, , ,

UN says UNRWA has fired nine employees over involvement in Hamas attack on 7th October

The United Nations has announced that nine employees of the controversial UN agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), have been fired over alleged involvement in the Hamas terror attack in Israel on 7th October 2023.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said that “the evidence was sufficient” regarding the nine individuals “to conclude that they may have been involved” in the 7th October attacks.

The UN Office of Internal Oversight Services commissioned an investigation into nineteen UNRWA employees who were allegedly involved in the massacre, when Hamas terrorists and other Gazan terror groups rampaged across southern Israel, murdering some 1,200 people and abducting some 250 hostages.

The UN investigation connected nine employees to the terrorist attacks. In nine other cases, the agency found the evidence to be “insufficient” to “support” the employee’s involvement.

All nine dismissed staff members were understood to be men.

Mr Haq said that “any participation in the attacks” was a “tremendous betrayal of the sort of work that we are supposed to be doing on behalf of the Palestinian people”.

In March, Israel claimed that 450 of UNRWA’s 14,000 personnel in Gaza were members of terrorist groups. Many countries, including the UK, paused funding to UNRWA amid allegations that the agency aided Hamas terrorists.
UNRWA employs 30,000 staff members across the Middle East.

Israel has been aware for several years that Hamas uses UNRWA facilities in Gaza – including its schools – to store weapons, and as bases to run terrorist operations against Israel. The Israeli military claims that in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Hamas terrorists were found in UNRWA’s central logistics compound alongside UN vehicles. A group of 3,000 teachers working in Gaza for UNRWA even praised the 7th October Hamas attack. UNRWA-operated schools in Gaza have also been accused of teaching children antisemitism and hatred of Israel.

In June, more than 100 Israeli victims of the 7th October terrorist attacks sued UNRWA, alleging that the agency “knowingly provided material support to Hamas in Gaza.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

, , ,

UN finally issues mild condemnation of antisemitism

77 years since it was established, the United Nations has finally passed a resolution that includes a condemnatory reference to antisemitism.

The joint UK-United Arab Emirates resolution –  Security Council resolution 2686 on Tolerance and International Peace and Security – expressed “deep concern” at discrimination, including antisemitism.

The four-page resolution made a solitary reference to antisemitism in one paragraph, which read: “Expressing deep concern at instances of discrimination, intolerance and extremism, manifesting in the form of hate speech or violence based on race, sex, ethnicity or religion or belief, such as but not limited to persons belonging to religious communities, in particular cases motivated by Islamophobia, antisemitism or Christianophobia, and other forms of intolerance which may occur in the lead up to, during, and in the aftermath of armed conflict, and in that regard, recognising the efforts of the United Nations system to address hate speech at the national and global level.”

The resolution was passed by the fifteen-member Security Council on 14th June.

The UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador James Kariuki said: “Freedom of religion or belief, including the freedom not to have a religion, is a fundamental human right. And yet religious minorities have time and time again been specifically targeted.”

A spokesperson for the UAE said: “Among a number of other firsts, resolution 2686 is the first UN Security Council resolution to directly refer to antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Christianophobia, and also the first resolution to acknowledge that hate speech, racism, and extremism have the potential to stoke tensions, fuel grievances, and descend into conflict. The resolution acknowledges these phenomena as threat-multipliers and really is an unprecedented step forward for the Council.”

While the inclusion of a condemnation of antisemitism in a UN resolution for the first time in over three-quarters of a century is momentous, the resolution cannot reasonably be said to represent a recognition of the scale of the rise in anti-Jewish racism in recent years, let alone decades, nor of the UN’s role and that of many of its members in enabling it.

The resolution comes after the UN delayed a conference on combating antisemitism amid concerns from groups around the world, including Campaign Against Antisemitism, that the UN might fail to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism and thereby undermine the fight against the world’s oldest hatred.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

, ,

United Nations is right to postpone conference on antisemitism if it does not intend to adopt International Definition of Antisemitism

A United Nations conference on antisemitism scheduled for next week has been postponed.

The conference, due to take place on 20th and 21st June in Spain, was organised to unveil the United Nations Action Plan on Monitoring Antisemitism and Enhancing a System-wide Response.

However, in a letter dated 9th June and sent to conference participants, Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilisations, who is leading the UN’s work on antisemitism, said: “After very careful consideration and aiming to ensure the action plan is inclusive and benefits from the inputs of all stakeholders, I would like to allow more time for further work and finalisation of the plan during summer 2023.”

The meeting is postponed until September, with no date set.

The postponement came amid concerns on the part of the Israeli mission to the UN and Jewish organisations relating to the content of the draft plan.

In particular, the draft plan, three years in the making, reportedly gives equal space and weight to the International Definition of Antisemitism, Jerusalem Declaration and the Nexus Document. This is despite the fact that, whereas the Definition has the support of Jewish communities around the world and the state of Israel and has been adopted by numerous national governments, multinational organisations and provincial and local governments and public bodies around the world, the Jerusalem Declaration is a wrecking document intended to undermine the globally-recognised Definition, and the Nexus Document is a fringe alternative definition which also exists solely and explicitly to undermine the Definition and create space for certain far-left expressions of antisemitism.

For this reason, Campaign Against Antisemitism and swaths of Jewish organisations wrote to the UN urging the adoption of the Definition alone.

The draft plan references the Definition and the two fringe alternatives, and urges UN member states to formulate an acceptable definition, despite the fact that the Definition was drafted over many years and has already been adopted by numerous member states on various continents, and enjoys the support of Jewish communities across the world.

It is understood that Mr Moratinos did not consult with the Israeli mission to the UN or the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and did not even invite the Israeli ambassador to the UN to the conference.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “When it comes down to it, the UN plan really has only one primary purpose: to stand with the Jewish people by adopting the International Definition of Antisemitism, alone, in full and without caveat. If the UN is unable to do that, there is no point in yet another conference and report that will serve only to muddy the waters and undermine the fight against the world’s oldest hatred. The UN’s reputation in the Jewish world depends on what it does next.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

, , ,

Roger Waters begins concert by announcing he is not antisemitic before making comparison between Nazis to Israel

Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd musician, reportedly began a recent concert in Berlin by announcing that he is not antisemitic, shorty before making comparisons between the Nazis to Israel.

At one point during the concert, various names are displayed on large screens. A journalist at the concert reported that Anne Frank’s name was prominently displayed, alongside the statement that her “punishment” for the “crime” of “being Jewish” was “death”.

In an identical format, the name Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist who was shot last year, was displayed next to text that states her “punishment” for the “crime” of “being Palestinian” was “death”.

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

His announcement that he is not an antisemite arrived in the wake of a court ruling which stated that the city of Frankfurt, which made headlines after it labelled Mr Waters “one of the most widely known antisemites in the world,” was not able to cancel his concert.

This is not the first time that Mr Waters has felt the need to proclaim that he is not antisemitic.

Last year, we reported that Mr Waters repeatedly denied being an antisemite whilst also breaching the Definition on an episode of the podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.

Throughout the podcast, Mr Waters, who has a long record of baiting Jews, claimed he has repeatedly been accused of being an antisemite due to his anti-Israel position. 

Joe Rogan, the podcast’s host, seemingly agreed with Mr Waters, saying: “By calling you an antisemite, they just stop the conversation dead in its tracks cause that’s an indefensible position.”

“Exactly. And you’re not allowed to say ‘I’m not’,” Mr Waters replied. 

Going on to address a past concert in which he unveiled a balloon pig with a Star of David emblazoned on its side, he said: “‘Oh, you once put the Star of David on the side of a pig in a show.’ Yeah but I also put the hammer and sickle, and the crescent, and whatever, and a dollar sign. 

“‘Yeah, but you put the…,’ well, it’s a symbol of an oppressive state. I am lumping you in but it’s not just you.” 

In an apparent conflation between the Jewish people and the State of Israel, Mr Waters then stated: “But that is just me criticising the policies of your government and I’m afraid the Star of David does represent the nation that is committing the crime of apartheid every day, and murdering Palestinians every day. Men women and children, every single day.

“So yeah, I did [put the Star of David on the side of a pig], and I’m unapologetic about it.”

Mr Waters complained that “It’s not just me…they smear anyone, anyone, who dares to suggest there’s something bad about their policies. So that’s why the [Definition] is so bad, and so dangerous.”

Taking issue with one of the examples in the Definition, the musician went on to say that the Definition “can’t mean” that the State of Israel should not be criticised for behaving “like people in the past…towards Jews in Northern Europe.” 

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

In 2020, the musician said that Zionism needs to be “removed” and that American leaders are puppets of a Jewish billionaire and that Israel teaches America how to “murder the blacks”. He later apologised for the latter remark.

In 2021, he claimed that antisemitism is “smear sword wielded at behest of the Israeli Government”, stating: “The antisemitism smear sword that was wielded at the behest of the Israeli government, specifically aimed at Jeremy Corbyn because he was left wing and he might turn into a political leader on the left in the United Kingdom who would actually stand up for human rights in general but specifically the rights of working people to represent themselves and have unions.”

Concerningly, Mr Waters is due to perform on several upcoming dates in the United Kingdom.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It says something about Roger Waters that he incessantly needs to insist that he is not an antisemite. He has a penchant for breaching the International Definition of Antisemitism, has claimed that antisemitism is ‘smear sword wielded at behest of the Israeli Government’, and has a long history of baiting Jews. That his show apparently includes a visual equation of Israel to Nazis, which extends his record of making such comparisons, is all the more reason for these venues to steer clear of him. Artistic freedom does not justify hate.”

, ,

Latin American Parliament adopts International Definition of Antisemitism 

The Latin American Parliament has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Two articles of declaration were released by the organisation, which brings together delegates from 23 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The first article states the Parliament’s adoption of the Definition. The second urges its members to “adopt the indicated definition as an active way of combating hate speech and as a tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, as well as to act specifically against Antisemitism.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism applauds the decision, which demonstrates the Latin American Parliament’s solidarity with the Jewish community.

Britain was the first country in the world to adopt the Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism and Lord Pickles worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street. The Latin American Parliament joins a growing list of international organisations and national, provincial and local governments around the world to use the Definition.

, , ,

CAA writes to Secretary-General, joining call by Jewish groups worldwide for UN to adopt International Definition of Antisemitism

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the United Nations’ Secretary-General, backing calls this week by Jewish organisations worldwide for the UN to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism.

The Definition has now been adopted by numerous national governments, multiple US states and Canadian provinces, and cities, municipalities and other public bodies and institutions around the world.

Moreover, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has in the past acknowledged the importance of the Definition, and has previously rightly stated that “antisemitism is not a problem for the Jewish community alone” but rather threatens “all people’s human rights” and that “where there is antisemitism, there are likely to be other discriminatory ideologies and forms of bias.”

A 2019 report by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief astutely observed that antisemitism is the “canary in the coalmine of global hatred” and “toxic to democracy”, and acknowledged the helpfulness of the Definition in identifying and tackling anti-Jewish hatred.

The UN, as is well known, is not immune to the scourge of antisemitism, and indeed is regrettably viewed by many Jews around the world as hostile to our community and insensitive to its needs and aspirations. UN resolutions and activities are often inimical to the welfare of Jewish people, UN officials are routinely revealed to espouse antisemitic views, as we and other organisations have documented over the years, and there are UN-funded organisations that teach hatred and violence towards Jews.

The call from Jewish organisations comes after numerous controversial activist groups called on the UN not to adopt the Definition, despite its support in Jewish communities across the world and its importance in the fight against antisemitism.

Fighting antisemitism may not be popular because Jews are one of the world’s smaller minorities, but if the UN is not able to help protect the world’s more vulnerable communities, then what purpose does it serve?

It therefore behoves the UN to adopt the Definition at its forum on antisemitism in Cordoba next month.

Britain was the first country in the world to adopt the International Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism and Lord Pickles worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street.

,

Mahmoud Abbas accuses Israel of “lying like Goebbels” in his latest equation of Jewish state to Nazis

Mahmoud Abbas, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mazen, has accused Israel of “lying like Goebbels” in his latest equation of the Jewish state to Nazis.

The autocratic President of the Palestinian Authority made the claim in a speech to the United Nations this week to mark “Nakba Day” (“Catastrophe Day”), which bewails the establishment of the Jewish state.

In an hour-long speech – double his allotted time – Mr Abbas said: “Israeli and Zionist claims continue by saying that Israel made the desert bloom. As if Palestine was a desert and they made the desert bloom. These are lies. They continue to lie, like Goebbels, and they continue to lie until people believe their lies.”

Joseph Goebbels was the Nazi Propaganda Minister. According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Mr Abbas also denied the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, despite it being the holiest site in Judaism for millenia and the site of the two ancient Jewish temples. He claimed that the Israelis have “been digging for 30 years to find any evidence or proof of the existence” of a Jewish connection to the area. “They haven’t found anything,” he falsely said, in the face of abundant evidence to the contrary. “Al-Sharif belongs exclusively to the Muslims,” he said, referring to the Temple Mount by an Arabic appellation.

Mr Abbas also called for the suspension of the Jewish state from the United Nations.

Numerous countries refused to attend the propagandist event altogether, including the UK, United States and Canada, with several others lowering their level of representation.

Last year, the German Chancellor condemned remarks by Mr Abbas in Berlin that Israel had committed “50 Holocausts”. Chancellor Olaf Schultz later said that the comment disgusted him, and Mr Abbas partially walked the comment back.

Decades ago, Mr Abbas argued in his faux doctoral dissertation in the Soviet Union that the Zionist movement and its leaders were “fundamental partners” of the Nazis and shared equal responsibility for the Holocaust.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

, , ,

Amnesty International urges UN not to adopt International Definition of Antisemitism in latest act of hostility toward Jews

In its latest act of hostility toward the Jewish world, Amnesty International has urged the United Nations not to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Amnesty International has signed on to letter to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, that was originally published on 3rd April. The group joins over 100 other far-left organisations among the signatories, including the antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation, Jewish Voice for Labour, and the inflammatory activist group Human Rights Watch.

The letter argued that, “If the UN endorses the [International] IHRA Definition in any shape or form, UN officials working on issues related to Israel and Palestine may find themselves unjustly accused of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition,” adding: “We strongly urge the UN not to endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism.”

The letter also claimed that the signatories “look forward to assisting the UN’s efforts to combat antisemitism in a way that respects, protects and promotes human rights.”

Amnesty International and its network of activist groups have come under fire recently over a string of scandals over its activities, personnel and protocols, including claims of systemic racism. It also reportedly refused to sack an official who compared Israel to the Nazis.

Amnesty International has in the past reportedly voted down a motion to fight antisemitism in the UK, although the organisation denies this.

National Governments and public bodies around the world have adopted the Definition, with overwhelming support from local Jewish communities. Britain was the first country in the world to adopt the Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism and Lord Pickles worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street.

,

UN Special Rapporteur on Racism disgracefully discourages adoption of International Definition of Antisemitism

The UN Special Rapporteur on Racism has urged countries to stop adopting the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Earlier this week, E. Tendayi Achiume told the General Assembly’s Third Committee that the push for nations to adopt the Definition should be suspended, saying: “I highlight the controversial status, divisive effects and negative human rights impacts of the [International] Definition [of] Antisemitism.”

Ms Achiume made the remarks in connection with a report that she had submitted to the Committee, which she said focused on the rising dangers of antisemitism, neo-Nazism and racism but which was also critical of the supposed instrumentalisation of tools designed to address those trends. She added: “Precisely because…antisemitism remains an urgent issue of human rights concern, I urge the UN system and UN member states to launch an open and inclusive process.”

Her position was condemned by the United States, Canada and Israel, while the UK, European Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Austria and Italy all reportedly spoke in support of the Definition and its utility in identifying and combatting antisemitism.

An American official accused Ms Achiume’s report of having “politicised the [International] Definition,” while a Canadian diplomat observed that the Definition is carefully crafted to enable a common fight against antisemitism and it is not meant to inhibit the ability to criticise the state of Israel, saying: “Too often the contemporary examples included in the Definition is employed as justification for hatred…online and off and in university campuses and across public discourse.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has shown how the International Definition of Antisemitism does not conflict with freedom of expression under UK law.

The sentiments appeared to conflict those of the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, who said a couple of years ago that antisemitism is the “canary in the coalmine of global hatred” and “toxic to democracy” as he delivered his ground-breaking report titled Combatting Antisemitism to Eliminate Discrimination and Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief.

Earlier this year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres disappointed mainstream Jewish groups for merely “acknowledging” the International Definition of Antisemitism but failing to adopt it.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

,

United Nations investigator claims “Jewish lobby” controls social media in podcast interview

A United Nations investigator, who is tasked with a much-criticised probe into Israel’s conflict with the antisemitic genocidal Hamas terrorist group, is facing calls to end his investigation after he accused the “Jewish lobby” of controlling social media during his appearance on a podcast.

In an interview with David Kattenberg, a contributor to the controversial publication Mondoweiss, Miloon Kothari, who forms part of the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said that “We are very disheartened by the social media that is controlled largely by the Jewish lobby or specific NGOs.”

Jewish groups have described Mr Kothari’s comments as “appalling” and “outrageous and absurd”.

The US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, also described the comments as “outrageous”.

The Israeli Government has cited Mr Kothari’s reference to a trope about excess Jewish power as indicative of his unfitness to lead the investigation, and as evidence of UN bias.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

, , ,

Antisemitic conspiracy theory goes unchallenged on BBC World Service

The BBC World Service has been accused of failing to ensure its foreign-language content meets BBC editorial guidelines after a presenter on the BBC World Service failed to challenge an antisemitic conspiracy theory advanced on air by a Somali politician.

The BBC Somali Service is part of the London-based BBC World Service. In an edition of a programme called Dooda Jimcaha broadcast on 18th December on the Somali Service, the Somali MP Mohamed Omer Dalha claimed that there was a conspiracy against Somalia by “Jews running these affairs both in the West and the East.”

According to the translation of the segment for CAMERA UK by Dr Moshe Terdiman, Founder and Research Director on Islam and Muslims in Africa, the assertion was not challenged by the presenter.

A CAMERA spokesperson said that such antisemitic statements “should have no place in BBC content,” adding that this case once again “raises questions concerning the ability of the BBC World Service to oversee the foreign-language content put out in its name and ensure that it meets BBC editorial guidelines.”   

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.

,

New study finds UNRWA education materials filled with antisemitism and incitement

Research into the educational materials used by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has discovered that the content contains antisemitic prejudice and the glorification of terrorism. The recent study was conducted by the research body IMPACT-se, which monitors school curricula on a global scale.

The report claims that the materials violate the United Nations’ requirements, outlined by the cultural organisation UNESCO, to remain neutral, respect “the other” and pursue peace, in order to refute incitement and potential bias.

It stated further that UNRWA resources actively encourage martyrdom and terrorism, and fail to condemn the use of violence. The idea of a Jewish state is described as “the Enemy” and multiple conspiracy theories and false claims are mentioned to justify violence. The materials, also included in unrelated subjects such as mathematics, reportedly seek to demonise the Jewish community and undermine Jewish history and culture.

Some of the resources have allegedly been copied from Palestinian Authority textbooks that have received significant criticism for their overtly antisemitic views.

UNRWA educational materials are used to teach over 500,000 children.

IMPACT-se concluded that the content of UNRWA educational materials undermines “any facade of UN-mandated neutrality”.

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.

, ,

New UN budget includes provision to mark notorious Durban conference that tried to equate Zionism with racism

The UN General Assembly has approved an operating budget that includes money to commemorate an event which has been widely described as antisemitic.

Despite protests from the United States, the $3.231 billion budget containing a provision to mark the notorious 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, was approved. The General Assembly voted 167 in favour, with only the United States and Israel voting against.

Kelly Craft, the US Ambassador to the UN, accused the world body of “extending a shameful legacy of hate, antisemitism, and anti-Israel bias” by supporting an official event to mark the infamous Durban conference during the next General Assembly session.

The Durban conference was dominated by clashes over the Middle East. The US and Israel walked out over a draft resolution that equated Zionism with racism. The language was amended in the final documents, but the conference was seen as the beginnings of the boycott of Israel known as BDS, the tactics of which an overwhelming majority of British Jews believe are intimidatory.

The UN regular budget is funded on a sliding scale with the US paying the largest share. In September, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to the 193 member states warning that UN operations were under great pressure due to a “deepening liquidity crisis” exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. That being said, the approved budget was higher than the draft budget that he had proposed.

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

,

“Hitler hoodies” taken down by major online retailer VOVA following backlash

The major online retailer VOVA has recently removed controversial “Hitler hoodies” from its website after their sale sparked significant outrage. The popular webpage had listed the item described as “Men’s Casual Adolf Hitler Funny Graphic Hoodies”.

Dr. Shimon Samuels of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre wrote to the company’s headquarters in London and Hong Kong as well as its press office in Paris. He stated that, “the banalisation of this archetype of hate and discrimination is scathing” and the global clothing retailer had subsequently “betrayed” and undermined its identity as a “trusted company”.

It was recommended that VOVA immediately destroy all supplies of the “Hitler hoodie” and terminate all contacts with the distributor following internal investigations.

On its website the item of clothing is currently listed as “out of stock” and the company has said that the product has been permanently removed. VOVA has declined to comment further and has not issued an apology despite concerns that the hoodies may be used as merchandise for neo-Nazi and white supremacist hate.

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.

,

Social media platform Omegle criticised as “Wild West” of the internet for allegedly hosting antisemitic, racist and other abusive encounters

Video chat platform Omegle is being described as the “Wild West” of the internet for allegedly hosting antisemitic, racist and other abusive encounters.

The extreme racism on the Omegle platform came to light as some users apparently became “social media vigilantes” to record and share their encounters on the platform. Unlike mainstream social-media platforms, Omegle allegedly does not have policies for reporting users’ behaviour if they violate its terms of service. Also, as an account is not needed, the platform affords anonymity.

Though founded in 2009, Omegle was barely known until recently, as searches for the site soared in November and December following the publication of videos with the Omegle hashtag were posted on another social media platform, TikTok, and garnered millions of views.

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.

, , ,

Senior United Nations official asks whether Labour politician pledging to Jewish audience that she will fight antisemitism has also ‘offered solidarity to Palestinians’

A senior official at the United Nations has tweeted to ask whether a Labour Party politician pledging to a Jewish audience that she will fight antisemitism has also ‘offered solidarity to Palestinians’.

Mark Seddon is media advisor to the President of the General Assembly and has previously worked as a speechwriter for a former UN Secretary-General, as well as for Al Jazeera as its UN correspondent.

Mr Seddon was reacting to a report on Twitter that Labour’s Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner, told a Jewish group: “If I have to suspend thousands and thousands of members, we will do that. Because we cannot and we will not accept an injury to one, because an injury to one is an injury to all.” Ms Rayner was referring to attempts to address Labour’s scandal of institutional antisemitism.

Mr Seddon replied to the tweet saying: “Today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Has Angela Rayner recorded her support and solidarity for those being oppressed? A genuine question.”

There is no interpretation of Mr Seddon’s question, given its context, other than that he sees efforts to combat antisemitism in the UK as somehow connected to or even contrary to certain stances on Middle Eastern politics, and that Ms Rayner had no moral authority to address a domestic Jewish group on antisemitism without also expressing a position on a foreign policy matter.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel” is an example of antisemitism.

The Jewish community will not be surprised at all that UN officials hold these sorts of views. The media outlets that publish work by Mr Seddon should, however, think twice in future about doing so.

, ,

Facebook and Instagram under pressure following revelation that network of tens of thousands of white supremacists is operating on their platforms

Facebook is under pressure following the revelation that a network of 80,000 white supremacists is operating on its platform, as well as on Instagram, which is owed by Facebook.

The network reportedly includes more than 40 neo-Nazi websites, has links to the far-right in Britain and offers merchandise incorporating Nazi symbols. According to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, which is based in London, these merchandise sales fund two far-right groups in the Ukraine, Azov Battalion and Misanthropic Division.

Azov Battalion is believed to have recruited far-right Britons to fight in the Ukraine, while a British man is facing twelve terror charges after being found in possession of material linked to Misanthropic Division. One of the Azov Battalion’s Facebook pages is called “Gas Chambers”, and visitors are directed to websites where imagery of white skinheads standing next to murdered Jewish and black men are featured, and products for purchase.

According to the Coalition for a Safer Web, Facebook was first warned of this network two years ago and failed to act, and it has only grown since then.

It is understood that after being contacted by The Observer, Facebook reportedly began removing the neo-Nazi material, and a spokesperson has reportedly said: “We have removed the content which violates our policies prohibiting dangerous organisations. We regularly work to improve our technology to find and remove this content faster, and, while there is more work to do, we are making progress. We’ve banned over 250 white supremacist organisations from Facebook and Instagram.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years, continues to urge the Jewish community to remain vigilant and welcomes the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the danger.

,

Global Islamic religious council adopts International Definition of Antisemitism

More than 1,000 Muslim leaders from around the world have agreed to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism.

According to a report in Al Arabiya, the Global Imams Council also made the Beirut-born, New York Rabbi, Elie Abadie, a permanent member of its inter-faith board. The Global Imams Council comprises 1,300 imams from different denominations.  

The Islamic religious leaders’ organisation adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism by “an overwhelming majority,” according to a statement. The move was intended to strengthen “bridges of peace between Islam and all religions.”

Noting that the Council was joining numerous countries that have adopted the Definition, the organisation’s President, Imam Mohammad Baqir al-Budairi, added: “We live in a time of rising antisemitism and terrorist attacks, which makes our responsibility as faith leaders greater.”

The American State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, welcomed the vote. In a statement on Twitter, he thanked the Council for working with him to “banish bigotry”.

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.

, ,

Investigation finds Spotify, Apple, Deezer and YouTube hosted antisemitic and racist music

Several major music streaming platforms have reportedly removed antisemitic and racist music, following an investigation.

The BBC found that sections of speeches by Adolf Hitler, references to white power and celebrations of the Holocaust featured in songs on the platforms, with Spotify, Apple, Deezer and YouTube apparently having now removed them.

One song on Spotify, for example, contained the lyrics: “Aryan child, listen to what is said/ So rise your hand and learn to love your land/ For the white revolution needs your uncorrupted hand.”

According to the BBC, Spotify said that the songs violated its hate content policy, while YouTube reportedly said that there was no place for hate on its platform. Apple Music has apparently hidden the majority of the songs while it investigates, and Deezer is investigating.

Following an antisemitic rampage by the grime artist Wiley over the summer, more than 700 musicians and members of the music industry signed a letter decrying racism.

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.

,

Twitter follows Facebook in banning Holocaust denial

Twitter has confirmed that it will ban and remove posts that endorse Holocaust denial, following Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement last week that Facebook will now enforce a similar policy on its platforms.

A spokesperson for Twitter reportedly said that posts and accounts that “deny or distort” or circulate disinformation on events, including the Holocaust, would be banned under Twitter’s hateful conduct policy. This has also been extended to include the glorification of historical acts of violence, persecution and genocides.

Mr Zuckerberg announced on 12th October that his platform’s revised hate speech policy would prohibit such offensive content and instead direct users to “authoritative sources to get accurate information.” The recent move followed a decision to ban the antisemitic conspiracist movement QAnon, which saw thousands of associated Twitter accounts removed over the last few months as well.

Twitter has assured users that the company will continue to work with a number of partners to tackle antisemitism and hateful conduct across the platform, including NGOs, the Jewish community, governments and several civil society partners.

In a public statement, a spokesperson reportedly said: “We strongly condemn antisemitism, and hateful conduct has absolutely no place on our service. Our Hateful Conduct Policy prohibits a wide range of behaviour, including making references to violent events or types of violence where protected categories were the primary victims, or attempts to deny or diminish such events.”

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.

,

Employee who ran QAnon conspiracy-theory website with 10m visitors sacked

An employee was sacked by one of the world’s leading banking groups after he was found to be running a conspiracy theory website which attracted millions of visitors.

An investigation into Jason Gelinas, an information technology specialist with New York City-based Citigroup, began after a fact checking website showed that Mr Gelinas was the “sole developer and mouthpiece” of a QAnon website. This was apparently in violation of Citigroup’s policy of engaging in paid business activity outside the company. He was put “on leave in mid-September” while the investigation was pending, and was subsequently sacked.

QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory that believes that a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles, consisting of political figures, celebrities and billionaires, is running a global paedophilic ring and plotting against the President, who is planning to make a stand against the secret group.

At the height of its popularity, Mr Gelinas’s  site was attracting ten million visitors a month, according to the traffic-tracking organisation, SimilarWeb. It also reported that the site was receiving around $3,320 (£2,654) a month in donations made via Patreon, a US-based artists’ platform.

The firing came within days of an announcement by Facebook that it will no longer host pages linked to QAnon in line with its policy of stopping the promotion of conspiracy theories.

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

, ,

“With rising antisemitism, we’re expanding our policy to prohibit any content that denies or distorts the Holocaust”: Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg announces that hate speech policy will now include Holocaust denial

The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has just announced that the company’s hate speech policy will now include Holocaust denial.

In his statement, Mr Zuckerberg said: “Today we’re updating our hate speech policy to ban Holocaust denial.

“We’ve long taken down posts that praise hate crimes or mass murder, including the Holocaust. But with rising antisemitism, we’re expanding our policy to prohibit any content that denies or distorts the Holocaust as well. If people search for the Holocaust on Facebook, we’ll start directing you to authoritative sources to get accurate information.

“I’ve struggled with the tension between standing for free expression and the harm caused by minimizing or denying the horror of the Holocaust. My own thinking has evolved as I’ve seen data showing an increase in antisemitic violence, as have our wider policies on hate speech. Drawing the right lines between what is and isn’t acceptable speech isn’t straightforward, but with the current state of the world, I believe this is the right balance.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We welcome this policy announcement from Facebook, which, along with its ban on QAnon conspiracy theories earlier this month, shows that the company is beginning to take antisemitic incitement on its platforms seriously. There is a direct line between online incitement and threats and violence against Jews in the real world, and social media companies must take responsibility for the role that their platforms play in this vicious process.”

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.

,

Facebook removes QAnon conspiracy theory accounts across all platforms and Instagram

The social media platform Facebook stated that as of 6th October all accounts linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory movement would be removed from Facebook pages, groups, advertisements and Instagram accounts.

QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory that believes that a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles, consisting of political figures, celebrities and billionaires, is running a global paedophilic ring and plotting against the President, who is planning to make a stand against the secret group.

Many of QAnon’s conspiracy theories are inspired by the Protocols of the Elders of Zion forgery, a hoax document. Several followers also support theories which draw inspiration from the antisemitic blood libel, claiming that these “elites” drink the blood of abused children to acquire power.

A search engine known as Qresear.ch provides tools to explore posts on 8chan/8kun, QAnon’s former and current ‘host’ platform, comprised of around 14.5 million associated data sources. The term “Jews” when searched generated over 86,000 retrievable antisemitic posts. 

The largest Facebook group dedicated to QAnon had approximately 200,000 members before it was banned in mid-August. The movement gained traction amongst parenting groups through the “#SaveTheChildren” hashtag that was harnessed to recruit and organise concerned users. In June this year, Twitter took similar action and limited features for around 150,000 accounts with links to QAnon.

In a recent statement, Facebook claimed that staff had begun removing inappropriate content and deleting the pages responsible. Restrictions have been placed on over 1,950 Facebook groups and more than 10,000 Instagram accounts. With a Dangerous Organisations Operations team to enforce the introduced regulations, the platform has said that it will actively detect offensive content or disinformation rather than simply relying upon the reports of other users. 

However, it was emphasised that “this will take time and will continue in the coming days and weeks” with traffic to mainstream social media sites increasing during the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

,

Tech giants act to halt online hate for one day only, as they move to block webinar featuring convicted terrorist

Numerous technology companies recently blocked a webinar featuring a convicted terrorist, plane hijacker and member of the violent Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Following protests, Zoom refused to host a webinar featuring Leila Khaled held at San Francisco State University (SFSU) on 23rd September. As a member of the PFLP, Ms Khaled took part in two terrorist hijackings in 1969 and 1970. Opponents of the event noted that the U.S. Government has designated the PFLP as a terrorist organisation and claimed that by hosting Ms Khaled on its service, Zoom was exposing itself to criminal liability for providing “material support or resources” to a terrorist group.

In a statement confirming that it had cancelled the webinar, a Zoom spokesperson said that Ms Khaled’s participation in the webinar potentially breached its terms of service. In light of her membership of “a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organisation…we determined the meeting is in violation of Zoom’s Terms of Service and told SFSU they may not use Zoom for this particular event.”

After Zoom’s ruling, the event organisers turned to Facebook, which also blocked the webinar. YouTube, which is owed by Google, then terminated the live-streamed talk after 22 minutes when Ms Khaled referred to the “right of occupied peoples to fight their occupiers by any means possible, including weapons.” A message appeared stating: “This video is unavailable.” An attempt to stream the event on another YouTube channel was also blocked by the company.

That three of the most significant technology companies in the United States have finally moved to block antisemitic hatred online is a significant and welcome development, and shows the effect that enforcement of American regulations restricting the activities of antisemitic terrorist groups can have.

It is regrettable that SFSU was unrepentant, with the University’s President, Lynn Mahoney, saying in an open letter that the University disagreed with Zoom’s decision but recognised its right as a private company to enforce its policies. She had previously stated that she supported the right of her staff to invite controversial speakers, insisting that “an invitation to a public figure to speak to a class should not be construed as an endorsement of point of view.”

It is notable that the controversial far-left group, IfNotNow, also appeared to regret that the webinar was blocked.

Khaled was scheduled to speak as part of a roundtable discussion entitled “Whose Narratives? Gender, Justice and Resistance.”

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.

, ,

CAA excited to announce launch of international coverage

Campaign Against Antisemitism is excited to announce the international expansion of our unrivalled coverage of antisemitism in the UK.

This significant initiative follows requests from both our British supporters wishing to learn more about antisemitism in other parts of the world and also our growing international audience interested in reading more about antisemitism in their own countries and elsewhere.

Like many of our projects, this international coverage will be volunteer-led, and we are grateful to our new volunteers — men and women of all ages, nationalities and creeds — who have joined Campaign Against Antisemitism to help make this happen. We are also keen to recruit additional volunteers with knowledge of other jurisdictions, fluent readers of foreign languages, and those with writing experience who may be interested to join our growing team.

We are also interested in hearing from you, our supporters, over the coming weeks about how you think this coverage is developing. We hope you find our international coverage of antisemitism informative and useful, and that it motivates you and others to raise awareness and help combat these latest manifestations of the world’s oldest hatred.

, ,

Hacktivist group Anonymous posts antisemitic cartoon by notorious Carlos Latuff suggesting that Israel and the United States use accusations of antisemitism to muzzle criticism of Israel

The hacktivist group known as Anonymous has posted an antisemitic cartoon on Twitter by the notorious Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff.

The cartoon shows two arms, one with an Israeli flag on the cuff and the other with an American flag, using a plaster labelled “antisemitism” to muzzle the mouth of a man wearing a “Free Palestine” bandana. The connotation is that accusations of antisemitism are being cynically used by Israel and the United States to muzzle criticism of Israel.

This notion is an example of the “Livingstone Formulation”, which holds that accusations of antisemitism are bad faith attempts by Jews to stifle criticism of Israel. It was deployed by the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, which is how it earned its name, and it is antisemitic.

The post has been liked over 17,000 times. Anonymous has over 7 million followers on Twitter.

Mr Latuff has previously placed second in Iran’s Holocaust Denial Cartoon Contest, and has drawn other outrageous cartoons, for example a cartoon comparing Israel’s policies to those of the Nazis, in breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism. That cartoon was shared by Baroness Tonge.

This is not the first time Anonymous has shared antisemitic material on social media. Last month, the group posted an image of the antisemitic Freedom for Humanity mural on Facebook.

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.

, ,

A spate of videos featuring teenage girls pretending to be Holocaust survivors is TikTok’s latest antisemitic abomination

Numerous users of the social media video platform TikTok are pretending to be Holocaust survivors in a abominable new antisemitic trend dubbed “trauma porn”.

Some videos feature the user wearing a Star of David or the striped clothing worn by inmates at Nazi concentration camps, while others feature makeup to simulate bruising. Other videos use Auschwitz as a backdrop.

Most of the users are teenage girls and consequently we are not showing the images, although they remain available on TikTok and other social media platforms.

Some of the videos have thousands of views and likes.

However, some users have defended the videos on the basis that they are somehow educational.

One user, for example, has removed her video, saying: “I’ve always been interested in the history of the Holocaust and just wanted to make a creative video informing people about it on TikTok. It was never intended to be offensive.”

Another reportedly said: “I’m very motivated and captivated by the Holocaust and the history of World War II. I have ancestors who were in concentration camps, and have actually met a few survivors from Auschwitz camp. I wanted to spread awareness and share out to everyone the reality behind the camps by sharing my Jewish grandmother’s story.”

Last week, TikTok announced that it had removed 380,000 videos in the United States over violations of its hate speech policy.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously reported on the infestation of far-right videos and Holocaust-denial on TikTok, and has taken action in the past over Holocaust mockery on the platform.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a petition calling for new legislation urgently to introduce a requirement for technology companies to remove racist incitement within set timeframes, a duty of care for social networks with personal liability for executives, and tighter requirements to provide evidence to police under warrant.

The petition can be signed here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333146/

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “These videos are TikTok’s latest antisemitic abomination. The obsession among too many users of the platform with Holocaust mockery and Holocaust denial should be of grave concern to the company, but time and again TikTok shows even greater indifference than other social media networks to the hate spewed on its platform. Tech companies have shown that they are incapable of regulating themselves, which is why we have called on the Government to bring forward an Online Harms bill immediately.”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 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.

, ,

Hacktivist group Anonymous posts antisemitic mural defended by Jeremy Corbyn on social media and Facebook declines to act

Earlier this week, the hacktivist group known as Anonymous posted a picture of an antisemitic mural on Facebook, but when a member of the public brought it to the attention of the social media company, it declined to take any action.

The mural originated on a wall in London’s East End in October 2012 after the Los Angeles-based street artist Mear One painted the image, which featured apparently-Jewish bankers beneath a pyramid often used by conspiracy theorists playing Monopoly on a board carried by straining, oppressed workers, several of whom had dark or black skin. The mural, called Freedom for Humanity, was widely perceived as antisemitic, and was eventually removed.

Former Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn was heavily criticised when it transpired that he had defended the mural. More recently, the same image was approvingly tweeted by the rapper Ice Cube who refused to remove it, and it was used by the Oxford branch of Black Lives Matter to promote an event, but the group retracted the advertisement and apologised.

A concerned member of the public reported the Anonymous post to Facebook, which apparently replied: “Thanks for your report – you did the right thing by letting us know about this. The post was reviewed, and although it doesn’t go against one of our specific Community Standards, we understand that it may still be offensive to you and others. No one should have to see posts they consider hateful on Facebook, so we want to help you avoid things like this in the future.”

We are grateful to the concerned member of the public for bringing this matter to our attention.

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.

, ,

Urban Dictionary removes antisemitic definitions of “anti-Zionism” after campaign by CAA and allies, but offensive definitions continue to be reposted

Urban Dictionary, the online crowd-sourced dictionary of slang words, has deleted antisemitic definitions of “anti-Zionism” following a campaign by online activists, including Campaign Against Antisemitism.

However, while “anti-Zionist” has no definitions and several antisemitic definitions of “anti-Zionism” have been removed and replaced by new, more accurate definitions, a new offensive definition has also arisen.

There is also a new offensive definition of “Zionism”.

During the campaign against the antisemitic definitions, Campaign Against Antisemitism threatened to bring the matter to the attention of advertisers in order to go after Urban Dictionary’s advertising revenue, as we have done before, in order to pressure Urban Dictionary to remove the definitions. We will continue to campaign against anti-Jewish racism on Urban Dictionary and other major websites and social media.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently and successfully pressured advertisers to withdraw from Urban Dictionary due to its promotion of antisemitism, and the website removed a particularly offensive entry as a result. In the past, the website has removed other gratuitously offensive terms, but is generally slow to act against racism on the website.

, ,

Urban Dictionary’s Twitter bot reveals website’s promotion of antisemitism to the world

The robotic Twitter handle of the online crowd-sourced dictionary of slang words known Urban Dictionary has promoted an antisemitic entry on the website about “anti-Zionism”.

If someone sends the Twitter handle a term that features on the controversial website, it will automatically provide a screenshot of the definition.

A Twitter user asked the handle to provide a definition of “Zionism” but instead got a definition for “anti-Zionism”, which read: “Anti-Zionism is in no way connected to antisemitism. To be antizionist is to be anti-fascist. Zionism is based on the idea that millenia old literary myth is the basis for nationhood and that religion (which is a matter of choice) is genetically predetermined, both of which are clearly shite. Zionists believe that they can turn up in a country and kick out the indigenous population, as did Hitler. Zionists are fascist.” (emphasis in original).

The definition has received, at time of writing, 2,715 thumbs up compared to 1,433 thumbs down. These ratings determine how prominent the definition is as opposed to alternative definitions for the same term.

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

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said “Comparing Zionism to Nazism is textbook antisemitism, which has become all too common on Urban Dictionary. Those behind the website have been slow to act against racism on their platform, but in the past we have successfully pressured them to delete gratuitously antisemitic entries by going after their advertisers. We will not hesitate to do so again if Urban Dictionary does not remove this entry and prove that it is capable of administering a site that doesn’t incite hatred.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently and successfully pressured advertisers to withdraw from Urban Dictionary due to its promotion of antisemitism, and the website removed a particularly offensive entry as a result. In the past, the website has removed other gratuitously offensive terms, but is generally slow to act against racism on the website.

, ,

CAA part of global coalition of 140 groups calling on Facebook to adopt International Definition of Antisemitism just as the social media giant says it “wants to listen and learn”

Campaign Against Antisemitism is among 140 groups calling on Facebook to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism just as Facebook told the Chief Rabbi that it “wants to listen”.

In an open letter to the technology company’s board of directors, the international coalition called on Facebook “to implement a hate speech policy on antisemitism that includes the full [Definition]”.

The letter asks whether Facebook “will take responsibility and move toward removing the scourge of antisemitism from today’s most important online public square”.

The letter comes as Facebook has written to the Chief Rabbi agreeing that “we have more to do” and wishing to “listen and learn from those who live with these issues every day”.

Facebook can show that it is listening and learning by heeding the call of the letter and adopting the Definition.

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.

, ,

International Olympics Committee apologises for tweet that appeared to celebrate the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games in Nazi Germany

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has apologised for posting a tweet that appeared to celebrate the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games hosted by Nazi Germany.

To mark the lighting of the Olympic cauldron a year in advance of the postponed Tokyo Games, the IOC tweeted a film about the conclusion of the first-ever Olympic torch relay, when the torch entered the stadium at the Berlin Games.

The 1936 Berlin Olympic Games was used by the Nazi regime to try to sanitise its global image, hide its nascent atrocities and advance its racial ideology. The latter objective was shattered most famously by Jesse Owens, the Black American athlete who won four gold medals at the Games. At least six Jewish athletes – Samuel Balter of the United States, Gyorgy Brody, Miklos Sarkany, Karoly Karpati and Endre Kabos of Hungary and Robert Fein of Austria – also won gold medals in basketball, water polo, wrestling, fencing and weightlifting.

The IOC deleted the tweet and wrote: “We apologize to those who feel offended by the film of the Olympic Games Berlin 1936. We have deleted this film, which was part of the series of films featuring the message of unity and solidarity, from the @Olympics Twitter account.”

Avery Brundage, who led the United States’ team in the Berlin Olympics, served as President of the IOC for twenty years until 1972, and is widely considered to have been a Nazi sympathiser with racist views.

, , ,

Amazon, Google and Wish remove neo-Nazi products

Although racist products are prohibited on Amazon, Google and Wish according to their policies, not only have neo-Nazi items been available for sale, but the platforms’ algorithms have been promoting the white supremacist merchandise.

Amazon was selling a flag with a Celtic Cross, a popular white supremacist symbol, while Wish was selling Ku Klux Klan-themed products and the page was recommending “related items”, such as a hood and a Celtic Cross.

The revelations came following an investigation by the BBC.

The companies each released a statement:

Amazon said: “The products in question are no longer available and we’ve taken action on the bad actors that offered the products and violated our policies.”

Google said: “We don’t allow ads or products that are sold on our platforms that display shocking content or promote hatred. We enforce these policies vigorously and take action when we determine they are breached.”

Wish said: “We are working hard to remove these items and taking additional steps to prevent such items appearing again.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously been in contact with online retailers over neo-Nazi merchandise available for sale.

,

Reinforcing his views, Wiley opens new Instagram account and begins uploading disturbing videos to 250,000 followers on YouTube, as CAA asks Facebook and Google to take him off air

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit is aware that Wiley, who has was finally banned from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram following worldwide outrage, is now uploading disturbing videos to a small Instagram account that appears to be new, and a YouTube channel with almost 250,000 followers.

The videos continue in the same vein as his previous videos and his recent interviews with Sky News and The Voice, a newspaper for the black community, in which he reaffirmed his belief in antisemitic conspiracy theories and bigoted stereotypes about Jews.

For example, in one of the new videos, Wiley demands that an unspecified “you”, which appears from the context to refer to Jews in general, try taking his passport away so that Wiley can see quite how much power Jews have.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Facebook and Google, which own Instagram and YouTube, have been made aware of Wiley’s latest attempts to use their platforms to broadcast his appalling views. We have discussed this with them and asked that they urgently close down his remaining accounts. Wiley seems to be on a quest to discredit himself even further and to persuade his audience to hate Jews and even to go to ‘war’ with Jews. His musical career is undoubtedly over, but we are concerned that his fans could be inspired to act on his hateful broadcasts. That is why we have asked social networks to take him off air, and reported Wiley to the police and intend to privately prosecute him should the authorities refuse to act.”

, ,

As Twitter finally deletes Wiley’s account following talks with CAA, we shone a light on its racism — literally

Twitter has permanently deleted antisemitic performer Wiley’s account. They did so following discussions with Campaign Against Antisemitism under immense pressure amid a worldwide 48-hour boycott of Twitter under the hashtag #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate.

Last night, Campaign Against Antisemitism went to Twitter’s London headquarters to shine a light on the company after it failed so spectacularly to address racist incitement on its platform.

Numerous examples of antisemitic tweets were projected onto Twitter’s building in an effort to embarrass Twitter into cleaning up the mess that it has enabled and allowed to fester online.

The video can be watched here.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Following discussions with Campaign Against Antisemitism, during which we made clear that the beginning of their path to building faith would be the removal of Wiley’s account, this morning Twitter has finally listened. The closure of Wiley’s account is too little too late, but it is at least a start for this deeply irresponsible social network.

“After Twitter’s abysmal response to blatant anti-Jewish incitement on its platform, last night we decided to literally shine a light on the company and project onto its London headquarters some of the hateful tweets that Twitter permits on its platform.

“From their pitiful responses to the hate spewed daily on their platforms, it is evident that social media companies will stop at nothing to make a profit. It is time for these deeply damaging and irresponsible companies to be held accountable for the hatred they help to spread.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism and others walked out from Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for 48 hours from Monday morning as part of a #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate campaign following the social media platforms’ failure to take appropriate action against racism on their websites.

, ,

All eyes on Twitter after Facebook and Instagram finally close Wiley’s accounts for good after CAA exposes panicked outreach to advertisers

It has taken Facebook several days, but it has finally made the decision to ban Wiley from Facebook and Instagram (which is owned by Facebook), soon after Campaign Against Antisemitism publicised Facebook’s private damage control outreach to advertisers.

In a statement, Facebook said: “There is no place for hate speech on Facebook and Instagram. After initially placing Wiley’s accounts in a seven-day block, we have now removed both his Facebook and Instagram accounts for repeated violations of our policies.”

It is unclear whether Wiley will be able to open new accounts in future, without any assurance or evidence that he will refrain from racist incitement.

Twitter, however, has so far failed to ban Wiley from its platform for any longer than seven days, despite the rapper’s antisemitic rant having begun on Twitter and only later moved to Instagram and Facebook.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Although it took Facebook several days to reach the right decision, it has now banned Wiley from its platforms. Twitter, however, has yet to do so, despite Wiley having launched his antisemitic tirade on that platform. All eyes are now on Twitter, which evidently still values profit over decency. Twitter has disgraced itself in failing to take responsibility and act against antisemitism but it can still follow Facebook in belatedly making the right decision to ban Wiley for his unrepentant racist incitement.

“It is a lamentable state of affairs that it takes a 48-hour global boycott of social media to convince Twitter and Facebook to take the most elementary action against someone using their platforms to call for Jews to be shot. Twitter’s performance over the past few days has been beyond abysmal. Nobody makes a better case for regulation of social media than the technology companies themselves.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism and others have walked out from Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for 48 hours as part of a #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate campaign following the social media platforms’ failure to take appropriate action against racism on their websites.

Those who oppose antisemitic racism are encouraged to join the walkout and to add the #TogetherAgainstAntisemitism profile badge in solidarity.

, ,

Facebook contacts major advertisers in panic over Wiley antisemitism backlash while the antisemitic performer continues to post on his Facebook account

Facebook has sent a message to advertisers, the Government and NGOs in a desperate bid to stem rising backlash over its failure to delete antisemitic performer Wiley’s Instagram messages.

The e-mail from Steve Hatch, Facebook’s Vice-President for Northern Europe, which we have reproduced in full below, sought to justify the steps that Facebook has taken, but even as the e-mail was sent, Wiley continued to post prolifically on Facebook.

So far it appears that Facebook has done little more than to remove several of Wiley’s antisemitic posts and enforce a block on his official Instagram account for 7 days (Facebook owns Instagram).

In its statement, Facebook said that “No one at Facebook finds this type of content and behaviour anything other than abhorrent.”

The statement explained that after Wiley’s posts were reported to it, its teams investigated and gathered “contextual advice from our partners who represent the Jewish community. Their partnership and expertise is invaluable in understanding the nuances of antisemitic language.”

It added that “Our dedicated law enforcement engagement team was also made aware that a criminal report had been made to the Metropolitan Police,” after Campaign Against Antisemitism made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police regarding Wiley’s posts.

Facebook continued: “These initial investigations led us to remove a number of posts from Wiley’s Instagram account. Generally, the first time we remove a user’s post we let them know why they broke our guidelines as we think it’s important they have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. But in common with many platforms, on Facebook and Instagram if a user repeatedly breaks our rules we take a series of further enforcement actions. These can range from different types of restrictions on their activity to a total removal of their account. We have enforced this policy numerous times globally and locally regarding hate speech including the suspension and subsequent removal of numerous UK organizations and individuals from our platforms.”

Facebook says that it continued its investigations over the course of Saturday 25th July and “removed further pieces of content that violated our hate speech guidelines, subsequently placing his account in a 7 day block.”

“We absolutely recognize,” Facebook concluded, “that we always have more work to do in tackling complex and evolving situations like this one. Hate speech has no place on our platforms and we will continue to update you on how we evolve our approaches and policies to counter it.”

The full e-mail is reproduced below.

Incredibly, even as this update was disseminated to advertisers, Wiley has continued to rant on his Facebook account, including against high-profile Jewish individuals, with no consequences. Facebook has yet to take any action against these posts and this account.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Facebook is in panic mode as it realises it can longer hide from the consequences of its promotion of racist Jew-hatred on its platforms. But even as it seeks to assure advertisers that it is taking action against behaviour on Instagram that it considers ‘abhorrent’, it is allowing that behaviour to continue on Facebook.

“Despite all the media attention that this story has received, Wiley has still been able to maintain his Facebook account and continue posting from it. There is evidently no depth to which a user can sink before Facebook decides to put human decency before profit.

“In its statement, Facebook is trying to claim that it has done enough against Wiley’s account, but it has not taken long for reality to catch up and betray the company’s failure to take hate seriously.

“Advertisers would be wise to think twice about whether to associate their brands with corporate enablers of racism, and the Government must take action to bring an end to the culture of impunity at social media companies.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism and others have walked out from Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for 48 hours as part of a #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate campaign following the social media platforms’ failure to take appropriate action against racism on their websites.

Those who oppose antisemitic racism are encouraged to join the walkout and to add the #TogetherAgainstAntisemitism profile badge in solidarity.

Facebook’s e-mail to advertisers in full

Good afternoon.

I wanted to update you about the actions Facebook has taken following the antisemitic posts on Instagram by UK artist Wiley this weekend, which have now included removing a number of posts and enforcing a seven day block on this account. I am also setting out some further details of our broader approach to preventing and tackling hate speech on our platforms. We are sending the same communications both to our partners in Government and NGOs.

If you or any of your teams would like to discuss over VC in more detail over the coming days please do let me know.

Best wishes,

Steve

—

No one at Facebook finds this type of content and behaviour anything other than abhorrent.

We currently work with a number of anti-hate speech NGOs representing the Jewish community who advise us on our policies, and help us to deliver education programmes off and on our platforms. Our partners are also able to report content that concerns them directly to us, often providing invaluable additional context that can help us enforce our rules.

Late Friday night, one of our partners contacted us regarding recent posts on Instagram from the account of the UK artist Wiley. Following the temporary suspension of his Twitter account, Wiley began to post similar content about Jewish people on his Instagram account. This included screenshots of posts that had been deleted from Twitter, and a series of videos. 

We have trained teams who handle reports of hate speech content, and this includes those who specialize in the way hate is expressed against different communities, and team members with specific knowledge of the UK context. Immediately after the report at around 11pm on Friday 24th July, our dedicated teams began to investigate the posts from Wiley. 

As part of this investigation, we continued to gather expert contextual advice from our partners who represent the Jewish community. Their partnership and expertise is invaluable in understanding the nuances of antisemitic language. Our dedicated law enforcement engagement team was also made aware that a criminal report had been made to the Metropolitan Police. We work closely with the Met in situations such as this one, and our team stands ready to provide any assistance that we can.

These initial investigations led us to remove a number of posts from Wiley’s Instagram account. Generally, the first time we remove a user’s post we let them know why they broke our guidelines as we think it’s important they have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. But in common with many platforms, on Facebook and Instagram if a user repeatedly breaks our rules we take a series of further enforcement actions. These can range from different types of restrictions on their activity to a total removal of their account. We have enforced this policy numerous times globally and locally regarding hate speech including the suspension and subsequent removal of numerous UK organizations and individuals from our platforms.

Over the course of Saturday 25th July, Wiley’s activity on Twitter led him to receive a further suspension from that platform for seven days. From this point on Saturday morning, his use of Instagram to post videos increased significantly. During this time we continued our investigations into his posts, and removed further pieces of content that violated our hate speech guidelines, subsequently placing his account in a seven day block. This means the user is not able to log in for seven days, and subsequently cannot post or message other users. That block was put in place just over 24 hours from the first report from our partners. The account will continue to be monitored and its content reviewed.

I hope that you will find this update today useful. We absolutely recognize that we always have more work to do in tackling complex and evolving situations like this one. Hate speech has no place on our platforms and we will continue to update you on how we evolve our approaches and policies to counter it.

Steve Hatch
VP | Northern Europe

, ,

Wiley must immediately apologise and make amends for antisemitic rant or no respectable label or manager should ever work with him again

The British rapper Wiley has spent the day delivering an antisemitic rant on Twitter, comparing Jews to the Ku Klux Klan, making comments about Jewish power and control of the “system” and insisting repeatedly that “Israel does not belong to you”.

Among the comments were:

  • “Is it anti semetic [sic] to say Jewish people have power?’
  • “If you work for a company owned by 2 Jewish men and you challenge the Jewish community in anyway of course you will get fired”
  • “My ex manager was South Africa/ Jewish and I promise you he taught me so much about how this all works I was shocked [sic]”
  • “Red Necks Are the KKK and Jewish people are the Law…Work that out [sic]”
  • “Listen to me Jewish community Israel is not your country I’m sorry”; Jewish community ya too touchy anyway Israel is not yours hold that”; “Israel does not belong to you”; “I don’t care Cos Israel is ours what about that”; and “Israel is ours who wants to talk about that?”; a sentiment also repeated here; here; and here
  • “Certain people out here actually using hitlers tricks and I don’t like hitler just saying tho [sic]”
  • “In some cases the oppressed become the oppressor [sic]”
  • “The Star of David that’s our ting [sic]”
  • “I’m not anti semetic I am anti slippery people there’s a difference [sic]”

Some other tweets in the rant can be accessed here; here; here; here; here; here; here; here; and here.

Wiley’s repeated claim that “Israel does not belong to you”, accompanied by the assertion that “Israel is ours who wants to talk about that?”, as well as his claim that “The Star of David that’s our ting [sic]”, suggests that he may be espousing views associated with the hateful Black Israelite Hebrews movement, which has been known to harass Jews and has been connected to at least one violent antisemitic shooting in the United States.

Wiley’s racist ramblings, which he apparently referred to as “Black History Lesson For Today”, come after Ice Cube tweeted a picture of an antisemitic mural and several other celebrities have promoted the antisemitic hate preacher Louis Farrakhan.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Likening Jews to the KKK is a hideous antisemitic slur, which Wiley can add to the antisemitic tropes he has tweeted about Jewish power and Jews in business. He joins a number of celebrities who have promoted antisemitic themes or individuals in recent weeks, some of whom have apologised and sought rehabilitation. Wiley must immediately do the same, otherwise no respectable label or manager should work with him ever again.”

https://twitter.com/WileyCEO/status/1286611940836544518
https://twitter.com/WileyCEO/status/1286615262003900416
https://twitter.com/WileyCEO/status/1286616589001986048
https://twitter.com/WileyCEO/status/1286616759575941120
, ,

Success for CAA as Twitter reverses locks on accounts with Stars of David, but questions remain as to why this policy was in place at all

After Campaign Against Antisemitism reported that Twitter was locking accounts featuring Stars of David in their profile pictures, Twitter is reviewing its policy, which it claims was directed at ‘yellow stars’ specifically, which it categorised as “hateful imagery”.

Several Twitter users recently contacted Campaign Against Antisemitism reporting that their accounts had been locked, and Twitter provided the following rationale: “What happened? We have determined that this account violated the Twitter Rules. Specifically for: Violating our rules against posting hateful imagery. You may not use hateful images or symbols in your profile image or profile header. As a result, we have locked your account.”

Twitter appeared to have deemed the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism and Jewish pride, to be “hateful imagery”, and was locking the accounts of users who displayed it.

Now Twitter has claimed that the policy was directed only at ‘yellow stars’. Yet the Stars of David in the profile pictures of locked accounts that we saw also included artistic blue Stars of David and graffitied white Stars of David.

Twitter has claimed in its statement that “While the majority of cases were correctly actioned, some accounts highlighted recently were mistakes and have now been restored.”

We are pleased that Twitter has taken remedial action in this individual cases, however questions remain as to whether this was a genuine policy ineptly administered, or whether Twitter has provided an after-the-fact rationalisation for why the accounts of Jewish users displaying their identities were locked.

In response to Twitter’s statement, Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Only one of the accounts locked featured a yellow star, and it very clearly did so as a means of reclaiming the yellow stars used by the Nazis. This is precisely the kind of inept response to antisemitism that we have come to expect from Twitter, which just last week tried to convince us that the viral antisemitic #JewishPrivilege hashtag was legitimate.

“We would happily help Twitter, but they largely ignore us when we approach them, which we take as a reflection of their inconsistency in addressing this. It seems that Twitter prefers to go after Jewish users who proudly display their identity but not after antisemitic users who unabashedly promote anti-Jewish vitriol.”

Others also observed the locking of accounts with Stars of David in their profile pictures.

Recently, Twitter refused to take action against the viral antisemitic hashtag #JewishPrivilege, and earlier this year the social media giant was forced to apologise for permitting advertisements to be micro-targeted at neo-Nazis and other bigots.

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.

, ,

Twitter is inciting anti-Jewish hatred after it refuses to act against antisemitic #JewishPrivilege viral hashtag

Twitter has refused to take action as an antisemitic hashtag, #JewishPrivilege, has gone viral over the past 24 hours.

The abusive tweets were remarkable for the range of antisemitic motifs they adopted, as a small sample of examples illustrates.

One user wrote, in a post reminiscent of classical Christian antisemitism and nineteenth-century philosophical antisemitism: “#JewishPrivilege is being born into a world where your ancestors have ‘progressive-ly’ transformed an entire civilisation into a Jewish ‘utopia’ by inverting its formerly Christian values into their exact opposites.”

Another said: “#JewishPrivilege is running the Slave Trade, owning the Slave Ships and owning the Cotton Plantations but constantly blaming Slavery on White people with the very media that you completely control.”

Contrast that post with yet another: “#JewishPrivilege is shaming whites while pretending to be one of us…”.

Radical left-wing antisemitism blames the Jews for being white, while for white supremacist antisemites the Jews are not white enough.

The hashtag was also then co-opted by Jews and allies attacking it.

However, on being challenged to take action against the hashtag, Twitter reportedly refused, saying that it did not breach its terms of service, which evidently permit the platform to be used for the dissemination of racist material.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The idea that Jews are a ‘privileged’ group is a slur designed to deny that antisemitism exists and to imply that Jews are a cause of racism towards other minorities. It is an antisemitic concept targeting a people who have suffered relentless persecution, exile, mass murder and the Holocaust, and it has no place in decent discourse.

“It is horrifying to see that #JewishPrivilege has been one of Twitter’s most popular hashtags of the past 24 hours. That it has gone viral demonstrates how ‘unpriveleged’ Jews in fact are. The accounts spewing this anti-Jewish hatred will still be there tomorrow, retweeted in the thousands as Twitter predictably but disgracefully refuses to take any action, adding yet another entry to the platform’s long record of enabling racism against Jews. Twitter’s refusal to act is not just tone-deaf but brazen. Antisemites are able to use Twitter to reach millions and by failing to act on anti-Jewish incitement Twitter is enabling it. Social networks are allowing racism to run rampant and it is high time they were regulated like all other mass media.”

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.

, ,

Fashion brand SHEIN apologises for selling swastika necklace

The fashion brand, SHEIN, has apologised for selling a swastika necklace.

Following criticism from fashion influencer Marissa Casey Grossman and others, the “metal swastika pendant necklace”, retailing at $2.50, was removed from sale.

In a statement, the brand said: “SHEIN was not selling a Nazi swastika pendant, the necklace is a Buddhist swastika which has symbolised spirituality and good fortune for more than a thousand years. The Nazi swastika has a different design, it is pointed clockwise and tilted at an angle. However, because we understand the two symbols can be confused and one is highly offensive, we have removed the product from our site.

 “As a multicultural and global brand, we want to apologise profusely to those who are offended, we are sensitive to these issues and want to be very clear that we in no way support or condone racial, cultural and religious prejudice or hostility.

“We are a global and all-inclusive brand and we are taking extreme measures to ensure that all items are cleared through a rigorous vetting process before we retail them.”

Image credit: Fashionambitionist

, ,

TikTok removes videos featuring song lyrics “We’re going on a trip to a place called Auschwitz, it’s shower time”, but only after its own algorithm meant they were viewed over 6.5 million times

TikTok, the popular social media video platform, has reportedly removed numerous videos that promoted a sickening antisemitic song, but only after its own algorithm ensured that they were viewed over 6.5 million times.

The song included the words “We’re going on a trip to a place called Auschwitz, it’s shower time” and apparently appeared on the platform on Sunday. One video featuring the song showed a giant robot scorpion with a swastika trapping and gassing people.

That video received more than six million views, a number eerily corresponding to the number of Jewish victims of the Nazis. Other videos using the song to accompany Holocaust-related graphics garnered another half million viewers. In all, nearly 100 TikTok users made use of the song for their videos.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “It was incredibly distressing to watch this sickening TikTok video aimed at children showing a swastika-bearing robot grabbing and incinerating Jews as the music poked fun at Jewish men, women and children being killed with poison gas at Auschwitz

“TikTok has a particular obligation to tackle this content fast because it specialises in delivering viral videos to children and young adults when they are most impressionable, and yet our research has shown that TikTok has become one of the fastest vectors for transmission of memes mocking the Holocaust. We cannot overstate how damaging it is for children to be bombarded with this sort of extreme racist content. They are being radicalised and groomed by extremists when they are using their smartphones and tablets without parental supervision. Social networks keep proving that they will not tackle this incitement. They must be forced to by regulation or we will scarcely recognise future generations.”

This is not the first time that videos on TikTok have been used to mock the Holocaust, and the platform has been shown to be infested with far-right antisemitism.

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.

, ,

TikTok infested with far-right antisemitism and Holocaust denial, according to new report published just weeks after CAA called attention to the problem

The social media platform TikTok is infested with far-right antisemitism and Holocaust denial, according to a new report.

The report comes just weeks after Campaign Against Antisemitism called attention to the problem of mockery of the Holocaust on the popular platform.

The findings are particularly worrisome given that Ofcom has also just reported that the COVID-19 lockdown has meant that teenagers are spending record amounts of time on the platform.

The report by the Institute for Counter Terrorism at the University of Haifa, titled “Spreading Hate on TikTok”, scanned the platform from February to May 2020 and found numerous antisemitic posts, including Adolf Hitler speeches, postings of the ‘Sieg heil’ salute, neo-Nazi inspired violence, white supremacist symbols and Holocaust denial.

TikTok has 1.5 billion users, 41 percent of whom are between the ages of 16 and 24. Although its terms of service prohibit users under the age of thirteen, it is believed, based on their videos, that many users are below the minimum age.

The CST also recently published a report into far-right activity on alternative social media platforms such as Bitchute, Telegram, Gab and 4chan, where it found thousands of “easily accessible, extreme and violent” videos, memes and posts.

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.

, ,

CAA marks World Refugee Day with short video about “the forgotten refugees”: the hundreds of thousands of Jews who fled Arab and Muslim lands from the 1940s

Campaign Against Antisemitism has marked World Refugee Day by releasing a short video about “the forgotten refugees”: the hundreds of thousands of Jews who fled Arab and Muslim lands in the Middle East from the 1940s, leaving behind a civilisation built over millennia.

The video is available to watch and share on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.

,

Jameela Jamil is latest celebrity to share and then delete Louis Farrakhan video on social media

Jameela Jamil has become the latest celebrity to share a Louis Farrakhan video on social media.

Ms Jamil shared a 1990 clip of the antisemitic hate preacher with the caption “Someone please tell me the name of this extraordinary man who so perfectly sums up white fear in under a minute.”

She deleted the clip after criticism.

Mr Farrakhan has called Judaism a “gutter religion” and had claimed that the Jews would face “God’s ovens” if they continued to oppose him, in a sick reference to the extermination camps of the Holocaust. He has also praised the Nazi leader, saying “Hitler was a very great man”. In addition, Mr Farrakhan has alleged that “Israelis and Zionist Jews” were involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The clip was also shared by American celebrities Jessica Chastain and Chelsea Handler, and it comes just days after the rapper Ice Cube was also embroiled in controversy for sharing an antisemitic image and other memes.

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.

, ,

Success for CAA as Urban Dictionary removes horrendous “Holocaust n*****” entry following our campaign urging brands to pull their adverts from the controversial website

Urban Dictionary has removed a page devoted to the antisemitic term “Holocaust n*****” following contact between Campaign Against Antisemitism and numerous advertisers on the controversial website, several of which have now pulled their marketing from the website altogether.

After research seen by Campaign Against Antisemitism and conducted by Dr Daniel Allington, who is Senior Lecturer in Social and Cultural Artificial Intelligence at King’s College London and a volunteer with Campaign Against Antisemitism, showed that many entries in Urban Dictionary appear to have been written by white supremacists and other bigots and that well-known brands are profiting from their racism, Campaign Against Antisemitism alerted several household brands, a number of which immediately thanked us for contacting them and took immediate remedial action to protect their reputations. The brands include DFS, People’s Postcode Lottery and Canterbury Christ Church University, all of which were relying on third parties to place advertisements for them online.

As a result of their actions, the “Holocaust n*****” page on the website has been taken down. The definition provided for the offensive term was simply: “a Jew”.

Dr Allington’s research showed other offensive and antisemitic entries on Urban Dictionary. One entry defines the word ‘Jew’ as a verb meaning “To steal something from someone and never return it”, while another on the same page defines a Jew as “A cheap ass n*****”. The top definition for ‘Zionist’ is “One who believes in a political ideology that hijacked Judaism, soon to hijack Christianity’, while the fifth-from-top is “A pig in the temple of God” and the third-from top states “I hate Zionist kikes”.

Some entries try to equate Jews with Nazism or to suggest that the Holocaust did not happen. One of the top definitions of ‘Zionazi’, itself an antisemitic term, claims that “A Zionazi is defined by their will to create and support a single government or group that rules the world, such as the totalitarian New World Order”. The top entry for ‘Holohoax’ claims that “people who ‘deny’ the Holocaust seem to provide more proof and evidence supporting the fact the Holocaust never happened”.

The fourth definition for ‘Hitler’ is “Someone who got 6 000 000 kills in a single match”, while some words in the Urban Dictionary seem to have been entered purely in order to cause offence, including ‘holocaust n*****’ and ‘nigropolis’ (defined as “The world after whites are all killed and racemixed by Zionist Jews and n*****s”).

Dr Allington said: “I realised that hardcore racists were exploiting Urban Dictionary’s ‘anything goes’ philosophy to promote their extremist views. It wouldn’t matter so much if it were an obscure website that nobody had heard of, but Urban Dictionary is one of the most popular websites in the world and it carries adverts for household name brands.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are pleased that, building on the work of Dr Daniel Allington, our campaign to alert companies to how their brands are being advertised has also brought pressure to bear on Urban Dictionary, which is replete with antisemitic, racist and needlessly offensive entries. We intend to maintain this pressure in the hope that the people behind Urban Dictionary will do the decent thing and clean up their website once and for all.”

, ,

Conspiracy theorists online are transforming Holocaust denial and antisemitic tropes about COVID-19 into a video game

Conspiracy theorists are reportedly transforming Holocaust denial, far-right racist tropes and misinformation about COVID-19 into a video game.

It is understood that thousands of users of Discord, a voice and text communication platform intended for gamers, are posting conspiracy theories in order to accumulate ‘points’ that can then be cashed for rewards.

The game is designed to be addictive, awarding a user the title “verified truther” after he or she has posted at least three conspiracy theories and undertaken an interview with a more experienced conspiracy theorist on the platform.

While Discord has removed some of the chat channels discussing conspiracy theories, others rise in their place. Among the theories posted are discussion of the “Holohoax”, whether the Holocaust has been exagerrated and claims that “Zionists” are “a class of people that controls the world”.

Others include a theory that 5G mobile phone signals were designed by “scheming” Jews and played a role in the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to a conspiracy theory promoted by the antisemitic hate preacher David Icke.

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.

, ,

Another TikTok user puts up video mocking Holocaust survivors and receives almost 1 million likes as CAA demands the company take action

Another user of the popular online video platform, TikTok, has published a video mocking Holocaust survivors, and it has received almost one million ‘likes’.

The video shows the user, known as “olivermcd54”, imagining himself talking to a “cute Jewish girl” and then the girl, also played by him, lifts up her sleeve to give him her ‘number’ in a grotesque allusion to the Nazi practice of tattooing inmates at the Auschwitz concentration camp with a number. (We have obscured the user’s face as it is unclear whether he is a minor or not.)

The user as used the hashtag #ww2memes and, in an apparent effort at self-deprecation, has noted of the video: “this isn’t very funny”.

It comes after Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to the employer of another user, Bradley Brooker, who made a similar video on the same platform. TikTok must act immediately to remove this appalling content from its platform.

A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Once again we are seeing how a disgraceful meme mocking Holocaust survivors goes viral, with more videos produced and hundreds of thousands of approving ‘likes’. Children are quick learners, and TikTok, which is hugely popular with younger demographics, has become one of the fastest vectors for transmission of memes mocking the Holocaust. ​Social media companies cannot evade their responsibility for enabling anti-Jewish animus forever, and we will be writing to Tik Tok holding them to account.”

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.

https://www.tiktok.com/@olivermcd54/video/6793686691346386181

, ,

COVID-19 is ushering in a new wave of online antisemitism across the world

After Campaign Against Antisemitism was among the earliest to warn of a spike in antisemitic incidents online in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, more evidence is emerging across the world that the coronavirus has become the latest pretext for anti-Jewish hatred on the internet.

In the UK, the Community Security Trust published a briefing titled Coronavirus and the Plague of Antisemitism, which presents five categories of claims made by antisemites, namely that the virus is fake and a Jewish conspiracy; that the virus is real and a Jewish conspiracy; that the Jews are the primary spreaders of the virus; that Jewish deaths from the virus should be celebrated; and that the virus should be spread to the Jews to effect a ‘Holocough’.

Elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s antisemitism commissioner has warned of “direct links between the current spread of the coronavirus and that of antisemitism”, noting that “there is a boom in conspiracy theories in times of crisis” and describing antisemitism as similarly “contagious on a social level”.

In the United States, a joint intelligence bulletin drafted by the Department of Justice, the National Counterterrorism Center and the Department of Homeland Security reportedly reveals that ‘domestic violent extremists’ “have sought to conduct, or conducted attacks citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor in the timing or motivation of their attacks,” and that ‘racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists’ “who advocate for the superiority of the white race seek to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to bolster their narratives and encourage attacks and hate crimes against minorities, including Jewish and Asian Americans. Some [of these extremists] claim government responses to the pandemic could crash the global economy, hasten societal collapse, and lead to a race war.”

The report further explains that “conspiratorial narratives assigning blame for the pandemic to a Jewish conspiracy…heightens the risk of retaliatory violence.”

Another report, by Tel Aviv University, also showed that global antisemitism has on the rise during the COVID-19 crisis.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to urge vigilance and advises that Jewish institutions take precautions when using social media and online video conferencing platforms.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is able to assist victims and can be contacted at [email protected].

, ,

Jewish community marks Yom HaShoah as new report shows that world’s Jewish population is still smaller today than it was on eve of Holocaust

As the Jewish community marks Yom HaShoah, the effects of the Holocaust continue to reverberate, with new statistics showing that the world’s Jewish population is still smaller today than it was on eve of the Holocaust.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel, the global Jewish population stood at 14.7 million at the end of 2018, but is estimated to have been 16.6 million in 1939, on the eve of World War II and the Holocaust, in which over six million Jews were murdered by gas, bullet and other means.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has released a short video interview with Holocaust survivor Susan Pollack MBE, who tells her incredible story and delivers her message for the next generation.

The effects of the Holocaust are still being felt most acutely by the survivors themselves, but also, in other ways, by the children and descendants of the victims and survivors, and, as these statistics show, by the Jewish people worldwide.

, ,

Amazon shopper horrified to find Nazi pamphlet reprinted inside newly-purchased puppy training book

An Amazon shopper has expressed horror at finding a Nazi pamphlet reprinted inside the guide to training puppies that she purchased from the online retailer.

The Nazi book, called Adolf Hitler, 1931-1935: Pictures from the Life of the Führer, was published in 1936 and authored by numerous Nazi leaders, including Joseph Goebbels and Otto Dietrich, as well as Robert Ley, Albert Speer, Rudolf Hess. It even features even a foreword by Hermann Göring.

The customer had bought a book called Puppy Training but after the front cover found the odes to the Nazi leader in the pages within.

The customer reports that she had asked Amazon to remove the “awful and misleading item from their listings” three times and was simply told that the retailer was “investigating”.

In a statement, Amazon said: “We apologise to the customer for this issue, which was caused by a one-off printing issue with a supplier. Our supplier has confirmed that steps have been taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

The Nazi propaganda book is on sale in its own right on Amazon, which has a poor record of offering such books for sale. Only last month did the online seller remove Mein Kampf from its website.

(Photo credit: Amazon)

, ,

Campaign Against Antisemitism stands #UnitedAgainstRacism, and Twitter users react by expressing the very antisemitism we were calling out

Campaign Against Antisemitism marked the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually on 21st March, with a video and graphic for social media highlighting how, as COVID-19 spreads across the globe, the virus of antisemitism mutates to keep pace.

Remarkably, numerous Twitter users reacted to our meme – which showed how antisemites are using the coronavirus to attack Jews – by posting expressions of the very antisemitism we were calling out.

One user complained, “For goodness sake you stoop to this. Shameless,” while another responded with: “Isn’t the spotlight on the Jew for a while? Awww, your true colours come shining through, victimhood like yours is a real disease that is incurable. It’s not about the Jew, get over it.” Yet another user replied that we should “Rot in hell. And spare us with your damn “#UnitedAgainstRacism”…It’s you the bloody #Racist her,” while another said: “Nothing is beneath you Apartheidists.”

, ,

Amazon finally bans sale of Mein Kampf and other Nazi books

Amazon has finally banned the sale of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and other Nazi books in its online marketplace.

The e-commerce giant informed booksellers that they would no longer be allowed to sell Nazi propaganda on its website. Amazon told its partners that “they can no longer offer this book” as it breaks the company’s code of conduct. Kindle editions previously available have also been deleted, as has Hitler’s author page, which reportedly encouraged customers to follow for author updates and information on new releases.

It is understood that the ban on Mein Kampf may impact Random House and the Indian publisher Jaico, for whom apparently it has worryingly become a bestseller. It is being reported that different editions of the book have collectively had thousands of Amazon reviews, including many five star ratings.

Amazon has traditionally defended the sale of these books on its website on the basis of free speech and education, despite pressure to end their sale, but has now reversed itself without giving a reason.

Amazon has recently removed other antisemitic material from its website as well.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “As a bookseller, we provide customers with access to a variety of viewpoints, including titles that serve an important educational role in understanding and preventing antisemitism. All retailers make decisions about what selection they choose to offer and we do not take selection decisions lightly.”

, ,

Amazon under pressure for selling Nazi propaganda books

Amazon, the online retailer and marketplace, has come under pressure over the sale of Nazi propaganda books on its platform.

Among the books was an antisemitic children’s book authored by Julius Streicher, the Nazi publisher of the notorious Der Stürmer newspaper, called “The Poisonous Mushroom”, which was originally released in 1938. The book is reportedly available on Amazon in German, as well as English, French and Spanish.

According to reports, Amazon acknowledged the concerns raised but would not remove the books, stating that although it took the concerns “seriously”, nevertheless “we believe that providing access to written speech is important, including books that some may find objectionable”.

However, in recent months Amazon has withdrawn other books by authors espousing far-right views, including earlier this year, when it removed two books written by a Holocaust denier, including one that blamed antisemitism on the Jews and another that appeared to advocate genocide.

, ,

Twitter apologises for allowing advertisements to be micro-targeted at neo-Nazis

Twitter has reportedly apologised after an investigation found that it permitted advertisements to be micro-targeted at neo-Nazis and other bigots, as well as vulnerable young people suffering from eating disorders.

The social media giant allows brands to target their advertisements at users who search for particular words and phrases, in order to pinpoint users most likely to be interested in their product or service.

An investigation found that companies could send adverts to users who have searched for words such as “white supremacists”. It also showed that targeting people in the UK using the term “neo-Nazi” could reach as many as 81,000 people.

Twitter has been criticised in the past over extremism on its platform. In a statement, the company said that its “preventative measures include banning certain sensitive or discriminatory terms, which we update on a continuous basis. In this instance, some of these terms were permitted for targeting purposes. This was an error.

“We’re very sorry this happened and as soon as we were made aware of the issue, we rectified it. We continue to enforce our ads policies, including restricting the promotion of content in a wide range of areas, including inappropriate content targeting minors.”

, ,

“We Muslims condemn, in the strongest terms, what happened in the Holocaust” says head of Muslim World League on visit to Auschwitz, as Pope Francis also calls on Catholics to engage in prayer and reflection over the Holocaust

Pope Francis used his weekly address and blessing to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square yesterday to call for prayer and reflection over the Holocaust, while Muslim clergy have made a groundbreaking visit to Auschwitz to commemorate the victims.

The Pope said: “Indifference is inadmissible before this enormous tragedy, this atrocity, and memory is a duty. Tomorrow [on Holocaust Memorial Day], we are all invited to stop for a moment of prayer and reflection, each one of us saying in our own heart: ‘never again, never again’.” 

The Pope has also ordered the opening of the Vatican’s WWII archives, which Jewish groups have been requesting for years, and last week called the rise in antisemitism today a “barbaric resurgence”.

Meanwhile, a group led by the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, has been taking part in the commemorations at the Nazi extermination camp.

Dr Al-Issa, who is based in Saudi Arabia, led a group described as “the most senior Islamic leadership delegation” ever to visit Auschwitz, comprising 62 Muslims from 28 countries, including 25 prominent religious leaders.

Dr Al-Issa said: “To be here, among the children of Holocaust survivors and members of the Jewish and Islamic communities, is both a sacred duty and a profound honor,” adding: “The unconscionable crimes to which we bear witness today are truly crimes against humanity. That is to say, a violation of us all, an affront to all of God’s children.”

In a powerful opinion editorial in the UK, Dr Al-Issa wrote: “The Holocaust is truly the most horrific crime in human history, in which six million Jews perished at the hands of Hitler’s Nazi regime simply because they were Jews.

“This crime shook humankind. Only the malicious sympathise with it. These people are no less barbaric than the Nazis themselves, in terms of malevolence and brutality. Those who deny the Holocaust are equally criminal.”

He added: “I say that we Muslims condemn, in the strongest terms, what happened in the Holocaust, and express our sorrow and sadness at what we consider to be a crime of unparalleled proportions in human history.”

, ,

Spotify removes user-generated playlists carrying titles praising Hitler and mocking Holocaust victims

Spotify has removed user-generated playlists which, while not necessarily carrying any offensive music, have antisemitic and pro-Nazi names.

In the past, Spotify has rightly been praised for removing hateful content, such as neo-Nazi music, from its streaming platform, but following an analysis by The Times of Israel of antisemitic user-generated playlists, Spotify has removed these as well.

Playlists have also been given titles by users such as “Lord of Jews”, accompanied by a picture of Adolf Hitler, and “The Fourth Reich” alongside a Nazi insignia. Other include: “Gas the Jews music”; “Gas Jews”; “Kill the Jews”; “The Holocaust was a joke”; “Rocking the soccks [sic] off holocaust victims”; “Just found out the Holocaust was fake”; “Hitler was right”; “Songs to snort Anne Frank’s ashes”; “Getting gassed with Anne Frank”; “Gas Anne Frank”; and “Auschwitz Train Sing Along”. One playlist, called “Auschwitz mixtape”, is accompanied by the phrase: “Almost as lit as the Jews in 1943”. Other playlist titles allude to antisemitic conspiracy theories, such as “9/11 did the jews”; and “RoThsChiLd Chillz”.

The playlist titles are searchable and available across the platform for its over 200 million global subscribers.

Users on Spotify can also register themselves under any name, and over 110 publicly viewable profiles are also registered under the name “Adolf Hitler”, with dozens more using variations of that name.

In a first statement to The Times of Israel, Spotify said: “We take this topic very seriously. Content (artists and music) listed by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM) in Germany is proactively removed from our service. We’re a global company, so we use the BPjM index as a global standard for these issues. Other potentially hateful or objectionable content that is flagged by users or others but not on the BPjM list is handled on a case-by-case basis.”

However, Spotify then reportedly advised that it would in fact remove the hateful content. A spokesman for the music platform said: “The user-generated content in question violates our policy and is in the process of being removed. Spotify prohibits any user content that is offensive, abusive, defamatory, pornographic, threatening, or obscene.”

,

Antisemitism is the “canary in the coalmine of global hatred,” says UN Special Rapporteur as he delivers groundbreaking report on combating Jew-hatred

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief has said that antisemitism is the “canary in the coalmine of global hatred” and “toxic to democracy” as he delivered his groundbreaking report titled Combatting Antisemitism to Eliminate Discrimination and Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief.

Ahmed Shaheed’s comments echoed those of UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, who has previously remarked that “antisemitism is not a problem for the Jewish community alone” but rather threatens “all people’s human rights” and that “where there is antisemitism, there are likely to be other discriminatory ideologies and forms of bias.”

According to one UN watcher, the report marks one of the first times the UN has addressed the issue of antisemitism in any detail.

Unusually for a UN document on the subject, the report recognises antisemitism as a global – rather than merely Western – phenomenon, and observes that it emanates from the far-right, radical Islam and the far-left.

The report notes “an apparent surge in hate motivated by religious animus worldwide, hostility, discrimination and violence motivated by antisemitism.” It even states that it is a problem at the highest echelons of governments, claiming that it is “prevalent, tolerated, or even propagated by state officials”.

It goes on to say this has created a “climate of fear” among many Jews.

While the report notes that significant measures have been taken in Western Europe and the Americas to protect Jews, successful measures to prevent antisemitism online have been “elusive”. It goes on to say antisemitism on the internet is incredibly prevalent and there has been a “resurgence of classic antisemitism in online chatter”.

The report states that “reports of hostility, discrimination and violence motivated by antisemitism have increased in many parts of the world” and that antisemitic attitudes are common. It reports that “studies also demonstrate that anxiety is high among Jewish communities in numerous jurisdictions.”

Despite these alarming findings, the report observes that this trend “has received scant attention as a human rights issue.”

In fact, antisemitic harassment is “significantly underreported” and may be even worse than feared. The report insists that greater communication is needed between civil society entities, Jewish organisations and UN human rights monitors in order to get a firm grip on the problem.

It suggests that better data collection systems are needed as well as accessible and confidential mechanisms for reporting incidents.

Mr. Shaheed asserts that the best way to combat this global problem is a multifaceted, human rights-based approach focused on education. The report urges states to invest in education and training so that citizens have a better understanding of antisemitism and to develop democracies “resilient” to hateful ideologies.

It goes on to say that antisemitism should be combated with counterspeech and education first, rather than more restrictive measures, and it insists that there is an active role for citizens to play, for example in interfaith networks to promote understanding.

The report ends by underscoring the importance for states to take urgent action to address antisemitism. It makes multiple recommendations, with a focus on education within a wider human rights framework.

The report insists that responsibility rests with states and urges acknowledgement of the threat to stability posed by antisemitism. It also presses for the enforcement of existing legislation and acknowledges the helpfulness of the International Definition of Antisemitism in identifying offences.

The British Government was the first in the world to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism, following discussions with Campaign Against Antisemitism and Lord Pickles. Other national governments and public bodies have followed.

, ,

YouTuber PewDiePie apologises to his 100m followers for “messing up” by promising to donate $50,000 to fight antisemitism

One of the world’s biggest YouTubers has reversed his decision to donate $50,000 to an American organisation that fights prejudice, principally against Jews.

Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, who is known on YouTube as PewDiePie, is a Swedish gamer based in the UK whose YouTube channel has over 100 million subscribers and 23 billion video views. He recently pledged to donate the $50,000, apparently to quell criticism over a series of antisemitic videos and statements he has made over the past two years, including appearances of Nazi imagery, Adolf Hitler and swastikas in his videos. Although Mr Kjellberg has taken down a number of the offending videos, some were viewed millions of times before removal.

In 2017, he paid two Indian men to film themselves unveiling a sign that read “Death to all Jews”, following which Disney’s Maker Studios, a network of YouTube celebrities, cut ties with Mr Kjellberg. He was also suspended from Twitter in 2016 after joking about having joining ISIS.

It seems that Mr Kjellberg reversed the pledge to donate $50,000 after pushback from his fans. In a video in which he appeared to be wearing a replica of a German iron cross, he reflected that “I made the mistake of picking a charity I was advised to instead of picking a charity that I’m personally passionate about, which is 100% my fault”, adding: “sorry for messing this up”.

Despite building a significant following — such that he was listed by Time as one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2016 — Mr Kjellberg continues to behave after the fashion of an alt-right provocateur, and indeed the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer website describes itself as “the world’s #1 PewDiePie fan site”.

When a media personality with 100 million followers, many of them children, who has a history of broadcasting and laughing at antisemitism, makes a special broadcast wearing clothing emblazoned with a symbol resembling an iron cross and apologising for proposing to make a donation to fight antisemitism, his message could not be clearer.

The platforms that host Mr Kjellberg and the fans who indulge him should reconsider their affiliation to his channel.

,

Man fined following antisemitic rant on flight from Tel Aviv to Manchester

A man has been fined and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, following an antisemitic rant he gave on a flight from Tel Aviv to Manchester

Shamraize Bashir, a 34-year-old business owner from Bradford, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour following an antisemitic rant on the flight, which he blamed on smoking cannabis during Ramadan.

He was quoted as saying: “You know the really fat Jewish women yeah? Their job is to let their husbands f*** them and make babies for them.”

Mr Bashir was ordered by Manchester Magistrates Court to complete a twelve-month community order, 100 hours unpaid work, attend a course to address his cannabis use and pay £505 in costs.

, ,

Martin Glenn, Chief Executive of the Football Association, offers weak apology after equating the Star of David with the swastika

Martin Glenn, the Chief Executive Officer of the Football Association, has issued an apology “for any offence caused” after he equated the Star of David with the Nazi swastika and images of the brutal former Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe. The Star of David is a symbol of Jewish pride and Judaism.

Speaking about rules that prohibit the wearing of political symbols at football matches, Mr Glenn cited a number of “highly divisive” symbols, saying: “it could be the Star of David, it could the hammer and sickle, it could be a swastika, anything like Robert Mugabe on your shirt – these are the things we don’t want.” Mr Glenn was responding to the wearing of a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan independence by the manager of Manchester City Football Club.

We find Mr Glenn’s weak apology “for any offence caused” to be unacceptable. However, even a mealy mouthed apology is a start and an acknowledgement. He must now commit to undertaking education and training on antisemitism. Unless he does so we consider this incident to remain unresolved.

,

CAA calls for Football Association Chief Executive Martin Glenn to apologise and undergo training after equating Star of David with swastika and Robert Mugabe

Campaign Against Antisemitism calls upon Martin Glenn, Chief Executive of the Football Association, to immediately apologise and undergo training after he equated the Star of David with the swastika and images of Robert Mugabe.

Speaking about rules that prohibit the wearing of political symbols at football matches, Mr Glenn cited a number of “highly divisive” symbols, saying: “it could be the Star of David, it could the hammer and sickle, it could be a swastika, anything like Robert Mugabe on your shirt – these are the things we don’t want.” Mr Glenn was responding to the wearing of a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan independence by the manager of Manchester City Football Club.

The only people who consider the Star of David to be a “highly divisive” symbol are antisemites. Mr Glenn must apologise immediately for his appalling comparison of the Star of David with the swastika and images of Robert Mugabe. He should also commit to undergoing training to understand the Jewish religion and its symbols. We cannot recall ever having come across something like this before.

, ,

Facebook apologises for allowing advertisers to target antisemites, but will it now target them, and what will it do with the profits?

Facebook has been forced to apologise after its advertising algorithm was found to be allowing advertisers to target antisemites whose interests were summarised by the algorithm as: “Jew hater”, “How to burn Jews”, or “History of ‘why Jews ruin the world’”. That this quirk of Facebook’s advertising algorithm had gone unnoticed is somewhat scandalous, but the real scandal is what it reveals about Facebook.

The fact that Facebook’s algorithm has managed to accidentally identify antisemites on the platform shows how easy it is to find Facebook users who hate Jews. Many antisemites on Facebook make no effort at all to conceal or disguise their hatred, brazenly sharing neo-Nazi, far-left or Islamist antisemitic material. What is so shameful is not that these antisemites exist, but that Facebook evidently can identify them and chooses not to expel them from its social networking platform.

Perhaps even more outrageous is that Facebook will have been collecting money from advertisers seeking to target antisemites, perhaps to invite them to rallies or to share antisemitic conspiracy myths with them, and Facebook has not only made that possible, it has charged a fee for the service. Despite apologising when caught out, Facebook has not revealed how much money it made, or what will be done with the proceeds.

The reasons that Facebook appears not to be putting much effort into expelling antisemites, or donating its profits from the adverts, may be related. Facebook is funded by the advertising it sells, which depends on continued growth in the number of its users, and the ability to reliably target all of those users according to their interests. Facebook has necessarily developed advanced algorithms for profiling its users, but using them to excise antisemites, extremists and other undesirable people from its social networking platform could start to slightly dent the growth in the number of its users, which is a key metric of the company’s success and its attractiveness as an advertising platform.

, ,

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, pledges to be on the front line in the fight against antisemitism

António Guterres, the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, has pledged to be on the front line in the fight against antisemitism. In a powerful speech to delegates at the World Jewish Congress’ Plenary Assembly in New York, Guterres proclaimed that: “You can be absolutely sure, as Secretary-General of the United Nations, I will be in the front line of the struggle against antisemitism and to make sure the United Nations is able to to take all possible actions for antisemitism to be condemned, and if possible, eradicated from the face of the earth.”

“A modern form of antisemitism is the denial of the existence of the State of Israel,” Guterres said. “As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I can say that the State of Israel needs to be treated as any other state, with exactly the same rules.” Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomes and endorses this direct statement from the head of the United Nations regarding what is defined as antisemitism. It aligns with the International Definition of Antisemitism that was adopted by the British Government following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others. The definition states that “Applying double standards by requiring of Israel a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” is antisemitic.

Guterres, who only assumed office in January, also called the Holocaust “the most heinous crime in the history of mankind” and denounced rising antisemitism. “We see today antisemitism alive and well,” he said. “We see it in acts of physical aggression, murders of Jewish people in different parts of the world, destruction of property, destruction of monuments, destruction of centres.”

, ,

31 nations of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance adopt EUMC definition of antisemitism

The 31 nations of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) have adopted the EUMC definition of antisemitism. The definition, was first published in 2005 by the EU Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), now the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and has become the standard definition used around the world. Prior to its adoption by the 31 member states of the IHRA, the definition was already in use by the European Parliament, the UK College of Policing, the US Department of State and others including Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The definition recognises the many guises of contemporary antisemitism, including antisemitism disguised as political discourse regarding the State of Israel. The full definition can be found on our website.

The IHRA’s 31 member states are Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

,

Antisemitic outpouring online after Jewish terrorist burns down house, killing Arab infant

We join the many voices in the Jewish community, including the Israeli Prime Minister, which have denounced in unison the terrorist arson attack that took the life of an Arab infant in Duma.

We also condemn the vile outpouring of Jew hatred on social media. One good example was the Facebook page of Al Jazeera presenter Mehdi Hasan. When Hasan posted a Ha’aretz article about the attack, his followers piled in with racist abuse.

One Facebook follower of Hasan, Ruksana Arik, wrote: “Why will Cameron stop when he gets funded by the Jews. He has Jewish blood in him.” Mohammed Yusuf Khatri posted: “Americans and Zionist Jews are loving it.” Mudassir Dar’s contribution read: “Jews are devil deserve hell only.” Tan Moh implored: “Oh Allah please send the worse curse ever for the Jews who are killing innocent people!” Shafiq Abbasi wrote: “Showing their true colours the terrorist Jews.” Someone going by the name of ‘Moxemedqadar Blue Moon’ commented: “I think what these settlers did was to justify why Hitler burnt them to fumes.”

In the first six months of this year, 20% of the antisemitic incidents reported in the UK were online. It is time for the social networks to proactively seek out Jew hatred on their platforms.

,

Campaign Against Antisemitism Attends Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism

Campaign Against Antisemitism attended the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem at the invitation of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Forum was attended by senior representatives of governments and NGOs engaged in the fight against antisemitism and was opened by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We took the opportunity to continue to build the international partnerships necessary to advance our projects, particularly regarding social media.

Punishing antisemitic hate crime on social media requires that social networks cooperate with the British authorities. It is particularly important that social networks provide UK police forces with evidence such as IP addresses, which can be the key to identifying perpetrators.

We are seeking to recruit a General Counsel a Video and Content Creator an Education and Outreach Intern to join our London office

Join the fight

Subscribe
Volunteer
Donate

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.