, Ms Shemirani led protests against mask-wearing and lockdown restrictions, defending her use of comparisons to Auschwitz and Nazis. Ms Shemirani said at the time: “When I likened this to Auschwitz and the cattle trucks – you tell me the difference? Because the only time in history I could find where the doctors and nurses were able to end people’s lives was the nurses of the Third Reich. The nurses of the Third Reich are here today. I don’t care if they find it offensive. I find it offensive that our elderly have been murdered in care homes. Stop being a special snowflake and saying you’re offended. They are killing our elderly, our most vulnerable.”

It has also been reported that Ms Shemrani is a follower of the “Committee of 300” conspiracy theory, which over a century ago laid the foundations for the antisemitic fabrication, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Ms Shemirani said: “Can I state the obvious. There is no COVID-19. It’s a scam. There is however contaminated vaccines, contaminated tests and a lovely direct energy weapon system being primed to activate those nano particles you have injected, ingested and inhaled.”

She has also claimed: “Without the help of the doctors and nurses, the extermination of Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, blacks, disabled… in the Holocaust could not have been executed…”

According to the JC, Ms Shemirani has also made frequent reference to the Jewish financier, philanthropist and controversial political activist, George Soros, who is often the target of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

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“Threatening and antisemitic” messages reportedly sent by London hospital staff member to fellow employee

“Threatening and antisemitic” messages were reportedly sent by a London hospital staff member to a fellow employee, it was revealed last week.

Police are investigating the messages that were reportedly sent to a critical care staff member at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Bloomsbury.

In light of the event, senior officials at the University College London Hospitals Trust circulated a letter acknowledging that members of the neurological care team “had reported to have received unpleasant, threatening and antisemitic messages which appear to be sent from within the team.”

The letter continues: “As a team we do not tolerate antisemitism, homophobia, racism, transphobia or any other actions or behaviours which discriminate against others.

“Should we become aware of staff sending such messages this will be investigated as a serious disciplinary matter in line with our Disciplinary Policy.

“Where appropriate we will refer matters to the Metropolitan Police for their investigation to ensure that individuals responsible are held accountable for their actions.

“It is important that we all play our part in taking a stand against antisemitism and all discriminatory behaviour, and we ask that anyone who is subject to, sees or witnesses such behaviour raises their concerns to a member of the senior team below.”

An employee of the hospital said: “I went into the medical profession to care for people regardless of creed or colour, it’s upsetting to think that someone working in a hospital would choose to be antisemitic.”

“What’s happened has been really distressing. But it’s reassuring that the Trust are taking it seriously, even if it has taken them a long time, it’s good they’re saying they won’t tolerate antisemitism,” said another member of staff.

In May, Campaign Against Antisemitism reported that Jewish patients and a staffer had been targeted in multiple antisemitic incidents at two London hospitals.

We also welcomed a statement released by the British Medical Association (BMA) condemning antisemitism and racism.

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Swastika spray-painted beside car belonging to Jewish son of Holocaust survivors in Kelowna, Canada

A swastika was found spray-painted onto the pavement next to a Jewish man’s car in Kelowna, Canada last Wednesday.

The red swastika graffiti was discovered in the car park of the ProActive Physiotherapy clinic where Michael, the Jewish man in question, works as an osteopathic practitioner.

Upon discovery of the antisemitic vandalism, Michael said that “fear was the initial reaction.” He continued: “(It was) fear and anger, but mainly fear, because I’m a child of Holocaust survivors. I was raised with the knowledge, the education and the details of what my parents went through in the work camps and all my aunts, uncles and grandparents being transported, gassed and cremated.”

“At the clinic, besides wearing my scrubs, I openly wear my yarmulke,” Michael said. He added: “I don’t hide my Judaism or my Jewish identity, as I don’t believe I should in a free country like Canada.”

Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating the situation and are appealing for any information or dashcam footage.

Sargent Joel Glen of West Kelowna RCMP said: “Racism of any kind has no place in our community and will not be tolerated. We are conducting a fulsome investigation into this incident, and appeal to anyone who witnessed it to come forward.”

Police added that if anyone has any information, they should call Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2800.

In May, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, offered his support to Canada’s Jews. In a tweet, he wrote: “I am deeply disturbed by recent reports of antisemitic acts in Montreal and across the country. This intimidation and violence is absolutely unacceptable – and it must stop immediately. There is no place for hate of any kind in Canada.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Teenager charged after Jewish man targeted with antisemitic abuse inside Oxford Circus Underground station

A teenager has been charged with a religiously aggravated public order offence after a Jewish man was targeted with antisemitic abuse inside Oxford Circus Underground station on 4th July.

The seventeen-year-old suspect is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 2nd August.

The boy in question is believed to have been involved in an incident where a person shouted “I f***ing hate the Jews” at a Jewish man whilst he was travelling down the escalators at Oxford Circus station.

In a statement, British Transport Police said: “We’re aware of a video posted online of…antisemitic behaviour on a London Underground escalator. We take such incidents very seriously and are investigating. If anybody has any information contact us on 0800 405040 or text 61016 quoting ref 90 of 4 July 2021.”

Immediately following the incident, Campaign Against Antisemitism released a statement thanking the victim’s brother for publicising the incident. The statement added: “We will be following up privately, but for those reading the thread [on Twitter] we wanted to note that police investigations have now been opened and we are in touch with police and Transport for London. #ZeroTolerance”

Earlier that night, the same Jewish man reported a separate incident of antisemitic abuse, in which an aggressive passenger can be heard threatening him and saying: “I’ve got a shank, I will slit your throat for Palestine” and “I’ll beat the s**t out of you.”

The passenger was then ordered off the bus, where he proceeded to swear at the Jewish man and bang on the doors of the bus.  

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently launched an appeal for information about the suspect in the earlier incident.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently met with Transport for London as part of work to improve the response to antisemitic incidents on public transport.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Synagogue shooter who killed 60-year-old woman to be jailed for life without possibility of parole

The man who shot and killed a 60-year-old woman in a California synagogue is set to be jailed for life without the possibility of parole. His sentencing is scheduled for 30th September.

John T. Earnest, the man who killed 60-year-old Lori Gilbert-Kaye in the Chabad of Poway Synagogue shooting in April 2019, pled guilty to the charges of murder and attempted murder earlier this week in a plea agreement that saw him avoid the death penalty.

Mr Earnest, who was nineteen at the time of the shooting, was said to have entered the synagogue with an AR-15 style rifle and opened fire on the 54 congregants inside, killing Ms Gilbert-Kaye and injuring three others, including an eight-year-old girl and the congregation’s founder, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who lost a finger.

During the shooting, Mr Earnest’s rifle jammed, at which point several members of the congregation ran towards him, chasing him out of the synagogue. He was understood to have fled before calling the police himself to confess that he had committed a shooting at a synagogue because he believed that Jews were trying to “destroy all white people,” and was subsequently apprehended approximately two miles from the synagogue.  

Mr Earnest also confessed to committing arson at the Dar-ul-Arqam Mosque in March 2019 “for the purpose of terrorising Muslim worshippers,” it was revealed in a news release from the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday.

Addressing Mr Earnest’s motivation behind the Poway Synagogue shooting, the news release said that Mr Earnest “admitted that he committed those crimes because of his bias and hatred of Jews.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Neo-Nazi Andrew Dymock jailed for seven years for terror and hate crimes

Neo-Nazi Andrew Dymock has been jailed for seven years, with a further three years on extended licence, for terror and hate crimes.

Andrew Dymock, a 24-year-old politics graduate from Aberystwyth University who was accused of creating and running the website of the neo-Nazi System Resistance Network group, was found guilty of fifteen terrorism and hate charges last month.

During the trial at the Old Bailey, the court heard that Mr Dymock wrote and shared several antisemitic and hate-motivated articles through the website. He was being prosecuted for fifteen offences including encouraging terrorism through the use of propaganda.

One article was allegedly titled “Join your local Nazis”, while another, “The Truth about the Holocaust”, said that “the only guilt felt by the Germanic race in regard to the Holocaust should be that we did not finish the job.” The article reportedly went on to say that Jews were a “cancer on this earth…that must be eradicated in its entirety”. Numerous antisemitic stereotypes and tropes were also said to have been included, such as conspiracy theories about Jewish control of the banks and the Government.

Another article reportedly written by Mr Dymock read that white people needed to “wake up and bring slaughter to Europa, cleansing it of the unclean filth that pollutes her lands”.

System Resistance Network is the successor to National Action, which the government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Mr Dymock was convicted of a total of fifteen offences, which include five counts of encouraging terrorism, four of disseminating terrorist publications, two of terrorist fundraising, one of possessing material useful to a terrorist, one of possessing racially inflammatory material, one of stirring up racial hatred, and one of stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.

During the trial, Mr Dymock denied all charges, stating: “I’m doing my dissertation on the rise of nationalism and why, and how, ranging from moderate to extreme. I kind of thought I might as well start preparing for my third year in advance.”

Mr Dymock told jurors “thank you for killing me” as they delivered their verdicts.

Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, the group that led the investigation into Mr Dymock, said: “Dymock represented a threat to our society, not simply because of his mindset but because of the considerable efforts he exerted spreading his ideology and misusing his abilities.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

Image credit: Crown Prosecution Service

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Vaccination centre sign vandalised with swastikas and the word “extermination”

A sign for a COVID-19 vaccination centre has been vandalised with swastikas and the word “extermination”, it was reported earlier today.

“9/11 lies” was also scrawled on the sign. This refers to the widespread, antisemitic conspiracy theory which says that Jews, not Islamist terrorists, were responsible for flying passenger jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, so that they would profit from the resulting war. This is backed up by the equally false belief that no Jews were killed in the attack, as they had all been warned to stay at home that day.

A photograph of the defaced sign was posted on Twitter by the Holocaust Educational Trust after it was discovered by one of its staff members. The British charity wrote: “Spotted on the way to work by one of our staff. This is vile, deeply offensive and antisemitic. Invoking the memory of the Holocaust does nothing but cause pain and hurt to Jews. There is no basis in reality. It is just wrong.”

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

Image credit: The Holocaust Educational Trust

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Wolverhampton man given community order after filming dog in microwave and making antisemitic comments about Holocaust

A Wolverhampton man has been handed a community order after he filmed his dog in a microwave and made antisemitic comments about the Holocaust.

Stephen Lee Short, 32, made five videos where he filmed a woman placing a dog into a microwave and other kitchen appliances.

In one of the clips, Mr Short was understood to have made antisemitic comments about the Holocaust.

At Wolverhampton Magistrates Court in May, Mr Short pleaded guilty to sending an offensive message by public communication. He was given a twelve-month community order which included fifteen rehabilitation activity requirement days, an alcohol treatment requirement and a 21-day thinking skills programme.

The court also ordered Mr Short to undergo 200 hours of unpaid work which, considering the racial aspect to the offense, had been increased by 50 hours.

Image credit: Google

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Neo-Nazi biker gang’s weapons seized in police raid in Austria

Weapons belonging to a neo-Nazi biker gang were seized in a police raid in Austria, it was reported earlier this week. 

The police were said to have confiscated automatic weapons, bullets, hand grenades, Nazi paraphernalia, and drugs. The raid came after reports from authorities of an unnamed neo-Nazi leader who was planning to orchestrate a miliz der anständigen (militia of the respectable) in order to “overturn the system.”

A network of bikers who are said to be affiliated with neo-Nazis has also been uncovered in Austria and Germany, with fourteen suspects under investigation. 

A similar raid of weapons occurred in Austria last December. Karl Nehammer, the Austrian Interior Minister, said: “I am deeply concerned when such a group has fully automatic weapons or hand grenades in their possession. The uninterrupted use of our security forces against right-wing extremism must continue without compromise.”

In March, a new survey of antisemitism in Austria showed mixed results. While the survey suggested a significant fall in antisemitic attitudes compared with the same past surveys, it also showed a much higher level than surveys by other organisations.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Hastings Council reportedly refuses to condemn antisemitic chanting on town’s streets

Hastings Council has reportedly refused to condemn calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

The chant, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state – and its replacement with a State of Palestine – and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, was heard in an anti-Israel rally in Hastings town centre in May.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” is an example of antisemitism.

Hastings Borough Council, which is led by the Labour Party, adopted the Definition last year after a campaign by Dany Louise, a councillor who had bravely resigned from the Labour Party over antisemitism.

Ms Louise, no longer a councillor, called on the Council to implement the Definition and condemn the recent chanting, which she described as “naked antisemitism on the streets of Hastings.” Ms Louise told Campaign Against Antisemitism that two other residents (one Jewish, one not) also sent in written questions to the Council on the same subject, but the Chief Legal Officer rejected all three questions late enough not to leave time for revised questions to be submitted.

The Officer wrote to her: “I have considered your question in accordance with…the Constitution and decided to reject your question as it is not about a matter for which the Council has a responsibility, power, duty or function.”

Ms Louise said: “I was absolutely shocked by the Chief Legal Officer’s rejection of my written questions. In truth, I doubted that the Council leader would take them seriously, but it did not occur to me that they would be rejected entirely, for spurious reasons unrelated to the content of the questions. I find it altogether unsatisfactory – it is an anti-democratic and morally bankrupt action from the Council.”

She added: “I’ve been dealing with this Labour group for about four years now. It has been heart-breaking and phenomenally frustrating attempting to encourage this group to engage or deal with the antisemitism in their ranks. They have simply refused to acknowledge the issue, let alone discuss it in any sensible adult manner.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by local councils.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that three in five British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

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Former neo-Nazi’s defamation lawsuit against civil rights organisation is dismissed

A court case in which a Baltimore lawyer had sued a civil rights organisation for defamation based on articles it had written that exposed his former neo-Nazi ties has been dismissed.

Glen K. Allen, a lawyer and former member of the National Alliance, a neo-Nazi and white supremacist group, sued the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for defamation on the grounds that his membership to the group wasn’t a matter of public concern. However, this was rejected by a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The panel made note of the fact that whilst Mr Allen was still a member of the National Alliance, he was chosen to defend the city of Baltimore against a claim from a Sabein Burgess, a black man who alleged that he was wrongfully convicted of murder and had spent nineteen years in prison.

Mr Allen was fired from his role as a lawyer for the city of Baltimore after the SPLC published an article in August 2016 where they addressed Mr Burgess’ case and labelled Mr Allen a “well-known neo-Nazi lawyer.” Included in the article were receipts of Mr Allen’s National Alliance membership fees, as well as evidence of his attendance to a “Holocaust Revisionist Conference.” The article also said that Mr Allen held the role of “Vice Chairman/Parliamentarian” in the American Eagle Party, a white nationalist political party.

In 2017, the SPLC produced a “hate map” that included a photo of Mr Allen alongside the caption: “Exposing Racists Who Infiltrate Public Institutions.”

In 2018, Mr Allen unsuccessfully sued the SPLC, as well as two of its former employees, for defamation. In 2019, he appealed his case’s dismissal, but this effort also proved unsuccessful.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Antisemitic graffiti discovered in Ohio on YWCA building and bridge prompts police investigation

Antisemitic graffiti has been discovered on the side of a Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) building in Ohio, as well as on the side of a bridge.

The graffiti on the side of the YCWA in the city of Alliance depicts a white Star of David inside a red circle with a line going through it. 

The organisation posted a photograph of the graffiti on Facebook, accompanied by a statement which read: “We, at the YWCA of Alliance are saddened and outraged that someone or a group of individuals used our building at 239 E. Market Street to propel hate and an antisemitic message. This message was in form of vandalism spray painting on our historical building which has stood as a beacon of hope, love, and inclusion in the Alliance Community for 95 years. We were not the only place in the community targeted, many locations through out the downtown area were.

“We would like to join forces with those who wish to see this form of hate gone, and our community washed clean of these symbols of racism to come together and be able to unite against hate. Please contact the Alliance YWCA if you would like to help at 330-823-1840. Please contact the Alliance Police Department if you have any information on the vandalism that has occurred.”

Other Facebook users posted photographs of similar graffiti found nearby on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Viaduct, which included the phrase “Down with ZOG.” 

“ZOG” is an acronym often used by white supremacists that means “Zionist Occupied Government.” This idea holds that the official government of a country is just a puppet, while the real control is exercised behind the scenes by a cabal of Jews.

Alliance Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Judge grants CAA petition to declare Tony Greenstein legally bankrupt over legal costs in his humiliating failed “notorious antisemite” defamation claim

A judge has today declared Tony Greenstein legally bankrupt in a brief hearing that follows his predictable failure to comply with court orders to pay Campaign Against Antisemitism tens of thousands of pounds after his humiliating failed defamation claim against us.

Mr Greenstein has been ordered by judges to pay Campaign Against Antisemitism £81,854, over a libel claim brought by Mr Greenstein after we called him a “notorious antisemite”. In an example of litigation humiliatingly backfiring, the High Court struck out Mr Greenstein’s libel claim against us, ruling that it was permissible for us to call the co-founder of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and expelled Labour Party member a “notorious antisemite” in articles on our website. Mr Greenstein then brought an appeal against aspects of the High Court ruling, which he also lost earlier this month.

Following an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing today that lasted only a quarter of an hour, Judge Catherine Burton, noting that Mr Greenstein has been properly served and failed to attend or make representations, concluded proceedings by saying: “I make a bankruptcy order this day against Tony Greenstein at 10:46am.”

Today’s declaration makes it far more difficult for Mr Greenstein to litigate against individuals and organisations, as he is wont to do.

Additionally, it means that Mr Greenstein may now meet the criteria for automatic disqualification as a charity trustee. We have written to the Charity Commission in order to notify them of his bankruptcy order given that he is listed as a trustee of The Brighton Trust, formerly known as the “Trust 4 Unpopular Causes”.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The wheels of justice may grind slow at times, but they grind sure. Our defamation win against Tony Greenstein secured our ability to call out anti-Jewish racism in order to combat it. The bankruptcy order against Mr Greenstein will greatly reduce his capacity to litigate against others without any ability or intention to pay when he loses. Today’s ruling should serve as a warning to others that we will be unrelenting in the pursuit of justice for the Jewish community.”

At the insolvency hearing, Campaign Against Antisemitism was represented by Karl Anderson. Over the course of the legal case, Campaign Against Antisemitism was represented by Adam Speker QC, to whom we are extremely grateful for appearing at the appeal hearing pro bono, instructed by solicitors Keith Mathieson and Alex Wilson of RPC, and advised pro bono by solicitor Dr Mark Lewis who is an honorary patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

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Church of England to apologise for antisemitic laws which led to expulsion of Jews during Middle Ages

The Church of England is set to apologise next year for its contributions towards antisemitism in England during the Middle Ages, which included creating several antisemitic laws that ultimately led to the expulsion of the Jews.

The apology is set to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the Synod of Oxford in 1222, the council that created the antisemitic laws. These laws included the forcing of Jews to wear badges, limiting them to certain occupations, and prohibiting new synagogues from being built. Eventually, King Edward I would expel England’s 3,000 Jews in 1290. 

Although the Church was not established until the 16th-century, it was stated that its apology will act as a “symbolic repentance.” This comes after the recent increase in antisemitic incidents in Britain, which include a Jewish man having faced two separate antisemitic incidents on London transport within one hour, a rabbi in Essex being assaulted and hospitalised, and a convoy of cars that drove down the Finchley Road shouting “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters” through a megaphone.

The Bishop of Lichfield and Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave said: “The Archbishop’s office has indeed received a letter proposing a service that might offer an act of repentance at the 800th anniversary of the Synod of Oxford and its antisemitic laws. We are exploring the idea of such a service to be planned in conjunction with the Council of Christians and Jews, as well as the potential for a liturgical resource that might be offered to local churches to model an appropriate symbolic repentance.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The Church of England, inspired by decrees from Rome, was absolutely central to the horrific antisemitism suffered by English Jews in the Middle Ages, including religious propaganda, badges of shame, the invention of the blood libel, massacres and the first national expulsion of an entire Jewish community from a European country.

“There is much to repent for in this ignominious record. For the Church to confront its past is laudable, and we commend the Church of England for taking this historic step, which sends a powerful message not just about historic misdeeds but about how our faiths and society can better themselves today.”

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Man admits to defacing war memorial with antisemitic graffiti in Wales

A man has admitted to defacing a war memorial with antisemitic graffiti in Wales.

The graffiti on the memorial in Rhyl, Wales was discovered in February and included swastikas and vile messages which refer to the murder of Jews and gassing of soldiers.

The graffiti also contained the line, in German, that “the time has come for a Reich [empire]: we must exterminate the Jews.”

Gareth Bradley, 31, confessed earlier this week to committing the act of hateful vandalism. He also pleaded guilty to defacing his prison cell with graffiti of a swastika in April. 

Mr Bradley was granted bail and is due to be sentenced by a crown court judge next month. 

District Judge Paul Conlon said at Llandudno court: “The offences are too serious for this court to deal with.”

Image credit: Richard Kendrick

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Dieudonné fined by Swiss courts for Holocaust denial sketch just days after being handed prison sentence in France

Dieudonné has been fined by the Swiss courts for denying the existence of Nazi gas chambers in a sketch just days after being handed a prison sentence in France.

Dieudonné, whose real name is Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala, is a French comedian and political activist who has been convicted for hate speech and advocating terrorism, among other offences, in France and Belgium.

A complaint was made in 2019 after Mr M’Bala M’Bala performed the sketch in Switzerland. Last week, the Swiss courts found him guilty of violating laws on racist and antisemitic content and fined him 170 CHF (the equivalent of £134) a day, for 180 days.

Mr M’Bala M’Bala, 55, claimed that the views expressed in the sketch belonged to the on-stage character and not to him. However, this excuse was not accepted by President of the Geneva Police Court Sabina Mascotto, who said: “In view of his previous statements, his positions and the absence of any humor in his remarks, he will be found guilty of racial discrimination.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust)” is an example of antisemitism.

Last week, we reported that Mr M’Bala M’Bala had been sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for producing videos of an “antisemitic nature.” Mr M’Bala M’Bala was also fined €10,000 last Friday after he was found guilty of “public insult to an official,” namely Frédéric Potier, the former interministerial delegate for the fight against racism, antisemitism and anti-LGBT hatred.

Earlier this year, Mr M’Bala M’Bala was instructed by the Paris Court of Appeals to pay a fine of €9,000 (over £7,700) for mocking the Holocaust in a video.

Mr M’Bala M’Bala has attacked the “Zionist lobby”, claiming it controls the world, and he has been convicted more than twenty times on charges that include defamation, hate speech and endorsing terrorism in Belgium and France. Last year, he was given a two-year jail sentence and fined for tax fraud and money laundering.

In 2013, Mr M’Bala M’Bala was recorded during a performance suggesting that it was a pity that a Jewish journalist was not sent to the gas chambers. The then-French interior minister, Manuel Valls, declared that Mr M’Bala M’Bala was an “antisemite and a racist” and he would seek to ban all his events as public safety risks.

Last summer, as social media platforms claimed to be stepping up their fight against hate content, Mr M’Bala M’Bala was permanently banned from several major online platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, for his use of “dehumanising” terms in relation to Jews.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Blowtorch used to engrave swastikas into Holocaust memorial in France

Antisemitic vandals have used a blowtorch to engrave a Holocaust memorial with swastikas in Grenoble, France.

The assailants targeted the commemorative plaques dedicated to the memory of deportees to Auschwitz concentration camp.

Police are investigating the vandalism which was discovered on Wednesday morning.

Last month, the President of France condemned antisemitism in an historic address. President Macron began his ten-minute long video address to the American Jewish Committee by reaffirming France’s “commitment to defending religious freedom and tolerance.”

After praising the contributions of French Jews, President Macron stated that “antisemitism is, as it has always been, an unacceptable, unjustifiable, menace, in the face of which we must relentlessly mobilise all our energies.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Three Lord and Lady Justices agree with CAA, dismissing Tony Greenstein’s appeal in “notorious antisemite” case as bankruptcy hearing looms

Three Lord and Lady Justices sitting at the Court of Appeal have dismissed an appeal by Tony Greenstein against aspects of a High Court ruling, deciding in favour of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The High Court had struck out Mr Greenstein’s libel claims against us, ruling that it was permissible for us to call him a “notorious antisemite” in articles on our website, in an example of litigation humiliatingly backfiring.

Mr Greenstein’s attempt to appeal our successful defence over references to him as a “notorious antisemite” failed earlier this year when the Court of Appeal refused him permission to appeal. They did, however, allow him a hearing to argue that his claim that Campaign Against Antisemitism’s reference in one of the articles to his string of spent criminal convictions was made out of malice. That appeal has now been dismissed as well.

The Court of Appeal’s decision adds to Mr Greenstein’s financial woes. The High Court had ordered Mr Greenstein to pay £67,886 to Campaign Against Antisemitism, of which £10,000 had been stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. Now that the appeal has been dismissed, the £10,000 is now payable, along with £13,968 of additional costs relating to the failed appeal, making a total of £81,854.

Mr Greenstein now faces being made bankrupt at a hearing on 14th July after he failed to comply with a court order to send us payment, leading us to petition the High Court to appoint an Official Receiver in Insolvency to take control of Mr Greenstein’s assets and pay our costs from them.

Campaign Against Antisemitism was represented in the appeal by Adam Speker QC, to whom we are extremely grateful for appearing at the hearing pro bono, instructed by solicitors Keith Mathieson and Alex Wilson of RPC, and advised pro bono by solicitor Dr Mark Lewis who is an honorary patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

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Jewish gravestones desecrated with swastika graffiti in Baltimore

Thirteen Jewish gravestones in Baltimore were found desecrated with swastikas last Sunday. 

A spokesperson for the Baltimore Police Department confirmed that officers are looking into the vandalism that took place at the German Hill Road Cemetery. 

Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka uploaded photographs of the vandalism to Facebook, along with a statement. Mr Patoka wrote: “This weekend, someone spray-painted swastikas on more than a dozen gravestones at the German Hill Road Jewish Cemeteries in Dundalk. 

“As the son of Holocaust victims and survivors, this symbol hits hard. We cannot allow fear, prejudice, division and hate to win out. We must stand actively engaged in the fight to combat antisemitism in all forms.”

Recently, Baltimore City Councilmember Zeke Cohen stated on Twitter that a man who is believed to be connected with a recent spate of antisemitic graffiti across Fells Point, Baltimore has been issued a criminal summons. However, Mr Cohen is also pushing for a hate crime charge. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Director at London accountancy firm no longer working there after JC editor sheds light on his history of trolling Jewish people

It has been reported that a Director at a London accountancy firm is no longer working there after Stephen Pollard, Editor at the JC, contacted the firm to report the accountant’s history of trolling Jewish people and organisations.

Tom Gauterin, “Director, Private Client Tax Services for Smith and Williamson”, went by the Twitter username of @Ruralmaestro, had a record of harassing Jewish people online, which included labelling Mr Pollard a “lifelong hard right racist.”

Regarding the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BOD), a Jewish community charity, Mr Gauterin said that Labour Party leader Keir Starmer would “do exactly as the BOD — a hard right, fanatically pro-Israel group — tells him.” Mr Gauterin went on to label the Jewish organisation a “hard right racist group” who would “attack” Sir Keir “the moment he says anything progressive or egalitarian they don’t like.”

On Rachel Riley, the Jewish TV personality and campaigner against Jew-hatred, the Mr Gauterin wrote: “No idea what Riley thinks she is doing and why, but she’s a proven liar and a fraud who harms those Jews who really *are* suffering from antisemitic abuse. She’s utterly vile and to pretend otherwise is to deny reality. Plus: if you know her, tell her to stop it pronto.”

Mr Pollard reported the tweets to the Chairman of Smith and Williamson. Within a matter of days, Mr Gauterin’s tweets had been made private, and within a few weeks, the firm’s CEO had called Mr Pollard to confirm that “Mr Gauterin no longer worked for Smith and Williamson.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has long called for tougher regulations on social media sites and that social networks proactively search for and remove hate speech from their platforms.

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Efforts underway to identify man who allegedly screamed at London Jews that it is a “Shame Hitler did not wipe out all of you Jewish people!”

Two Jewish pedestrians in North London were allegedly accosted on their way to synagogue on Saturday morning by a man who they said screamed at them that it is a “Shame Hitler did not wipe out all of you Jewish people!” and then followed them shouting “Hitler done a good job!”

The incident took place outside 198-202 Stamford Hill, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information or recognise the male pictured, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: 4616315/21.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that three in five British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

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Dieudonné sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for videos of an “antisemitic nature”

The French comedian Dieudonné has been sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for producing videos of an “antisemitic nature.”

Dieudonné, whose real name is Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala, is a French comedian and political activist who has been convicted for hate speech and advocating terrorism, among other offences, in France and Belgium.

Mr M’Bala M’Bala, 55, was handed his prison sentence last Friday after being charged with “public insult of an antisemitic nature” and “contestation of a crime against humanity” as a result of two videos that date back to May 2020.  

During his trial last May, Mr M’Bala M’Bala insisted that the man in the videos was not him and that in fact his likeness was manufactured using deepfake technology. However, the court was not convinced, stating: “The character appearing on the screen, identified by investigators as Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala, has the same name, the same appearance, the same voice and the same lexical references as the defendant.”

Mr M’Bala M’Bala was also fined €10,000 last Friday after he was found guilty of “public insult to an official,” namely Frédéric Potier, the former interministerial delegate for the fight against racism, antisemitism and anti-LGBT hatred.

Earlier this year, Mr M’Bala M’Bala was instructed by the Paris Court of Appeals to pay a fine of €9,000 (over £7,700) for mocking the Holocaust in a video.

Mr M’Bala M’Bala has attacked the “Zionist lobby”, claiming it controls the world, and he has been convicted more than twenty times on charges that include defamation, hate speech and endorsing terrorism in Belgium and France. Last year, he was given a two-year jail sentence and fined for tax fraud and money laundering.

In 2013, Mr M’Bala M’Bala was recorded during a performance suggesting that it was a pity that a Jewish journalist was not sent to the gas chambers. The then-French interior minister, Manuel Valls, declared that Mr M’Bala M’Bala was an “antisemite and a racist” and he would seek to ban all his events as public safety risks.

Last summer, as social media platforms claimed to be stepping up their fight against hate content, Mr M’Bala M’Bala was permanently banned from several major online platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, for his use of “dehumanising” terms in relation to Jews.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Polish ultranationalists given prison sentences for chants about hanging Zionists at rally

Two Polish ultranationalists have been given prison sentences in connection to chanting about hanging Zionists at a rally in 2016.

It was reported that one of the participants at the rally, which took place in the north-eastern city of Bialystok, led a chant about how “Zionists will hang from the trees instead of leaves.” It is understood that anti-Muslim chants were also heard.

The Criminal Tribunal in Warsaw imposed the sentences last Wednesday. The defendant who led the chants received a sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment, while the other defendant was handed a suspended sentence of six months.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Antisemitic graffiti spray-painted onto side of building in German village

Antisemitic graffiti was found spray-painted onto the side of a building in Wemmetsweiler, a village in the German state of Saarland, last week.

The graffiti depicts three black Stars of David along with the word ‘Jude’, the German word for Jew.

The perpetrators are still unknown. However, local police are investigating the matter.

This incident comes only weeks after Germany banned the Hamas flag as a response to the rise in antisemitic incidents.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Murals defaced with Nazi graffiti in Ukiah, California

It was reported last week that at least two murals in Ukiah, California had been defaced with Nazi graffiti.

One of the artworks depicted a woman wearing a surgical mask that had been vandalised with a drawing of a swastika and the letters ‘SS’ on her face.

Former President Nancy Horowitz Bertsch and Current President Sherrie Ebyam of Kol HaEmek, the Mendocino County Inland Jewish Community, wrote a letter to the Ukiah Police Department that said: “These acts of defilement are Hate Crimes. As leaders of our Jewish Community, we will not sit quietly and let this go by. We expect that the city of Ukiah Police Department will investigate, find, and hold accountable those responsible for these crimes.”

Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager for the city of Ukiah, wrote a letter which read: “On behalf of the city of Ukiah, I am appalled and saddened by recent acts of graffiti swastikas and other Nazi-style symbols — on two different public art projects. These incidents were discovered and reported to various individuals, including to the two artists, and the vandalism was removed immediately. The Ukiah Police Department was not notified until Wednesday, 30th June, nearly seven days after the first case was discovered. Since that time, information including photographic evidence of the vandalism has been gathered and the detective division of UPD is investigating the incidents as a hate crime. Every effort is being taken to bring justice to the individual(s) responsible for this defilement of public art.

“The community can assist by reporting any information related to these incidents, as well as in-progress acts of graffiti or vandalism, to the UPD through its non-emergency line (707-463-6262). Additionally, existing graffiti can be reported through the use of the city’s mobile app, iWorQ, available on Apple or Android phones.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Police investigating after Jewish man faces two separate antisemitic incidents on London transport within one hour, CAA in contact with authorities

Police are investigating after a Jewish man faced two separate antisemitic incidents on London transport within one hour. Campaign Against Antisemitism is in contact with the police and Transport for London.

A Twitter user uploaded audio and video footage of his brother facing the vile abuse aboard a London bus. The incident occurred on the 113 bus heading towards Oxford Circus this past Saturday at 23:33. An aggressive passenger can be heard threatening the Jewish man and telling him: “I’ve got a shank, I will slit your throat for Palestine.”

He can also be heard saying: “I’ll beat the s**t out of you, man.”

The passenger was then ordered off the bus, where he proceeded to swear at the Jewish man and bang on the doors of the bus.  

An hour prior to this incident, the Jewish man was subjected to antisemitic chanting whilst travelling down the escalators at Oxford Circus station. A man is heard shouting: “I f***ing hate the Jews.”

In a statement, British Transport Police said: “We’re aware of a video posted online of…antisemitic behaviour on a London Underground escalator. We take such incidents very seriously and are investigating. If anybody has any information contact us on 0800 405040 or text 61016 quoting ref 90 of 4 July 2021.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism replied to the Twitter user, saying: “Thank you for exposing this appalling abuse. We will be following up privately, but for those reading the thread we wanted to note that police investigations have now been opened and we are in touch with police and Transport for London. #ZeroTolerance”

Earlier this year, we reported on a man who subjected a Jewish couple – including a disabled man – to ten minutes of verbal abuse on a London bus.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently met with Transport for London as part of work to improve the response to antisemitic incidents on public transport.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Fugitive deputy leader of neo-Nazi organisation Golden Dawn arrested in Greece

The deputy leader of the neo-Nazi organisation Golden Dawn has been arrested after he was found hiding in Greece.

Golden Dawn is an extremist group that was founded in 1985 and was registered as a political party in 1993. In the 2012 elections, against a backdrop of financial chaos that led to stringent austerity measures, the Golden Dawn Party became the third largest in the Greek parliament.

Last year saw the end of one of the most high-profile trials in modern-Greek history where Greek judges ruled that the extreme right-wing neo-Nazi political party operated as a criminal gang.

As a result of the decision in October, Golden Dawn’s deputy leader, Christos Pappas, was issued a thirteen-year prison sentence. However, he went missing one day later, which prompted some to believe that he had fled the country. 

Police arrested Mr Pappas, 60, on 1st June in an apartment in the central Athens district of Zografou. A woman, 52, was also arrested and it has been reported that she will be charged with aiding and abetting a criminal. 

Government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni said: “With Christos Pappas’s arrest, the chapter of organised crime closes definitively.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Chabad rabbi held at gunpoint and stabbed outside synagogue in Boston

A Chabad rabbi was held at gunpoint and stabbed eight times outside of a synagogue and Jewish school in Boston, yesterday afternoon.

The attack on Rabbi Shlomo Noginsky occurred at 13:19pm, where it was reported that the assailant held Rabbi Noginsky at gunpoint and attempted to force him into his car, at which point the rabbi fled. The attacker was then believed to have chased after him, stabbing him in the arm eight times. After Rabbi Noginsky called for help, the attacker fled the scene before being apprehended by police shortly after.

The suspect, 24-year-old Khaled Awad, will be tried in Brighton District Court under the charges of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a police officer.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Rabbi Noginski said of the attack: “I am grateful to the Boston Police Department for their rapid response, and relieved that the perpetrator is in custody. I am looking forward to returning to my work as soon as possible.”  

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Canadian Jews faced their “highest ever” number of antisemitic incidents during month of May

Canadian Jews faced their “highest ever” number of antisemitic incidents recorded in a month during May, a new study has shown.

The study, published on Wednesday by B’nai Brith Canada, showed that 250 reported incidents of antisemitism took place in May, the highest number since the organisation began collecting figures in 1982.

The 250 reported incidents included 154 incidents of harassment, 51 incidents of vandalism, and 61 incidents of violence. “Many other online incidents” are still being reviewed.

The group said: “One alarming finding that has not been sufficiently publicised is the degree of antisemitism present at anti-Israel rallies. In almost every city where such rallies took place, Jews were singled out and targeted for abuse by angry mobs of demonstrators. These rallies were not the typical kind of civil and lawful political protests with which most Canadians are familiar. Many of these events devolved into open hatefests with blatantly antisemitic, obscene, and violent rhetoric.”

“The dangerous rise of antisemitism in the month of May must serve as a wake-up call to all Canadians,” B’nai Brith added. “If, as a society, we stand united against hate, then we must also stand united against antisemitism. If left to fester, the hatred of Jews will lead to the fraying of the very foundations of our civil society.”

We recently reported on Canada’s significant increase in antisemitic incidents during the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, offered his support to Canada’s Jews. In a tweet, he wrote: “I am deeply disturbed by recent reports of antisemitic acts in Montreal and across the country. This intimidation and violence is absolutely unacceptable – and it must stop immediately. There is no place for hate of any kind in Canada.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Man pleads guilty to spitting on Jewish neighbours and telling them that Hitler should have gassed them

An Ohio man has pleaded guilty to spitting on his Jewish neighbours and telling them that Adolf Hitler should have gassed them.

Court documents reveal how Douglas G. Schifer, 66, broke his neighbours’ windows, spat on them, and hurled antisemitic abuse and threats towards them.

Mr Schifer was quoted as saying: “All you f***ing people, it’s no wonder Hitler burned you people in ovens,” “f***ing Hitler should have gassed you,” and “Jews burn, you belong in ovens.” He also threatened to shoot both his neighbours and their dog.

Mr Schifer, 66, pleaded guilty in federal court to criminally interfering with the right to fair housing and faces up to one year’s imprisonment. He may also have to pay a fine of $100,000.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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“Zionist Fascist Police State” graffiti found in park in North London

Graffiti reading “Zionist Fascist Police State” was found scrawled on a structure in a park in Stamford Hill. 

The graffiti was spotted at the corner of Lee Valley Park by the River Lea, near Bakers Hill, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123.

Similar graffiti has been found in London on numerous occasions this year and in the past.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that three in five British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

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Police identify minors suspected of vandalising synagogue in Romania

Police have identified minors who are suspected of vandalising a synagogue in Romania.

The Orăștie synagogue in southwestern Transylvania, which was built in the late 1800s, had its windows smashed, with rocks found inside the building. The suspects are believed to be between the ages of nine and fourteen.

The act of vandalism comes only days before the 80th anniversary of the Iași pogrom, a series of violent, murderous attacks that were carried out against Romanian Jews in Iași during the Holocaust. The killings lasted from 29th June until 6th July 1941 and over 13,000 Jews were murdered.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Antisemitism increases in Germany with 1,909 reported incidents in 2020

A new report has found that antisemitic incidents have increased in Germany, with more reported incidents occurring in 2020 than in 2019.

The report that was published by Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism (Federal Association RIAS) found that the 1,909 reported incidents included 39 assaults, 167 cases of damages and desecration of property, and 1,449 cases of abusive behaviour.

Over one-quarter of the reported incidents were related to COVID-19, which included antisemitism prevalent at rallies as well as the promotion of antisemitic conspiracies, while approximately one-third of reported incidents took place online.

Benjamin Steinitz, the Executive Director of Federal Association RIAS, said “Conspiracist milieu during the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Israel activists during escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, plus the constant threat from right-wing extremism: Danger to Jews comes from many sides. Antisemitism is still multifaceted in Germany, and open expression of this hate is increasingly normalised. No matter in what form it must be resolutely ostracised and rejected.”

Another organisation said: “The massive mobilisation of antisemitism from different social and political milieus poses an increasing danger. Therein lies the dangerous dynamic of antisemitism. As the report shows, growing antisemitism from the right-wing extremist milieu was joined by antisemitic conspiracist mobilisation in the context of the pandemic.”

Last week, we reported that Germany banned the Hamas flag after a rise in antisemitic incidents. Hamas, the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group, clashed with Israel last month, which lead to widespread antisemitism in Germany with several people arrested.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Neo-Nazi teenager who threatened attack on Dover migrants admits terror offences after previously appearing in court with co-defendant who reportedly claimed “all Jews should die”

A neo-Nazi teenager from Derbyshire has admitted terror offences after threatening an attack on migrants at Dover.

The fifteen-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, discussed the attack on a far-right Telegram channel that he had created, explaining his intentions and potential weapons.

He appeared on Monday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to encouraging terrorism and possessing and disseminating a terrorist publication.

He had a previous conviction for threatening to blow up a mosque last year but was given a slap on the wrist for what was described as a “bomb hoax, a prank and a joke”. However, at that time he appeared alongside a sixteen-year-old co-defendant from southeast London who admitted dissemination of a terrorist publication. An investigation showed that he had made videos featuring Hitler, Nazis murdering victims in concentration camps and a woman singing “All Jews should die, race mixing is a sin”, and had searched the internet for weapons.

The Senior National Coordinator for Counterterrorism Policing, Dean Haydon, said: “We cannot hope to arrest our way out of this problem – the only way we can hope to reverse this worrying prevalence of children in our arrest statistics is to stop them from being radicalised in the first place.”

Far-right terrorist activity among British youth has become a very concerning trend. Just last month we reported that, according to recent figures that were released from the Home Office, out of over 300 people who were identified in 2019-2020 who could be seen to harbour radical views, 175 were below the age of twenty, with 70 being below the age of fourteen.

Earlier this year, a teenager from Cornwall became the UK’s youngest terror offender, after he admitted twelve terrorism offenses, while another teenager from Newcastle who called himself Hitler on numerous social media platforms and an online group that he created glorifying far-right violence pleaded guilty to terrorism offences.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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Home Secretary Priti Patel demands Met Police does more to stop ‘Free Palestine’ convoys driving to London after protests rocked by antisemitism

Priti Patel has reportedly demanded that the Metropolitan Police does more to prevent ‘Free Palestine’ convoys driving to London after the previous two convoys – as well as countless demonstrators around the country – were rocked by antisemitism.

According to a report in The Mail On Sunday, an ‘insider’ said: “The Home Secretary is not happy with the Commissioner [of the Met Police] on this issue and has repeatedly made her view clear that more should have been done to stop the convoys.”

The report went on to quote a ‘source close to the Home Secretary’ as saying that “These antisemitic incidents were designed to intimidate Jewish people. Clearly Priti was concerned about the impact.”

The report comes after a second convoy was permitted by the police to travel to London, under certain conditions, even after Campaign Against Antisemitism took legal advice which we provided to the police and the Home Office setting out the legal basis for prohibiting the returning convoy on the basis that it constitutes a “public procession” likely to cause “serious public disorder”, engaging section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986.

In the event, the Metropolitan Police chose not to avail itself of this legislation, even though it is specifically designed to prevent this kind of intimidation. This decision by the police was particularly disappointing after the previous ‘Free Palestine’ convoy drove through a Jewish neighbourhood shouting “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters” through megaphones, and a vehicle, believed to be from the convoy, chased a Jewish mother down a London street and rammed her car whilst she was driving her four-year-old child. Four men were arrested and bailed over the former incident and an alleged antisemitic incident committed in Manchester before the convoy arrived in London.

Although the second convoy was tailed by police, apparently from its inception in Bradford, it too exhibited antisemitism. The driver of one car shouted antisemitic abuse at a Jewish pedestrian in London, while passengers on the leading coach in the convoy were recorded having a conversation with antisemitic tropes. The convoy ended at a rally in Downing Street the featured numerous antisemitic signs and placards. The rally was addressed by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Neo-Nazi who wrote that ethnic minorities should be “sent home” and “sterilised” is jailed on terror offences

A neo-Nazi who wrote that ethnic minorities should be “sent home” and “sterilised” has been jailed on terror offences.

Michael Nugent, 38, used online chat groups to disseminate violent, neo-Nazi ideas, which included advocating terrorism. He also shared information of how to make explosives.

According to police, he used Telegram where he ran and contributed to “extreme right wing chat groups,” where he adopted different personas in order to spread “abhorrent, extremist” ideas.

The jury were read extracts from Mr Nugent’s diary. In addition to his abhorrent views on ethnic minorities, the court heard that he also wrote: “We are being genocided in our own homes.”

“Terrorism is the only way out of it,” read another extract.

Mr Nugent pleaded guilty to five counts of dissemination of terrorist publications and eleven of possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Last week, at Kingston Crown Court, Mr Nugent was sentenced to three and a half years’ imprisonment.

Judge Peter Lodder QC told the court that Mr Nugent “posted toxic offensive material to websites and administered groups which were dedicated to violent racist, antisemitic, and neo-Nazi ideology.” Judge Lodder added: “You used your channel as a safe haven to post messages expressing and encouraging extreme racial hatred and violence towards black people, and in setting up this channel you provided others with access to terrorist publications and encouraged terrorist acts.”

Earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism reported on the concerns that were raised over the alleged increase in neo-Nazi content on Telegram.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing

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JCC of Greater New Haven evacuated after bomb threat

The Jewich Community Centre of New Haven, CT was evacuated last week after a bomb threat was called in.

Police are investigating the call made to the Centre, which forced an early end to the day’s children’s camp, among other activities.

According to the Centre’s leadership, a staffer received a the call at the welcome desk from a caller who “[started] out with some antisemitic comments and also made a threat”. The staffer was not able to extract information about the caller’s identity, and alerted Woodbridge Police, which advised that the Centre be evacuated.

Later on, Police Chief Frank Cappiello insisted that there is no continuing threat to the Centre, and that “our department is currently working with representatives from the FBI and other local law enforcement agencies to identify the caller.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image Credit: JCC of Greater New Haven

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Children in Poland destroyed Jewish gravestones to “build a fortress”

Children in Poland destroyed Jewish gravestones in order to “build a fortress”, it emerged earlier this week.

The desecration of the 63 gravestones were believed to have occurred on 16th June in the Jewish Cemetery of Wroclaw. Police intervened after hearing hammering noises.

The five twelve-year-olds behind the incident told police that they wanted to use the slabs from the gravestones to build a fortress.

Recently, we reported that Krakow banned the sale of antisemitic figurines which depict Orthodox Jews holding coins. The ban follows pressure from Polish Jews who campaigned for the sale of the figurines to be prohibited. Nevertheless, defenders of the practice of selling the figurines feel that the items represent a nostalgia towards Polish Jews.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: The Jewish Community of Wroclaw

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Toronto man receives antisemitic abuse in a city-centre pharmacy

A Jewish shopper in Toronto posted a video on Facebook showing a fellow shopper screaming “dirty Jew” at him.

The Jewish shopper was abused while in a city-centre pharmacy by a woman shopper who had refused to put on a mask offered by an employee. She screamed “homosexual” and “dirty Jew” at him, in addition to other, inaudible comments. On leaving the pharmacy she again shouted “dirty Jew.”

The author of the Facebook post said that he had “considered not sharing” the video but “realised silence will not stop this sort of thing from happening again.” He added: “Let this be a reminder that hate is alive and well in our city” and said he had sent the video to B’nai Brith Canada which monitors antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Austrian solider imprisoned for sharing photos of swastika tattoo online

An Austrian solider has been imprisoned for sharing photos of his swastika tattoo online.

The man had already received a suspended sentence for previously disseminating photos of Nazi memorabilia from World War II online, the displaying of which is illegal in Austria.

The online distribution of his tattoo photos then activated his sentence, and he has received nineteen months in prison.

The antisemitic tattoo appears on one of the soldier’s testicles. He stated that he was “very drunk” when he underwent the procedure.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Controversial Imam with history of inflammatory comments pulled from event with Naz Shah MP after concerns raised

A controversial Imam with a history of inflammatory comments has been pulled from an event, where the disgraced Labour MP, Naz Shah, was due to appear alongside him, after concerns were raised.

The “Free Gaza, Free Palestine” fundraiser was advertised on social media and originally featured Imam Asim Hussain with Labour MPs Naz Shah and Imran Hussain also due to appear.

In his online talks, Imam Hussain has previously said that Gaza is “the largest concentration camp in the world” and that the “true Orthodox Jewish man” does not support Zionism.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Imam Hussain also promoted the controversial ‘Free Palestine’ convoy, whose participants drove through a Jewish neighbourhood shouting “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters” through megaphones.

On Facebook, Imam Hussain has reportedly alluded to “the media” being “controlled by certain lobbies” and that because Arabic is one of the “Semitic languages,” then “what the Jews and the west say about Palestinian Arabs is ‘antisemitic’.”

Appearing alongside the controversial Imam would not have been Ms Shah’s first brush with antisemitism. Ms Shah’s previous dalliances with antisemitism were so grave that they led to her suspension from the Labour Party even under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, and she has appeared in recent weeks to resent how she was held to account. She also recently shared a platform with Mr Corbyn but has not been disciplined, even though Mr Corbyn, like Ms Shah before him, was suspended from the Party for antisemitism. 

Earlier this month, Ms Shah reportedly spoke at a rally where calls were made to “lift the curse of the Jews off the Muslims in Palestine!”

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Trial begins in Paris for gang accused of beating and robbing Jewish family in their own home

The trial that will determine the fate of a gang of nine men who are accused of beating and robbing a Jewish Parisian family in their own home has begun.

The alleged attack occurred on 8th September 2017, when, in the middle of the night, David Pinto found that the electricity in the family home had gone out. Going downstairs to see what the problem was, he fell into a trap allegedly set by the gang, who had cut off the electricity supply apparently in order to ambush whomever entered through the cellar door to check on the energy metre.

Three men then forced their way in, bound Mr Pinto and dragged him upstairs, where they then bound and gagged Mireille and Roger Pinto, his 73-year-old mother and his 83-year-old father.

“As I struggled, the first man threw me down,” Mrs Pinto later said. “He hit me. I really thought he wanted to rape me. The second one kicked me.”

The gang is accused of beating Roger Pinto into unconsciousness. As he came to, Mr Pinto reportedly recalled one of his assailants telling him: “You are Jewish, we know that the Jews have a lot of money and you will give us what you have. If you do not give us what we ask you, we’ll kill you.”

Mr Pinto went on: “The three men had a screwdriver and a knife, which they constantly threatened us with. They threatened to kill us. That was unbearable. These thugs took our credit cards, took all the goods we had, jewellery from my wife.”

Whilst the gang allegedly proceeded to burgle the residence, the family was tied up and locked in a room. After several hours, Mrs Pinto finally managed to call emergency services.  

However, lawyers for the defendants claim that the assault was not antisemitic in nature, as the assailants did not believe the family to be rich based on their religion, with one of the members even claiming not to have known that the family was Jewish.

The lawyer for the Pinto family rejected this claim, sating: “The Pinto family was assaulted because they are a Jewish family…the attackers told them, ‘You are Jewish, so you have money.’”

The trial is expected to last for nine days and will be closely monitored by the Jewish community, especially in the wake of the disappointing decision taken in the Sarah Halimi trial.

In April, France’s Court of Cassation ruled that Sarah Halimi’s killer could not be held to stand trial due to being high on cannabis whilst committing the murder. Campaign Against Antisemitism held a rally in solidarity with French Jews in opposition to the Court of Cassation’s ruling to let Sarah Halimi’s murderer go free.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Success for CAA as High Court quashes regulator’s decision that ‘Al Quds Day’ march leader Nazim Ali’s comments were not antisemitic, demanding regulator hold a new hearing

The High Court has today ruled that a decision by the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) Fitness to Practice Committee in the case of Nazim Ali must be quashed and “determine[d] afresh” after an appeal by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) at the request of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Ali is the leader of the annual pro-Hizballah ‘Al Quds Day’ march in London who made antisemitic statements during the 2017 march. Since Mr Ali is a pharmacist Campaign Against Antisemitism brought a complaint to his professional regulator, the GPhC.

Last year, the GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee found that Mr Ali had brought the pharmaceutical profession into disrepute, following a two-week hearing that culminated on 5th November. Although the Fitness to Practise Committee had found that Mr Ali’s words were offensive, it did not find that the words had been antisemitic, and the panel let him off with only a formal warning.

Following the GPhC’s ruling, Campaign Against Antisemitism made representations to the PSA, which oversees disciplinary decisions made by the GPhC. We asked the PSA to use its statutory power to appeal the GPhC’s decision to the High Court under the National Health Service Reform and Healthcare Professionals Act 2002, on the grounds that the decision made by the GPhC panel was insufficient to protect the public because it was “irrational and perverse”.

In particular, we asked the PSA to review the GPhC’s ruling that Mr Ali’s statements were not antisemitic, including by attempting to distinguish between “antisemitism” and “antisemitic”. We have asked the PSA to consider the International Definition of Antisemitism, which has been adopted by the British Government, and the Guidance to all Judiciary in England and Wales produced by the Judicial College that makes clear that the word “Zionist” or “Zio” as a term of abuse has no place in a civilised society.

Furthermore, we argued that the ruling misapplied the law when asking whether a “reasonable person” would have considered the comments made by Mr Ali as being antisemitic. The GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee ruled that Jewish bystanders who saw the demonstration or watched the recording of it posted online could not be considered to be “reasonable persons” in the legal sense because of their “selective view of events”.

The PSA made the referral that we requested, opening the way for the High Court to decide whether to quash the GPhC panel’s decision. Subsequently, the GPhC itself also agreed with Campaign Against Antisemitism and declared that it would not oppose the appeal at the High Court, leaving Mr Ali to do so himself.

The hearing took place on 9th June, and today the High Court has issued its decision, allowing the PSA’s appeal, which was made following a request by Campaign Against Antisemitism. The High Court has ruled that the case is to be remitted to the Fitness to Practice Committee to redetermine whether Mr Ali’s comments had been antisemitic.

In reaching his decision, Mr Justice Johnson noted: “In determining whether the [GPhC] has established that the remarks are antisemitic, the [Fitness to Practise Committee] should assess the objective meaning of the remarks…[taking] account of their meaning taken as a whole, and it should not take account of Mr Ali’s subjective intention; Mr Ali’s good character; [and] the reaction of other audiences in other contexts.”

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said: “We agree that the Fitness to Practise Committee erred in its approach to deciding whether or not the comments made by Mr Ali were antisemitic and we did not contest the appeal by the PSA. We will make sure the learnings from this case and the High Court judgment are shared across the organisation and our committees. The further Fitness to Practise hearing for Mr Ali will be scheduled at the earliest opportunity.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “The High Court has agreed with us that the decision on whether Nazim Ali’s remarks at the pro-Hizballah ‘Al Quds Day’ march in 2017 were antisemitic was woefully inept. As we hoped, the High Court has now quashed the original decision of the Fitness to Practise Committee of the General Pharmaceutical Council in relation to Mr Ali’s antisemitism and ordered it to reach a new decision. This is exactly why we referred the matter to the Professional Standards Authority.

“We commend the Professional Standards Authority and the General Pharmaceutical Council itself for recognising the injustice of the earlier decision.

“We hope that the Fitness to Practise Committee will arrive at a new decision that accepts that Mr Ali’s comments were antisemitic and that on that basis the previous sanction was inadequate and wrong. The road to justice in this case has proved long and winding, but we are again heading in the right direction.

“We said that we would not allow this injustice to stand and we are delighted by this new judgement. Campaign Against Antisemitism will always be unrelenting in pursuit of justice.”

We are extremely grateful to Simon Braun, a partner at Perrin Myddelton solicitors, and barrister Thomas Daniel of 2 Bedford Row Chambers, who acted for and assisted Campaign Against Antisemitism in this matter. We additionally commend all those who also contacted the GPhC and PSA to protest against the initial unjust decision.

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Orthodox Jewish school in Melbourne vandalised with “Free Palestine” graffiti

An Orthodox Jewish school in Melbourne has been vandalised with graffiti that depicts the slogan “Free Palestine.”

The words were spray-painted on the driveway of the Cheder Levi Yitzchok school. It is understood that Victoria state police are investigating the incident.

The graffiti was reported to the Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), an Australian organisation that tackles antisemitism. The group then informed Port Philip City Council which removed the graffiti.

ADC Chair Dvir Abramovich said of the incident: “To attack a Jewish institution in order to express a hatred against Israel is antisemitic, and these activists have torn up the rule book of decency and are now targeting Jewish schools with their vicious propaganda and calls to destroy Israel.

“Their desire to intimidate and sow fear knows no bounds…to defile a place where children play and learn is beyond words and beyond contempt and it is not a surprise that parents would be very concerned about the safety of their children. This is not what Australia is about.”

He added, “I hope that those cowards who committed this sickening outrage are identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: ADC

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Germany bans Hamas flag after rise in antisemitic incidents

Germany has banned the Hamas flag after a rise in antisemitic incidents.

The ban, agreed upon by all parties in Germany’s grand coalition government, is believed to have been spearheaded by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Thorsten Frei, the Deputy Parliamentary Spokesperson for the CDU as well as its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, said: “We do not want the flags of terrorist organisations to be waved on German soil.”

Hamas, the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group, clashed with Israel last month, which lead to widespread antisemitism in Germany with several people arrested.

Recently, it was announced that German soldiers who sang antisemitic and racist songs would be “vigorously prosecuted and punished”, according to the country’s Defence Minister.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Alleged follower of Islamist group who called for a “jihad” to wipe out the Jewish state under investigation by police

An alleged follower of the Islamist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, who called for a “jihad” to wipe out the Jewish state, is now under investigation by police, following publicity campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism on social media and reports to the police by Jewish groups.

Captured on video last month, the man said directly into the camera: “This goes out to the Muslim armies, what are you waiting for? Jihad is responsibility on you. Wipe out that Zionist entity. How dare they occupy Masjid Al-Aqsa [the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem].

“The Muslim youth here, we the Muslims in the West, we are with you…We don’t fear the United Nations, British government. We don’t give a damn. We only fear Allah. Jihad fi sabilillah via the armies.”

The individual made the comments in a video filmed during an anti-Israel rally outside the Pakistani consulate in Birmingham.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We are aware of a video posted on social media taken during a pro–Palestine event in Centenary Square in May. We have received a report raising concerns over the nature of the language used by one of the speakers, alleging it was antisemitic hate speech.

“A hate crime has been recorded and it’s currently with our investigators for an assessment. We will not tolerate hate crime, and we would always encourage people to report offences to us so we can take appropriate action.”

It was reported that on 11th May, Hizb ut-Tahrir issued a statement saying:  “The monstrous Jews are spreading their brutal aggression on all parts of Palestine.”

Hizb ut-Tahrir was mentioned in a report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change titled “Narratives of Division: The Spectrum of Islamist Worldviews in the UK,” which found that a number of UK Islamic activist groups promote views that align with proscribed extremist groups.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that over eight in ten British Jews consider the threat from Islamists to be very serious.

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Ku Klux Klan group distribute antisemitic, homophobic flyers in Virginia

A Ku Klux Klan (KKK) group has distributed antisemitic, homophobic flyers in Virginia last week.

The flyers that were handed out by the Loyal White Knights (LWK), one of the groups that make up the KKK, took aim at the school board in Fairfax, Virginia, branding it as “Jew-inspired, communist, queer-loving sex fiends violating the words of the Holy Bible.”

The flyers bore the hate group’s insignia, along with the words “Yahweh is Watching!”

Guila Franklin Siegel, the Associate Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, acknowledged the “particular insidiousness of targeting a district that is represented by a Jewish school board member who has been subjected to antisemitic rhetoric on previous occasions.”

Ms Siegel added: “Our leaders should not have to endure threats of this kind and such virulent hate has no place in our community.”

According to the ADL, the LWK “follow a version of traditional Klan ideology infused with neo-Nazi beliefs,” and have organised white supremacist rallies.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: ADL

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German soldiers who sang antisemitic and racist songs to be “vigorously prosecuted and punished”

German soldiers who sang antisemitic and racist songs are to be “vigorously prosecuted and punished”, according to the country’s Defence Minister.

The allegations relate to a party held by German soldiers stationed in Lithuania at a hotel in April.

Three soldiers have been summoned home, with an ongoing investigation to identify other suspects.

“Whatever happened is in no way acceptable,” Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said, adding that those implicated would be “vigorously prosecuted and punished,” she added.

Last year, she ordered the partial dissolution of a commando unit after reports that some of its members harboured neo-Nazi sympathies.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Secret recording of second ‘Free Palestine’ convoy reveals antisemitic sentiments aboard leading coach

A secret recording obtained by the JC has revealed antisemitic sentiments aboard the leading coach of the second ‘Free Palestine’ convoy last weekend.

Demonstrators on the bus from Bradford reportedly made numerous inflammatory comments, in English and Urdu.

In one comment, a demonstrator said that Israel’s new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is “a bigger Satan than the other one, you know, Ben Net’yu [sic] or whatever his name is. This one that has come is a blatant one. I have seen his videos where he said killing children and Arabs is minor, it’s nothing.”

A female companion interjected: “I don’t understand why are they getting away with that? I don’t get it.” The first speaker replied: “Because you know the UN, they are full of sh**, right.”

Another interlocuter lamented the supposed inaction of the United Nations and other bodies, and the first speaker explained that they are “freemasons”.

Satanic descriptions, infanticide and freemasonry are classic antisemitic tropes.

The convoy was escorted by police but evidence has emerged that it did in fact engage in antisemitic abuse of local Jews when it reached London.

The convoy ended at a rally in Downing Street the featured numerous antisemitic signs and placards. The rally was addressed by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.

Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), said: “The organisers of the convoys claim that their purpose is not to drive across the UK inciting hatred and instilling fear. They claim that those who called for Jewish children to be raped are an isolated case. This secret recording reveals the demonstrators’ true colours. Thinking that they were among friends, the mask slipped. Nobody else on the bus could be heard objecting when these things were said.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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British Movement leafleting reported in East Belfast

A resident of East Belfast has reported that he had a British Movement leaflet put through his door.

The report of the leaflet comes in the same week as stickers from the British National Socialist Movement – the successor to the British Movement – were found on street furniture in Manchester.

Founded during the 1960s and having supposedly dissolved in the early 1980s, the British National Socialist Movement exhibited antisemitism and advocated for violence towards ethnic minorities.

Last year, we reported that the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think-tank, had published a report noting the “conspiracy theories propagated widely online” in connection with COVID-19 and calls for violence against minority communities, among them Jews. The report observed that “the pandemic has amplified antisemitic tropes and calls for violence against Jewish communities”, and also noted that there have been “calls online by groups such as the British National Socialist Movement for the virus to be ‘weaponised’”.

Last year, members of the proscribed National Action group were sentenced to prison, having engaged, amongst other activities, in far-right stickering and recruitment campaigns. Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to monitor and report on far-right stickering campaigns.

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Jewish mental health counsellors at Stanford University allege antisemitic incidents occurred during anti-racism programme

Two Jewish mental health counsellors at Stanford University have alleged that antisemitic incidents occurred during meetings that were a part of an anti-racism programme at the University.

Dr Ronald Albucher and Sheila Levin felt as though their complaints of antisemitism were not taken seriously due to members of the meetings conflating Jewish people with “white identities.”

They said that when discussing an incident that took place in May 2020 where Zoombombers hijacked a Zoom call with racist epithets and swastikas, the racist abuse was talked about but not the swastikas.

When questioned as to why, the counsellors were allegedly told that it was because, as Jews, they could “hide behind their white identity.”

In addition to this, when swastikas were discovered on the University’s Memorial Church last July, they were also not addressed. Another complaint included that a speaker at one of the anti-racist meetings was said to have linked Jewish people with white supremacy.

They also alleged that they were pressured into attending the programme’s “whiteness accountability” group.

In their complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Dr. Albucher and Ms Levin said that the programme, known as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, “has created and fostered a hostile work environment for Jewish staff due to severe and persistent harassment.”

They went on to state that the programme “relies upon a narrative that presumes all white people are consciously or unconsciously to blame for system racism in the workplace and in society at large,” and “perceives all Jews as white.”

They also felt as though the members of the programme painted Jewish people as “wealthy and powerful business owners” – a common antisemitic trope – and when Dr Albucher stated in meetings that antisemitism was a real issue, he was accused of “derailing” the discussions.

A spokesperson for the University said: “Stanford forcefully rejects antisemitism in all its forms.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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As National Education Union plays down role of Warsaw Ghetto vandal in organising antisemitism training, CAA can reveal the sessions were led by two Jewdas activists

Jewish groups have expressed outrage at the involvement of a Warsaw Ghetto graffiti vandal in the organisation of antisemitism training for the National Education Union (NEU). Although the NEU insisted that Ewa Jasiewicz had no say over the content or delivery of the sessions, Campaign Against Antisemitism can reveal that they were led by two fringe Jewdas activists.

The three-part course was organised by Ewa Jasiewicz, through the North West Black Member Organising Forum of the NEU.

Ms Jasiewicz is infamous for spraying the slogan “Free Gaza and Palestine” on the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto in 2010. The vandalism breached the International Definition of Antisemitism and was roundly condemned by the Jewish community. Now with the NEU, Ms Jasiewicz was previously a union organiser with Unite and has spoken at an event with the pro-Corbyn pressure group, Momentum. She has previously had to apologise for comments that appeared to incite terrorism, and Jeremy Corbyn has reportedly called her a “very good friend”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to the NEU about Ms Jasiewicz’s involvement in the course. In a reply from the Joint General Secretaries of the union, Mary Bousted and the outspoken Kevin Courtney insisted that Ms Jasiewicz “facilitated the organisation of the event at the request of members but had no role in deciding or delivering the content of any sessions.”

However, Campaign Against Antisemitism can reveal who did lead the sessions and their content.

The course leaders, Eran Cohen, who works in the tech centre and is an Education Officer for the United Tech and Allied Workers, and arts activist Keziah Berelson, have both been involved in the far-left fringe Jewish group, Jewdas, and either support or have defended BDS — the campaign to boycott the Jewish state — the tactics of which an overwhelming majority of British Jews find intimidating. Mr Cohen is reportedly a self-professed anti-Zionist who has previously been described as a ‘Jewish’ Jeremy Corbyn.

Jewdas is a fringe Jewish group which appears to pride itself, as its name suggests, in taking positions that many in the Jewish community would see as a betrayal. For example, it has suggested that Campaign Against Antisemitism is run as a money-making scam by its volunteers, has said that “Israel is itself a steaming pile of sewage which needs to be properly disposed of”, and claimed that those calling out antisemitism in the Labour Party are “playing a dangerous game with people’s lives” before claiming that the entire crisis is a “bout of faux-outrage” that “is the work of cynical manipulations by people whose express loyalty is to the Conservative Party and the right wing of the Labour Party”.

The three online sessions, all held in May, were billed as part of the NEU’s “ongoing antiracist organising and racial literacy-building work in the region”. They were intended to “place an emphasis on antisemitism’s self-perception as ‘punching upwards’, in contrast to other forms of racism which ‘punch down’,” with the first session exploring the history of antisemitism, the second on alleged racism within the Jewish community and the third on intersectionality.

The reading materials for the sessions included a video by the late former Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, who was described as a “prominent right-wing rabbi”, despite his long working relationships with two Labour Prime Ministers; excerpts from Judith Butler, a far-left academic who is involved in the highly controversial and fringe American group, Jewish Voice for Peace; extracts from work by Hannah Arendt and Jean-Paul Sartre, both of whom had controversial views on antisemitism; writings by a French Marxist philosopher known for his harsh criticism of Israel; and other materials from Jewish Voice for Peace and the Jewish Anarchist ‘Treyf’ podcast.

With the exception of the video from Rabbi Sacks and some material from Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum, almost all of the resources were from fringe and unrepresentative authors and, in some cases, from groups widely considered to be hostile to the Jewish community.

Campaign Against Antisemitism sought to contact Mr Cohen and Ms Berelson for comment.

It is absolutely extraordinary that these course leaders and these materials could be deemed appropriate for antisemitism training. The fact that Ms Jasiewicz was not directly involved in selecting the resources or delivering the sessions is no reassurance given that the speakers — who may well have been contracted by her — appear to have provided a warped view of what antisemitism is. This is all the more concerning given the dire relations between several trade unions — including the NEU — with the Jewish community.

Recently, Jewish teachers have lamented that the NEU has failed them, with a significant number resigning their membership en masse. One Jewish teacher has also recently complained that the NEU classes him as black, notwithstanding his protestations. It is unclear whether that is why a course on antisemitism was being organised by the North West Black Member Organising Forum.

In their reply to Campaign Against Antisemitism, the Joint General Secretaries said: “The NEU has a proud record of tackling racism and antisemitism. Like other forms of racism antisemitism is on the rise and needs to be urgently tackled. Our website points to teaching and learning resources to support teachers and leaders in tackling antisemitism in education.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The involvement of the notorious Warsaw Ghetto graffiti vandal, Ewa Jasiewicz, in arranging antisemitism training for the NEU is insulting enough. Regardless of the precise level of her participation, inviting two fringe figures to lead the sessions with resources from utterly misleading and highly controversial sources shows that the NEU is not serious about tackling antisemitism at all. It is no wonder that we routinely receive complaints from Jewish members of this union and others in the sector and that Jewish teachers have lately resigned en masse from the NEU. If these sessions reflect what the NEU believes antisemitism is, it has no hope of attracting these teachers to return.

“We would urge teachers, union officials are others who are interested in learning about antisemitism to contact us for training or consult our website and resources or those of other mainstream Jewish organisations or antisemitism specialists.

“If you rely on fringe figures for education on antisemitism, your perspective on anti-Jewish racism will be accordingly fringe and you will not be able to show the real solidarity with your Jewish colleagues that a union is supposed to instil.”

Campaign Antisemitism has produced teachers’ guides for classes on antisemitism, which have been endorsed by the BBC. We have also recently produced a short resource for pupils and parents who encounter antisemitism at schools.

Do you or your friends/family have stories of schoolteachers or pupils facing antisemitism at schools in the UK? Contact us at [email protected] or call +44 (0)330 822 0321.

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Evidence emerges that second convoy did again lead to antisemitism on streets of London

Evidence has emerged that the second ‘Free Palestine’ convoy did lead to antisemitism on the streets of London.

A visibly Jewish man has revealed that one driver in the 35-car convoy shouted ‘Free Palestine’ at him and another beeped their car horn.

The incident took place on Shabbat on Finchley Road.

The victim, who was targeted by the convoy because he wears a kippah, wrote on Twitter: “I walked down Finchley Road today wearing my kippa (Jewish skullcap) & one member of #Convoy4Palestine shouted ‘Free Palestine’ at me & another blew a horn at me. You are entitled to demonstrate for your cause but not to do so at people who are visibly Jewish. That is antisemitism.”

Finchley Road was also where participants in the previous ‘Free Palestine’ convoy last month shouted “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters” through megaphones. Four men were arrested and bailed over the former incident and an alleged antisemitic incident committed in Manchester before the convoy arrived in London. Other incidents of antisemitic intimidation and even a car ramming were also reported in connection with the convoy.

The police declined a request by Campaign Against Antisemitism, supported by legal representations, to ban the returning convoy.

The convoy ultimately joined an antisemitism-infested demonstration at Downing Street that was addressed by the antisemitic former Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Torah ark desecrated with swastika graffiti in Frankfurt airport

A Torah ark in Frankfurt airport was desecrated with graffiti of a swastika, it was reported on Sunday.

The graffiti on the Torah ark (the cabinet which houses the Torah scrolls) was discovered last week. However, it is unclear as to how long it had been there owing to the fact that the prayer room had not been open for a long time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is simply sad. This hatred of Jews must finally stop,” Germany’s Orthodox Rabbinical Conference said of the incident. “The ugly grimace of antisemitism does not stop even in a highly secured area, at a place of encounter, silence and stopping, where people from all over the world meet briefly while traveling and are in transit.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Research finds over half of American Jews have encountered antisemitism since start of Israel and Hamas conflict

Research has found that over half of American Jews have encountered antisemitism since the start of the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The survey, conducted by the ADL, found that 60% of American Jews personally witnessed “behaviour or comments they deem antisemitic either online or in-person” since the conflict began.

In addition to this, 18% of American Jews said that their personal relationships had suffered in some way due to conversations surrounding the conflict.  

The survey also found that 77% of Jews in America stated that they were now more concerned about antisemitism than before the conflict.

In regard to politicians and groups who have spoken out, only 42% of Jews in America felt that President Joe Biden’s administration had done enough.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently reported on the wave of antisemitism that has continued across the United States, despite President Joe Biden condemning the anti-Jewish violence last month, including physical beatings, intimidation and damage to Jewish businesses and vandalism of synagogues.

According to new research, also conducted by the ADL, antisemitic incidents in the United States were more than double in May 2021 than they were in May 2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Neo-Nazi ex-UKIP member who advocated for murder of Jewish people jailed for eighteen to twenty-three years on terror charges

A neo-Nazi, former UKIP member who advocated for the murder of Jewish people has been jailed for at least eighteen years on terror charges.

Dean Morrice, 34, was found guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court last week on ten counts related to terrorism and explosives.

He was reported to have posted “violent racist, antisemitic and Islamophobic propaganda online and collected the means for making bombs.”

Judge Peter Lodder said: “You have described yourself as a patriot. You are not a patriot, you are a dangerous neo-Nazi, your bigotry and hatred is abhorrent to the overwhelming majority in this country.”

Judge Lodder added that Mr Morrice had attempted to “fool” the court into believing that he was a respectable family man: “You attempted to fool the jury into thinking that you are a family-orientated, caring man who was simply trying to find friends. In the witness box you cried as you spoke of missing your own children. Yet you revelled in the Christchurch mosque massacre in which children as young as three years old were murdered, and glorified Brevijk who slaughtered more than 30 children in Norway.”

Mr Morrice, who previously drove a truck in the army, also reportedly ran a Telegram channel which disseminated virulently antisemitic, neo-Nazi content that encouraged the killing of Jews and other minorities.  

Detective Chief Superintendent Kath Barnes, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: “The evidence in this case has shown that Morrice had a clear extreme right-wing ideology and had terrorist intentions. He was also in possession of terrorist literature including ‘weapon and militia manuals’ and distributed this to further aid his warped ideology and try and encourage others.

“Through dedicated investigation, Morrice was stopped before he was able to carry out any physical act of terror but the evidence showed that he actively encouraged terrorism to others with his toxic ideology and had the intention and potentially the capability to commit one himself.”

Mr Morrice was given a 23-year custodial sentence, of which he will spend a minimum of eighteen years in prison.

Recently, Andrew Dymock, a 24-year-old politics graduate from Aberystwyth University who was accused of creating and running the website of the neo-Nazi System Resistance Network group, was found guilty on twelve terrorism charges.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing South East

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Neo-Nazi group British National Socialist Movement sticker found near Manchester’s Charedi Jewish community

A sticker belonging to the neo-Nazi group, British National Socialist Movement, was found on a lamppost near Manchester’s Charedi Jewish community.

Discovered on 31st May, the sticker was affixed to street furniture on Great Cheetham Street West and bore the symbol of the racist organisation with the words “British Movement Manchester,” along with the group’s website.

Founded during the 1960s and having supposedly dissolved in the early 1980s, the movement exhibited antisemitism and advocated for violence towards ethnic minorities.

The group now appears, however, to have reactivated, with a website currently featuring several antisemitic tropes and images, including references to “globalists” and “cultural Marxists,” praise for Hitler, and images of people performing the Nazi salute.

Last year, we reported that the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think-tank, had published a report noting the “conspiracy theories propagated widely online” in connection with COVID-19 and calls for violence against minority communities, among them Jews. The report observed that “the pandemic has amplified antisemitic tropes and calls for violence against Jewish communities”, and also noted that there have been “calls online by groups such as the British National Socialist Movement for the virus to be ‘weaponised’”.

Last year, members of the proscribed National Action group were sentenced to prison, having engaged, amongst other activities, in far-right stickering and recruitment campaigns. Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to monitor and report on far-right stickering campaigns.

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Wave of antisemitism continues across United States despite President Joe Biden’s condemnation of anti-Jewish violence last month

A wave of antisemitism has continued across the United States, despite President Joe Biden condemning the anti-Jewish violence last month.

The United States’ recent rise in antisemitic incidents began in early May. Incidents such as Holocaust memorials being defaced and hateful messages like “welcome to Treblinka” being scrawled inside residence blocks were becoming more frequent, in addition to other, well-publicised incidents.

It was reported on 1st June that police were investigating two incidents of vandalism that took place at Harvard University’s Hillel group’s Reisman Center in the Rosovsky Hall campus building. In one incident, a Palestinian Authority flag which bore anti-police slogans was zip-tied to the front door of Rosovsky Hall. The other incident saw one of the hall’s windows shattered. Harvard Hillel’s Rabbi Jonah C. Steinberg said: “The essence of Harvard Hillel is a welcoming, inclusive, and resilient togetherness, which I regard as indomitable in the face of hatred and violence.”

Harvard University President, Larry Bacow condemned the antisemitic acts perpetrated against the Jewish group. Mr Bacow said: “As the words of Revered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remind us, ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ It is our collective responsibility to speak out and condemn such acts of hatred and bigotry. Let us work together to build a better Harvard and a better nation.”

The University of Toledo was another university that saw an antisemitic incident, this time in the form of a swastika spray-painted on its pavement. Reported on 3rd June, police said it was not clear who committed the act of vandalism. “Acts that promote hate and seek to make members of our campus feel unsafe and unwelcome have absolutely no place in our community,” said the University of Toledo’s Hillel group. “We are engaging with the university administration, including Student Affairs, and will continue to work with our students, alumni, and administration to ensure our campus remains a safe place for Jewish students to live, study and celebrate Jewish life.” 

Elsewhere, a Zoom lecture last week hosted by the City University of New York was infiltrated by protestors who made antisemitic comments, stating that Israel used the Holocaust as a “tool.” A Zoombomber wrote: “The Holocaust has been used as a tool. The fear of antisemitism as the fear of ‘this could happen again’ is being used pre-emptively to oppress and kill others.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously reported on the phenomenon of ‘Zoom bombing’ and has urged communal institutions to take precautions to safeguard against antisemitic disruption of online events.

Universities have not been the only recipients of antisemitic vandalism, as synagogues, private establishments and public property have also sadly been targets.  

Antisemitic graffiti was discovered on buildings in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood, including an offensive caricature of a Jewish man with horns and exaggerated facial features. Dan Goldwin, Executive Director of Public Affairs for the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago, said: “There’s enough that divides us. We need to find some things that unite us. What happened here a path a block from this synagogue is not going to help.”

In San Francisco, Manny’s Café, a Jewish-owned restaurant, was defaced with graffiti bearing the words “Racist Pigz,” “Zionist Pigz,” and Free Palestine.

Elsewhere, police are also investigating after two synagogues in Arizona were desecrated in under a month. In late May, a rock was thrown through the glass door of the Congregation Chaverim, smashing it, and last week, the Chabad on River synagogue was vandalised with the antisemitic slur “dirty kyke” and daubed with a red swastika. On Twitter, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey wrote: “This is terrible. Antisemitism has NO place in Arizona and this behaviour cannot be tolerated. We are ensuring the authorities are aware of this hateful act. Those responsible must be held accountable. Arizona stands with those of the Jewish faith.”

Worryingly, incidents have not been limited to antisemitic graffiti, but have spread to violent attacks as well.

In New York, police are searching for three suspects on motorcycles involved with an antisemitic hate crime and attempted robbery which took place at the start of the month. The men demanded money from the twenty-one-year-old Jewish victim, who then proceeded to call the police. At this point, the men on motorcycles stole his kippah and drove off.

It was also reported last week that six Jewish teenagers were shot with paintball guns in Beachwood, Ohio, although police are not yet treating this as a hate crime.

However, Jewish groups and their allies have been standing up to such hateful bigotry. In addition to recent rallies in Connecticut, Florida, and Michigan, others have been held in North Carolina and Ohio.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, the event titled an “Evening of Unity, Solidarity and Prayer” was organised by Rabbi Zalmy Dubinsky of Chabad Young Professionals Raleigh. Rabbi Dubinsky said: “There’s a lot of Wikipedia pages of people throughout history and nations throughout history that have tried to destroy the Jewish people, and they’re nothing but footnotes in history.” He added. But here, ‘’am Yisrael chai’, we’re alive, we’re well and we’re proud, and we will stay that way.”

In Cincinnati, Ohio, weeks after bakers from Greater Cincinnati were joined by colleagues around the world to fundraise for a Holocaust museum in the Ohio city, residents held a rally against antisemitism called “Under the Tent.” Zahava Rendler, a Holocaust survivor, spoke of her experiences and her resilience. She said: “My name and religion were taken away from me. I was treated like an animal, forced into hiding, separated from my parents and sister,” before adding: “But I survived…now, with rising antisemitism around the world, I’m not afraid…I’m not a victim anymore.”

According to new research conducted by the ADL, antisemitic incidents in the United States were more than double in May 2021 than they were in May 2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project

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Call for heightened security after Béziers Jews receive death threats and antisemitic abuse

An anonymous letter describing Jews as “the cancer of humanity” and threatening to attack a full synagogue with “two Kalashnikovs” was sent to the small Jewish community of Béziers in southern France, it was revealed last week.

The letter, containing further antisemitic abuse and death threats to local politicians, prompted both America’s eminent Wiesenthal Centre and France’s National Bureau of Vigilance Against Antisemitism (BNVCA) to express solidarity with the community President.

After telling the community President in an anonymous letter that he “detests this s****y race” and that Jews are “parasites and the cancer of humanity,” the writer references the massacre at Paris’ Bataclan Theatre which was attacked by terrorists in November 2015, leaving 130 dead. The anonymous writer said he had ”bought two Kalashnikovs” and a lot of ammunition “just for you” and would “wait until the synagogues will be full of vermin” so that he could “do a bigger carnage than at the Bataclan.” The Bataclan was Jewish-owned and often hosted Jewish events.

He then threatened to “go see my dear friend”, Béziers Mayor Robert Ménard, “his wife and his councillos [sic] and will empty my magazines on them.” He signed off: “See you very soon my friends.”

Dr Shimon Samuels, the Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, stressed that this was “not simply an example of hateful intent to commit murder,” but was “clearly antisemitic” and “inspired by Jihadi terrorism.”

“We express solidarity with those under menace in Béziers and call for heightened security from police forces and a rapid arrest of the author of this terrorist and antisemitic death threat,” declared Dr Samuels.

His letter also noted that the inclusion of the Mayor and his wife and councillors in the list of potential victims “confirms the author’s apocalyptic intentions” as well as hinting at “a wannabe lone-wolf terrorist.” He added that representatives of the Wiesenthal Centre would be present in Paris in September when the trial proceedings begin of accomplices allegedly involved in the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project

Image credit: French National Bureau of Vigilance Against Antisemitism via the Simon Wiesenthal Centre

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Neo-Nazi Andrew Dymock found guilty on twelve terrorism charges

Andrew Dymock, a 24-year-old politics graduate from Aberystwyth University who was accused of creating and running the website of the neo-Nazi System Resistance Network group, has been found guilty on twelve terrorism charges.

During the trial at the Old Bailey, the court heard that Mr Dymock wrote and shared several antisemitic and hate-motivated articles through the website. He was being prosecuted for fifteen offences including encouraging terrorism through the use of propaganda.

One article was allegedly titled “Join your local Nazis”, while another, “The Truth about the Holocaust”, said that “the only guilt felt by the Germanic race in regard to the Holocaust should be that we did not finish the job.” The article reportedly went on to say that Jews were a “cancer on this earth…that must be eradicated in its entirety”. Numerous antisemitic stereotypes and tropes were also said to have been included, such as conspiracy theories about Jewish control of the banks and the Government.

Another article reportedly written by Mr Dymock read that white people needed to “wake up and bring slaughter to Europa, cleansing it of the unclean filth that pollutes her lands”.

System Resistance Network is the successor to National Action, which the government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Mr Dymock was convicted of a total of fifteen offences, which include five counts of encouraging terrorism, four of disseminating terrorist publications, two of terrorist fundraising, one of possessing material useful to a terrorist, one of possessing racially inflammatory material, one of stirring up racial hatred, and one of stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.

During the trial, Mr Dymock denied all charges, stating: “I’m doing my dissertation on the rise of nationalism and why, and how, ranging from moderate to extreme. I kind of thought I might as well start preparing for my third year in advance.”

Mr Dymock told jurors “thank you for killing me” as they delivered their verdicts.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for 24th June.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

Image credit: Crown Prosecution Service

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Czech Republic sees rise in online antisemitism

The Federation of the Jewish Communities of the Czech Republic has reported a rise in antisemitism, though still believed that antisemitism was at a relatively low level compared with other European countries and remained safe for Jews.

In its annual report, the Federation said that 2020 had seen 874 antisemitic incidents compared with around 690 the previous year. Some 98 percent, however, took place online and included conspiracy theories and antisemitic groups and individuals who blamed Jews for the pandemic and claimed that vaccination served Jewish financial interests.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

While noting that the vast majority of anti-Jewish hatred was online, it said that in 2020 there had been one physical attack, one attack on Jewish property, and six incidents involving antisemitic threats, harassment and verbal insults.

The report stated that its “analysis of violent antisemitic attacks and the profiles of their perpetrators” confirmed that “a violent act” was invariably preceded by “expressions of hatred vented on the internet, especially on social media.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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French President Emmanuel Macron assaulted on camera by members of public who allegedly had weapons and copy of Mein Kampf at home

The French President Emmanuel Macron was assaulted on camera earlier this week by members of the public, one of whom was later found to have had a copy of Adolf Hitler’s antisemitic Mein Kampf in his home.

Whilst greeting a crowd in the French commune of Tain-l’Hermitage, President Macron shook the hands of a man who then slapped him across the face with his free hand.

Two suspects, both 28-years-old, were arrested. One is accused of slapping President Macron and the other of filming the incident.

Investigators reportedly found the copy of Mein Kampf, along with weapons, in the house of the suspected cameraman. The weapons were said to have been a sword, a dagger, and a collector’s rifle.

The man who slapped President Macron is believed to have an interest in far-right groups.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

We are seeking to recruit a General Counsel a Creative Communications and Events Officer a Communications and Research Manager an Education and Outreach Intern to join our London office

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Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Everything that we do is done by people who volunteer their time, using donations contributed by members of the public. Join the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to our updates, volunteering, or donating.