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Former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke defends Jew-baiting musician Roger Waters in post about “Jewish power”

David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard, took to the social media platform Gab where he appeared to defend the Jew-baiting musician Roger Waters.

Gab is a social-media platform that was founded in 2016 with a claim to “champion free speech,” and has become a haven for supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory and other far-right groups and individuals banned from mainstream platforms.

Mr Duke, who has a long history of vile antisemitic views and is a prominent white supremacist, wrote: “​​The Jewish Global Deep State is at war with Roger Waters for daring to expose Israel’s crimes and the crimes of the Jewish controlled USA Gov’t and media. Waters also points out that Russian War in Ukraine was totally provoked (not unprovoked). He also dared to Show the Ukraine War is just one more NeoCon and NeoCommie War by the same usual suspects.”

The post was originally uncovered by Adam Ma’anit.

He continued: “The AP said Waters is accused of antisemitism but denies it. In truth Waters needs to go on the offensive. He should point out: Antisemitism today actually is nothing more of vile smear against anyone who dares to expose the UltraRacist Jewish Globalists behind both the Palestinian Nakba but also the insane Ukraine War. This proxy War caused by Jews is nothing more than Jewish power happy to sacrifice the lives and well-being of millions of Ukrainians, Russians and Europeans in an attempt to harm and destroy Christian Russia.”

Earlier this week, Campaign Against Antisemitism launched a petition calling on venues to stop hosting Mr Waters owing to his long history of baiting Jews, which he has now taken to the next level.

You can sign the petition here.

  • In the last week, Berlin police have confirmed an investigation after wide disgust at the costume worn by Mr Waters at a 17th May concert, where he compared Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who was murdered during the Holocaust, to a journalist killed in crossfire between terrorists and Israeli security forces last year in the Palestinian Authority.
  • In 2022, in an October episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Mr Waters denied being an antisemite, before going on to address a past concert in which he unveiled a balloon pig with a Star of David, alongside other various symbols, emblazoned on its side. He said: “Well, it’s a symbol of an oppressive state. I am lumping you in but it’s not just you.”
  • He continued: “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 openly criticised the International Definition of Antisemitism, complaining 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 2021, Mr Waters claimed that antisemitism is a “smear sword wielded at the behest of the Israeli Government”, stating: “The antisemitism smear sword that was wielded at the behest of the Israeli government, [was] 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.”
  • In 2020, the musician said that Zionism needs to be “removed”.
  • He also said that American leaders are puppets of the Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson. Mr Waters has also claimed that Israel teaches America how to “murder the blacks”. He later apologised for this latter remark.

Mr Waters is due to perform on several upcoming dates in the United Kingdom and South America, and regularly embarks on major tours across the United States and Europe.

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 used as a “smear”, and has a long history of baiting Jews. That his latest show apparently includes a visual equation of Israelis 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.

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CAA launches petition calling on venues to stop hosting Roger Waters

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a petition calling on venues to stop hosting Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd musician.

Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd musician, has a long history of baiting Jews, which he has now taken to the next level.

Venues must not platform his hate. You can sign the petition here.

  • In the last week, Berlin police have confirmed an investigation after wide disgust at the costume worn by Mr Waters at a 17th May concert, where he compared Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who was murdered during the Holocaust, to a journalist killed in crossfire between terrorists and Israeli security forces last year in the Palestinian Authority.
  • In 2022, in an October episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Mr Waters denied being an antisemite, before going on to address a past concert in which he unveiled a balloon pig with a Star of David, alongside other various symbols, emblazoned on its side. He said: “Well, it’s a symbol of an oppressive state. I am lumping you in but it’s not just you.”
  • He continued: “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 openly criticised the International Definition of Antisemitism, complaining 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 2021, Mr Waters claimed that antisemitism is a “smear sword wielded at the behest of the Israeli Government”, stating: “The antisemitism smear sword that was wielded at the behest of the Israeli government, [was] 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.”
  • In 2020, the musician said that Zionism needs to be “removed”.
  • He also said that American leaders are puppets of the Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson. Mr Waters has also claimed that Israel teaches America how to “murder the blacks”. He later apologised for this latter remark.

Mr Waters is due to perform on several upcoming dates in the United Kingdom and South America, and regularly embarks on major tours across the United States and Europe.

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 used as a “smear”, and has a long history of baiting Jews. That his latest show apparently includes a visual equation of Israelis 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.

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Former prison officer who shared neo-Nazi rap songs found guilty of possessing terrorist document

A former prison officer who shared neo-Nazi rap songs has today been found guilty of possessing a terrorist handbook called the White Resistance Manual.

However, Ashley Podsiad-Sharp, 42 from Barnsley, has been cleared on another terror-related charge.

Mr Podsiad-Sharp pleaded not guilty to one count of disseminating a terrorist document and not guilty to one count of possessing a document containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, the latter of which he was convicted.

Following an investigation into Mr Sharp’s online activity, he was arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing North East with the assistance of South Yorkshire Police in May 2022.

The defendant appeared at Sheffield Crown Court where he faced accusations of running an online fitness club in which he promoted terrorism through the use of neo-Nazi rap music.

Mr Podsiad-Sharp denied such allegations, reportedly stating that he was merely providing a social outlet for lonely “nationalists”.

Said to be the founder of the White Stag Athletic Club, Mr Podsiad-Sharp described the club as “nationalist boy scouts for grown-ups” which he said was “something beautiful, a brotherhood among a lot of men who have none — white working-class men”.

Mr Podsiad-Sharp did not deny sharing the inflammatory songs — some of which included lines about a “national socialist death squad”, sending Jews to “the ovens” and sprinkling “Zyklon like a condiment” (a reference to Zyklon B, the gas used to murder Jews in extermination camps during the Holocaust) — but said that they were used as a means of “shock humour” and “comedic parody”.

“It is shock humour. If someone who is not a national socialist hears it, they will be shocked, as you guys were. No doubt you think these jokes are horrible, sometimes jokes are horrible — it’s like how far is he willing to go for a laugh, a big part of it is braggadocio. 

“It is about how a national socialist sense of humour works. I do not think anybody in their right mind is going to listen to a rap song and conduct terrorism. The very idea is insulting to humanity.”

Denise Breen-Lawton, prosecuting, accused Mr Podsiad-Sharp of issuing a “call to action against the Jews” and “glorifying” the murder of black people, Muslims and homosexuals, to which he reportedly responded: “It is not supposed to glorify, it is supposed to be shocking.”

Mr Podsiad-Sharp also said that there was “very little evidence to support the Holocaust.”

Det Chf Supt James Dunkerley, of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “Tackling extremist and instructional material is an essential part of protecting the public and preventing it from potentially influencing or informing the actions of others. We will prosecute anyone found to be in possession of such material and will continue work with our partners to remove content of concern from online platforms.”

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Mr Podsiad-Sharp that the offence was “very serious” and “there is but one sentence in a case of this kind, and that is a sentence of imprisonment”.

He is due to be sentenced in July.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing North East

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CAA writes to cinema chain calling for the cancellation of Roger Waters film screenings

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to a leading cinema chain calling for it to cancel its screenings of Roger Waters’ new film.

Our letter to Everyman Cinemas, which is due to screen Roger Waters: This is Not A Drill, Live from Prague, comes in the wake of the former Pink Floyd musician reportedly beginning a recent concert in Berlin by announcing that he is not antisemitic, shortly 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.”

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Islamic Centre of England suspends activities amid Charity Commission investigation

The Islamic Centre of England has suspended all activities until “further notice”.

The news arrives after we reported earlier this month that the Charity Commission has taken action against the Centre, appointing an interim manager.

A notice affixed to the Centre’s locked gates reads: “After receiving the concerns of the community and for their safety, we are saddened to inform you that all upcoming programmes, including prayers, have been suspended until further notice.”

Solicitor Emma Moody has reportedly been tasked with overseeing the charity and undertaking a review of its governance and administration. The move follows numerous complaints against leaders at the Centre as a result of several concerning reports of inflammatory rhetoric towards Jews.

In March, Abbas Abedi, the Deputy Director of the Centre, was accused of making incendiary claims about Jews and Zionism in a series of speeches, which he denies. 

According to the JC, Mr Abedi gave a speech in Urdu in 2021, in which he said: “Jews took revenge on Muslims and tens of thousands of Palestinians were made homeless, their kids were slaughtered, women raped, thousands violated, kids killed… the Zionist lobby made this possible, it became possible due to American and UK help.”

In a separate speech, he is alleged to have said that Zionism was responsible for the creation of ISIS.

Mr Abedi reportedly claimed that “All people who are free believe that Zionism is the mother of terrorism…Zionism is the mother of ISIS. Don’t say ‘Islamic State’. Say ‘Israeli State in Iraq and the Levant’.”

The Deputy Director refused to accept the accusations, asserting that “Some politically motivated groups are trying to drag the charity into their political disputes.” He also reportedly suggested that “misinterpreting my old speeches” was a restriction of his liberty.

Also in March, it was reported that a cleric in Manchester, who is listed as a speaker at the Centre, gave a speech in which he praised an Iranian terror chief at an event where the audience chanted “Death to Israel”.

Cleric Farrokh Sekaleshfar was said to have appeared as a keynote speaker at a memorial event for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) terrorist mastermind, Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States in 2020. 

During the event in Qom, Iran, the audience is reported to have chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to England”. Mr Sekaleshfar is also reported to have described Soleimani as a “martyr” in a separate speech in 2021.

Earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to all MPs calling on them to back the Government’s reported proposal to proscribe IRGC under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and the Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, and all MPs with a dossier on the IRGC, detailing its horrendous record of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people.

In light of the mounting pressure to proscribe the IRGC, there have been calls made to close the Centre, which is located just minutes from several synagogues in the area. The Centre is believed to serve as an office for Iran’s Supreme Leader, and its Director, Seyed Hashem Moosavi, is understood to have been appointed by the regime as a mid-ranking cleric.

The institution also aired an Iranian propaganda film, posted on IRGC websites, featuring children singing a song that referenced an apocalyptic myth about murdering Jews, according to the JC. The Islamic Centre denied that its “local version of the song” carried the same meaning. It also has a history of publishing inflammatory rhetoric about Zionists and extolled Iranian support for the antisemitic terror groups Hamas and Hizballah.

Charity Commission Chairman, Orlando Fraser KC, said: “We need to act robustly where serious concerns about a charity exist, so that the public, and the charity sector itself, can have confidence in what it means to have charitable status. The appointment of an interim manager will help the Commission ensure the charity’s governance is restored and is improved to a better standard.”

Image credit: Google

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Following action from CAA, former barrister Ian Millard to be prosecuted for five offences contrary to Communications Act

Following action from Campaign Against Antisemitism, the former barrister Ian Millard is set to be prosecuted for five offences contrary to section 127 (1)(a) Communications Act 2003 in relation to the posting of grossly offensive material relating to his assertions regarding the Jewish race on his blog.

In October 2016, the Bar Standards Board found Mr Millard to be guilty of professional misconduct due to his extensive use of Twitter as a vehicle to publicise his antisemitic and extreme right-wing views, leading to him being banned from the profession.

In April 2021, Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Director of Investigations and Enforcement handed a dossier of evidence collected from Mr Millard’s blog to Hampshire Police.

Nine months later, we were informed that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would be taking no further action. This decision was challenged via the Victims’ Right to Review scheme.

In April of this year, fifteen months after the submission to the scheme was made, we were informed that the CPS intended to prosecute Mr Millard.

At a hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court this past Tuesday, the case was adjourned to a date in the near future. Mr Millard stated that he would be entering a plea of “not guilty”.

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Woman rants at identifiably Jewish man about Zionists taking over Tottenham in video

A video appears to show a woman ranting at an identifiably Jewish man about Zionists taking over the north London area of Tottenham. 

In the video, a woman sitting outside of a restaurant can be heard saying: “Don’t want you in Tottenham, you’re not welcome. Stay in Muswell Hill. And I’m not being racist.”

She then goes on: “This is my country. We’re not Israel. You can be Zionist wherever you like in the whole wide world. I’m not anti-Jewish. I’m anti you Zionists coming in and thinking you can take over Tottenham like you did Muswell Hill, and all I’m saying is, isn’t it big enough for you?”

As the video continues, she says: “You are not welcome to come into Tottenham and freaking take it over…how many places in London do you want to take over?”

The incident occurred at approximately 14:00 on 23rd May outside of the Rose Cafe & Restaurant on Philip Lane in Tottenham, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 3743 24/05/23.

A statement released by Haringey Council said of the incident: “We are incredibly shocked and angered to see the recent video of a Jewish resident being subjected to abhorrent antisemitic abuse on Philip Lane in Tottenham.

“There is no place for antisemitism in Haringey, not now and not ever. Zero tolerance must mean zero tolerance when it comes to hate and bigotry. Our diversity is our greatest strength, and our Jewish communities are an essential part of the vibrant tapestry of our borough.

“We have been intensely liaising with the police to ensure that this matter is dealt with swiftly. It’s vital that the perpetrator is brought to justice. We are also engaging with our Jewish communities to offer support, as well as provide information about channels for reporting hate incidents.

“We continue to work to ensure that Haringey is a place where all of our diverse communities can feel safe, included, and proud to call their home. Hatred like this simply will not be tolerated in our borough.”

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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‘Jewish Matchmaking’ star Aleeza Ben Shalom urges people to take action against antisemitism

Aleeza Ben Shalom, the host of the new Netflix Series Jewish Matchmaking – a programme where Jewish singles employ the help of Aleeza to help them find a partner – appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where she spoke about the role that antisemitism played in the show, and urged people to take action against Jew-hatred.

Cindy, one of the women on the show, revealed that one of the motivating factors behind why she wants to marry someone Jewish is because of the antisemitism that her family has had to endure. She went on to say that her grandfather had survived the Holocaust and that her great-grandmother fled Libya with gold in her bra in order to preserve her Judaism.

Ms Ben Shalom said on the podcast that it was “tremendous” that Cindy was willing to speak candidly about her family’s experiences with antisemitism. However, Ms Ben Shalom noted that she was not surprised that these were motivating factors for Cindy, as she has come across similar sentiments throughout her career.

The matchmaker said: “I work with people from all over the world, so I will often hear things like ‘Of course I need a Jewish partner. Around here, who else is going to marry you? I’m not in a place where it’s safe to even marry outside of being Jewish. I have to.’”

Speaking on how the rise in antisemitism has impacted Jewish singles’ dating preferences, Ms Ben Shalom noted: “I think now people have an awareness of ‘I may not be accepted by somebody else’s family because I’m Jewish, and so it’s probably going to be easier for me, instead of walking into another culture or another background, and trying to explain myself and why it’s okay and why it’s okay that our kids are going to also be Jewish…’ People have all of these thoughts.”

Recent statistics have shown that, in the United States, antisemitism is at the highest that it has been in over 40 years.

Ms Ben Shalom said: “40 years ago, it was at a high point. Now, again, it’s at a high point. I think there was a middle lull where, ‘Eh, we’re not super concerned, it doesn’t matter.’ Now, we’re in the ‘Oh my gosh, I either have to hide my Judaism again or I have to make sure to marry within the faith, or else this relationship isn’t going to sustain the larger family I’m marrying into.’”

Jewish Matchmaking also challenged viewers on their perceptions of Jews by introducing them to Nakysha, a Jewish woman with Black ancestry who raised questions of what a Jew is “supposed to look like”.

“We have people that are born Jewish that are Black, or of any origin or background. As you know, Jews are in almost every country in the world, we’re all over the place,” Ms Ben Shalom said. “I think there’s a stereotypical ‘Jewish picture’ of what a Jew looks like and I think, if anything, this show said ‘No, actually you’re wrong. There is no stereotypical Jew. We look different, we sound different, sometimes we speak many different languages. If you’re Jewish, you’re Jewish, and none of those other things matter.” 

“We haven’t seen that enough in the media to realise how diverse we are in the people,” she said, before imploring Jews to “Stand proud and stand tall.” 

Ms Ben Shalom went on to encourage people to stand up against antisemitism.

She stated: “Get educated. What is the battle that we’re fighting? Why are we fighting it? And how can we overcome the challenges that are in front of us? When we activate our curiosity about something, we learn something, and then we do something. My advice is to get curious and learn. 

“Activate your knowledge and then activate your body, your hands, your feet, and make an impact in the world, by doing something, by saying something. Support those who are fighting antisemitism, but do something with the wisdom you have once you have it. Listen and do. Listen, learn, find out what you need to know, do something, make an act in the world. In this world, we need action, immediately, as fast as possible.” 

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

Image credit: Netflix

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TikTok prankster fined £365 by judge, but not for his harassment of Jews

A TikTok prankster was fined £365 today, but not for his persistent harassment of Jews.

The prankster known as Mizzy appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice after one of his videos in which he entered a family’s home went viral. 

In addition to the fine, it is also understood that a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order has been placed upon him by Judge Charlotte Crangle, during which time he must comply with restrictions on his social media output, he must not trespass onto private property, and he must not visit the Westfields Stratford City shopping centre.  

Mizzy, whose real name is Bacari Ogarro, elicited widespread outrage earlier this week over his recent videos, which led to his arrest. However, the furore came only after he started targeting people other than Jews, despite the fact that earlier this year, the prankster uploaded a near-identical video in which he entered a different family’s home.

However, despite the similarities between the two videos of Mr Ograrro entering family homes, the principal difference being that the older video featured the home of religious Jews, it appears only now that news outlets and even Members of Parliament have covered the story and spoken up, with one describing the videos as “abhorrent”.

Bafflingly, The Independent has released an exclusive interview with the prankster, in which it provided him with a platform to defend himself against the criticism. Mr Ogarro said: “I’m a Black male doing these things and that’s why there’s such an uproar on the internet.” 

Otherwise, he seemed satisfied that his inane and awful videos were receiving attention. The article does not include any statement from Jewish community groups.

Earlier this year, we reported that the TikTok user had been arrested for “assaulting a member of the Jewish community.” Mr Ogarro was reportedly held for 36 hours by police for a video involving an identifiably Jewish boy last year.

Another video appeared to show him wearing a traditional Orthodox Jewish hat whilst performing a crass imitation, while yet another video featured him entering the home of visibly Jewish people without their knowledge.

According to the police statement at the time, the arrest was “a result of the Shomrim notifying police and sharing footage of the assault which has been circulated on social media.”

Following action from Campaign Against Antisemitism, TikTok removed many of Mr Ogarro’s accounts.

Stamford Hill Shomrim is a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, with which Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely and with which we have an information sharing agreement.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “There may be no better use of the phrase ‘Jews Don’t Count’ than a TikTok prankster being publically chastised for carrying out dangerous stunts only a few months after testing them out on Jews first. The prankster known as Mizzy cut his teeth on putting Jews in harm’s way, when he knew no one would care, and while we welcome his re-arrest after his reckless and threatening videos, where was the outrage when his targets were just Jews?”

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2021 showed that over two thirds of British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

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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.”

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Why do Jews not matter? Outrage over TikTok prankster emerges only after he starts targeting people other than Jews

A TikTok prankster has elicited widespread outrage over his recent videos, but only since he started targeting people other than Jews.

Earlier this year, we reported that the TikTok user, known online as Mizzy, was arrested for “assaulting a member of the Jewish community.”

Mizzy, whose real name is Bacari Ogarro, appeared to confirm on his Instagram account that he had been arrested by posting an image of the police statement, adding that he had been held for 36 hours by police for a video involving an identifiably Jewish boy last year.

Another video appeared to show him wearing a traditional Orthodox Jewish hat whilst performing a crass imitation, while yet another video featured him entering the home of visibly Jewish people without their knowledge.

According to the police statement at the time, the arrest was “a result of the Shomrim notifying police and sharing footage of the assault which has been circulated on social media.”

Stamford Hill Shomrim is a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, with which Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely and with which we have an information sharing agreement.

According to new reports, Mr Ogarro has once again been arrested, this time after another video in which he enters a different family’s home went viral.

However, despite the similarities between the two videos of Mr Ograrro entering family homes, the principal difference being that the older video featured the home of religious Jews, it appears that only now how news outlets and even Members of Parliament covered the story and spoken up, with one describing the videos as “abhorrent”.

Bafflingly, The Independent has released an exclusive interview with the prankster, in which it provided him with a platform to defend himself against the criticism. Mr Ogarro said: “I’m a Black male doing these things and that’s why there’s such an uproar on the internet.” Otherwise, he seemed satisfied that his inane and awful videos were receiving attention. The article does not include any statement from Jewish community groups.

Late last night, the Metropolitan Police released a statement in which it said: “An eighteen-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and is currently in police custody.”

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of the Central East Command Unit, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “I do not underestimate the widespread upset, distress and concern that these videos caused. Some people have referred to these as ‘prank’ videos, but I hope that this significant development demonstrates just how seriously we have been taking this investigation since this footage began circulating online. 

“A number of these videos were produced, impacting on many different people and our investigation remains ongoing as we seek to build a strong picture of both the activity featured in the footage and impact on the public.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “There may be no better use of the phrase ‘Jews Don’t Count’ than a TikTok prankster being publically chastised for carrying out dangerous stunts only a few months after testing them out on Jews first. The prankster known as Mizzy cut his teeth on putting Jews in harm’s way, when he knew no one would care, and while we welcome his re-arrest after his reckless and threatening videos, where was the outrage when his targets were just Jews?”

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2021 showed that over two thirds of British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

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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.

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Swastika drawn onto tree in Kilburn

A swastika has been drawn onto a tree in the north west London area of Kilburn, a Twitter user reported this afternoon.

A photograph shows the tree, said to be located on Kilburn High Road, with an orange swastika inside of a pink heart on its trunk.

Earlier this week, we reported that a swastika was spotted on a wall in Watford.

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

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Goldsmiths announces barrister for independent investigation into antisemitism

Goldsmiths, University of London has announced the barrister who will be leading its “independent review into antisemitism at the College”. 

Senior barrister Mohinderpal Sethi KC will lead the investigation, in which current and former University students and staff will have the opportunity to become involved by coming forward with their own experiences.  

The report is expected to be presented by next year.

The investigation was announced last year after Professor David Hirsh was reportedly called a “far-right white supremacist” by its then-Students’ Union President.

Initially, the Students’ Union apparently refused to investigate Sara Bafo, its now-former President, following allegations of antisemitism, despite being requested to do so by the University.

Ms Bafo’s alleged tweet was said to have been written in response to a tweet from Prof. Hirsh, a prominent and highly-respected antisemitism expert, which said: “There is an antisemitic edge to official, institutional, university campaigns to ‘decolonise’ education.”

In response to the University’s request for the investigation, Ms Bafo tweeted that the University “has tried to get the SU trustee board to investigate me for a tweet I made in response to a Zionist Goldsmiths academic’s explicit racist history & his delegitimisation of ‘Decolonisation’ campaigns,” adding: “This was a dirty tactic from the institution to silence me further as I was leaving.”

However, despite the Student’s Union denying the investigation on grounds of “free speech”, the University announced that an independent probe will take place.

Frances Corner, the Warden of Goldsmiths, said at the time: “We are supporting Dr Hirsh after unwarranted messages about him were posted on social media which I believe are utterly without foundation. These kinds of behaviours are completely unacceptable and will always be challenged.

“As Warden I want to make it clear that this kind of conduct is not in line with the College’s values and that it brings harm to individuals as well as our good reputation as a place of learning.”

Prof. Hirsh said of the probe: “I am really pleased that the leadership of Goldsmiths is taking this difficult and courageous step. I have been clear that there is a hostile environment at the college for scholars and students who refuse to embrace anti-Zionism.”

Last year, the University also announced that it would adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism but “without the case studies.” 

In addition, it said that it would also adopt the Jerusalem Declaration, which is a wrecking document intended to undermine the globally-recognised Definition, owing to the fact that the University’s “academic community” favoured it. 

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].org.

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Swastika graffiti scrawled onto wall in Watford

A swastika has been drawn onto a wall in Watford.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has seen a photograph that appears to show a large, black swastika scrawled onto a wall near Watford High Street.

The hate symbol was said to have been spotted this morning at approximately 9:30.

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

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CAA marks Mental Health Awareness Week with podcast about impact of antisemitism on Jewish mental health

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, CAA has released a new episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism which looks at the impact of antisemitism on Jewish mental health.

We spoke with Asher M. Seruya and Laur Plawker, the hosts of Kvetching on the Couch, a podcast that looks at Jewish mental health.

Ms Seruya is a social worker and psychotherapist specialising in trauma-informed care, weight stigma, and eating disorder recovery, while Ms Plawker is a Suicide Prevention Specialist who works at the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teenagers and young adults in the United States.

The pair discussed the ways in which antisemitism can contribute towards anxiety in Jews, during which time topics such as intergenerational trauma, news reports of violent antisemitism, and hate on social media were raised.

Ms Seruya said: “When you see people like you being attacked, you’re going to feel anxious about it. You’re gonna be scared and nervous, because how could you not be?”

Ms Plawker noted that “we experience so much [antisemitism] now via social media and the internet, and that means that whether or not you are experiencing antisemitism when you walk down the street, you are constantly exposed to antisemitism.”

“With that being true,” they added, “it’s important to give yourself some grace in experiencing feelings of anxiety as it pertains to antisemitism. It’s everywhere, it’s pervasive, it’s in the palms of our hands, in our phones, it’s a part of online rhetoric and discourse, it’s in the news.”

Ms Seruya spoke of the anxiety associated with antisemitism occurring in unexpected spaces.

Directing the conversation to spaces that promote progressive and inclusive values, in which the pair both spend time, Ms Seruya said: “You think Jews would be included in that, and yet, a lot of times they’re not, and in fact, we are the villains in the story. And that’s really complicated when maybe the one space that you thought could be welcoming to you, isn’t, so where can you go? That’s extremely anxiety-inducing.”

When asked about what effects someone may experience when they come across a piece of antisemitic social media content, Ms Seruya spoke of the physiological symptoms of anxiety.

“Mine are getting very warm, flushed cheeks, that really intense panic in your chest,” she said. 

“I also experience anxiety somatically,” Ms Plawker said, “I feel a heaviness. It often feels like a fatigue overcomes me and it quite literally feels like a physical weight in my bones that seeps over me, and often, it leads to the feeling of paralysis, not necessarily in a literal sense but that I don’t know what to do next, I don’t know the move…I find myself very still in a way I find very uncomfortable…frozen in fear, in anxiety.”

Ms Plawker, speaking on her own experience, added: “I’ve posted a picture of a challah that I made, and it’s just a picture of a challah…and in the comments, I’ll get something hateful from people who know it’s a Jewish bread. It really doesn’t need to be an antisemitic post with antisemitic content. So often, it just catches you fully by surprise, and how anxiety-inducing is that? 

“You might have been looking at a challah-braiding video, like ‘I’m so excited to try this out, that looks like something I can do,’ and then in the comments, you might see ‘I wish you were dead.’ And that’s a horrible experience.”

Speaking on the issue of intergenerational trauma, Ms Seruya described it as trauma that is “passed down physiologically and psychologically from each generation, and for Jewish people, this can look a lot of different ways, just like with many other people who are parts of communities that have also been systematically and historically marginalised and traumatised, including mental health issues like anxiety, which also extends to OCD, nightmares about things you’ve never personally experienced. That’s actually one there’s a lot of evidence for.” 

The psychotherapist added: “I should note, a lot of the intergenerational trauma research is actually focused on Holocaust survivors, and on the children of Holocaust survivors. We are in no way, shape or form the only community that experiences it but a lot of the research comes from that, so we do actually have a lot of research that suggests that children of Holocaust survivors, and also not of Holocaust survivors, have a lot of nightmares about fires. It’s just a very common trope within nightmares for Jewish people, statistically.” 

They described how another manifestation of intergenerational trauma among Jews is the perception of food scarcity due to such historical experiences within the Jewish community. 

“Even when we may not have literal food scarcity in our present, we can still feel perceived food scarcity because of the genetic aspects of trauma, and how that can live within you, even if its not your personal lived experience,” they explained.

Ms Plawker, whose grandmother survived the Holocaust, revealed how through conversations with her sister about their childhood, they realised that they had both been experiencing intergenerational trauma.

“Something we both came to the, frankly horrific, realisation of is that we had both identified hiding spaces in our childhood home in case the Nazis came,” she said. “No one told us to do that. Our parents certainly hadn’t told us to do that. Our grandmother had never had that conversation with us. We just, independently of one another, had identified those spaces. I can tell you now where every single exit of the synagogue I grew up in is. Again, no one told me to do that. There weren’t safety trainings for that. It’s just something I carry with me and when I go into spaces, where I am gathering with other Jewish people, I make sure I know where the exits are, and it’s instinctual. It’s immediate. And that’s both an anxiety response and a trauma response. 

“I’m sharing a piece of me, and a piece of my experience, but I don’t think that’s isolated to being my own experience. I think a lot of Jewish people have similar experiences.”

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

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Defendants plead “not guilty” to stirring up racial hatred over reported “Khaybar” chant at London protest

Two men who have been charged with stirring up racial hatred after they reportedly performed the “Khaybar” chant at a London protest in 2021 pleaded “not guilty” today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The chant “Khaybar Khaybar, ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad, sa yahud” can be translated in English as “Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.”

The “Khaybar” chant is a classic Arabic battle cry referencing the massacre and expulsion of the Jews of the town of Khaybar in northwestern Arabia, now Saudi Arabia, in the year 628 CE. The chant has been heard in numerous anti-Israel rallies in Britain and abroad.

Khaldoun Ahmad El-Ali, 27, and Mohammad Jihad Al Safi, 25, had the charges brought against them after they were identified by CST.

The pair have been released on unconditional bail until the preliminary hearing.

A CST spokesman said at the time: “CST welcomes these charges and thanks the police for all the work they have done on this investigation following our original complaint. We hope this sends out a powerful signal regarding chanting on anti-Israel protests.”

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Student who posted antisemitic content found guilty of plotting to blow up Newcastle police station 

A student was found guilty of plotting to blow up a Newcastle police station this week.

Luke Skelton, nineteen from Washington, was convicted at Teesside Crown Court of preparing to commit acts of terrorism.

The jury’s decision came after a previous panel failed to reach a decision.

The court heard that Mr Skelton absorbed far-right ideology whilst researching bomb-making. The student, between the dates of October 2020 and October 2021, carried out a “hostile reconnaissance” of Forth Banks police station in Newcastle, in which he would take photographs and conduct searches for CCTV cameras, whilst he was a student at Gateshead College.

Nicholas De La Poer KC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Skelton had professed an admiration for Adolf Hitler and Oswald Mosley, and that searches for neo-Nazi content were discovered on his devices. The prosecution said that Mr Skelton posted antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, and other racist and sexist comments online. 

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “The defendant’s anger towards society, together with his extreme right-wing views, created a dangerous foundation from which his sinister plans were ultimately built.

“He was strongly motivated by this mindset, which continued to fuel his actions and his later offending, despite repeated attempts to draw him away from it. The evidence clearly demonstrated that he was not just a person who held strong views but a terrorist who wanted to cause serious harm.

“It is more important than ever that everyone plays their part in tackling terrorism. We have seen from this case that terrorists research and sometimes visit the places they plan to attack.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing North East

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Far-right podcaster who admired Hitler and spoke of hanging Jewish people jailed over antisemitic and racist podcasts

A far-right podcaster has been jailed for producing antisemitic and racist podcasts on grounds of stirring up racial hatred.

James Allchurch, 51 from Pembrokeshire, was discovered to have created the website “Radio Aryan”, later named “Radio Albion”, in order to upload antisemitic and racist podcasts.

Mr Allchurch was found guilty of ten offences contrary to section 21 of the Public Order Act 1986, and not guilty on five counts, and has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

Mr Allchurch was said to have distributed recordings that included the titles “Rivers Of Blood”, “Banned In The UK”, “The Leftist Supremacist Mindset”, and “The Usual Suspects”. The offences were said to have taken place in Gelli, a village in south Wales.

In hearings, Mr Allchurch requested that he be referred to as “Sven Longshanks”, his podcasting name which is apparently taken from King Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks, who expelled the Jews from England in 1290.

Last year, the prosecution, referring to the podcasts in question, told the court that “These recordings are insulting or abusive and were distributed with intent to stir up racial hated,” labelling the recordings “highly racist and highly antisemitic in nature” as well as “white supremacist in nature”.

The jury was played fifteen episodes of the podcast, in which Mr Allchurch reportedly introduced a song that said that the world was better when Black people were enslaved and Jews were persecuted under Adolf Hitler as “one of his favourite tracks”. 

There was also talk about hanging Jewish people, while in another extract it was said: “No other race is equal to the white race.”

Other recordings allegedly made reference to Jewish people controlling the media, banks, and television and film industries.

In a raid of his home, police reportedly discovered a notebook belonging to Mr Allchurch containing usernames and passwords which included entries such as “JewsAreTheEnemy”, “RaceWarMessiah” and reference to the numbers 14 and 88. 

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

Mr Allchurch was said to have been joined by guests on the podcast, one of which reportedly included Alex Davies, who was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison last year after he was convicted of membership of the neo-Nazi terrorist group, National Action.

Judge Rees, sentencing, said that Mr Allchurch “had an agenda of racial hatred’ and that “it beggars belief that someone would want to speak these words at all”. 

He described the content of the podcasts as “vile”, and that “Listening to them as the jury had to was a disturbing experience.” 

Speaking to Mr Allchurch directly, he said: “You were bent on inciting racial hatred…you chose your words carefully to that end.”

Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “The hateful and grotesque views that Allchurch shared on his podcast were a threat to our society, and it is right that the jury found him guilty of his crimes. 

“There is no place in society for these beliefs, and the CPS will continue to prosecute all cases involving hate crime where there is sufficient evidence to do so.” 

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The hateful rhetoric of the virulently antisemitic podcaster James Allchurch, who spoke of hanging Jewish people on his programme, has no place in civilised society. It is only right that this sick Hitler admirer has been handed a jail sentence. We commend the sensible decisions of the judge and jury.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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Suspension of Labour councillor called into question yet again

The Labour Party’s claim to have suspended a councillor is once again being called into question, nine months after similar concerns were raised, after further evidence has arisen appearing to show that the local Labour group continues to include him in its activities.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, who served, until his reported suspension, as the leader of the Labour Group on Pendle Council in Lancashire, was reportedly suspended last year by the Party over remarks that he made in a speech in April in which he called for the flag of the Palestinian Authority to be flown from the town hall.

He reportedly said: “The fact is that what’s going on in Ukraine, Palestine, and other areas I’ve mentioned, reminds me, I barely passed my GCSE history at school, but many people in this room will remember what justification Hitler had for what he did to the Jews in the Second World War.”

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

Cllr Iqbal reportedly told the JC at the time: “I disagree that this is antisemitic. I have friends who are Jews and Israeli friends who are Jewish and from other faiths.” He apparently added that several Jewish people had contacted him to express their support.

Campaign Against Antisemitism was informed that Cllr Iqbal continued to enjoy membership of the Labour Group at the Council, despite his apparent suspension. We had, for example, seen a press release sent via e-mail by Cllr Iqbal on behalf of the Labour Group, and a sign-in sheet in which he continued to be listed as a Labour councillor.

It appears that now, nine months later, little has changed, as photographs produced by the JC appear to show Cllr Iqbal campaigning during the recent local elections. 

Andrew Stephenson, the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Pendle, questioned how legitimate Cllr Iqbal’s suspension was.

“Since his supposed ‘suspension’ from the Labour Party, Cllr Iqbal has continued to sit with the Labour group in Pendle Council and Lancashire County Council,” he said. “He was seen repeatedly out campaigning for Labour in the run up to the local elections and then attended the count to celebrate alongside other Labour councillors.”

He added: “It is therefore unclear what his ‘suspension’ actually means. In the light of the Pendle Labour Party turning a blind eye to antisemitism Sir Keir Starmer should launch an investigation into the local Labour party and make Cllr Iqbal’s suspension permanent.”

Anne-Marie Wrigley, Vice-Chair of Pendle Labour Party, rebuffed Mr Stephenson, whom she called a “desperate man”, and reaffirmed that Cllr Iqbal’s suspension was still in effect. 

She said: “After thirteen years as MP for Pendle Andrew Stephenson is now resorting to personal attacks against Labour Party members because he has seen the tide has turned. This is a desperate man worried more about his ministerial career than anything else.

“Cllr Iqbal is suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation which we hope will be concluded soon. He cannot act on behalf of the Labour Party.”

The Labour Party was found by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to have engaged in unlawful discrimination and harassment of Jews. The report followed the EHRC’s investigation of the Labour Party in which Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant, submitting hundreds of pages of evidence and legal argument. Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Labour Party.

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

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

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Conservative MP embroiled in controversy over use of “cultural Marxism” phrase

A Conservative MP has become embroiled in controversy over her use of the phrase “cultural Marxism”.

Speaking on young people’s futures at this year’s National Conservatism conference, Miriam Cates MP told the audience: “That hope is sadly diminishing in so many of our young people today, because liberal individualism has proven to be completely powerless to resist the cultural Marxism that is systematically destroying our children’s souls.

“When culture, schools and universities openly teach that our country is racist, our heroes are villains, humanity is killing the Earth, you are what you desire, diversity is theology, boundaries are tyranny and self-restraint is oppression, is it any wonder that mental health conditions, self-harm and suicide, and epidemic levels of anxiety and confusion characterise the emerging generation?”

The phrase “cultural Marxism” is popular in far-right circles to allude to the perceived collapse of societal values as masterminded by Jews. It has also spread, with innocuous intent, to the mainstream political right, but still risks being understood by the far-right as a dog whistle even when this is not intended, as is the case with Ms Cates.

In 2020, the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism (APPG) warned a group of Conservative MPs and peers against the use of the controversial phrase “cultural Marxism”, noting that the term could “inadvertently” act as a “dog-whistle for the far-right”, where the phrase is increasingly popular.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Terms such as ‘cultural Marxism’ can function as an antisemitic dog whistle, even if they are not always intended as such. The phrase is often used as a coded means of pinning the perceived degradation of society on Jews, implying that they are masterminding a widespread collapse of values and ethics for their own gain, thereby employing the antisemitic trope of wielding power and influence and drawing upon the far-right believe that Jews are moral degenerates.

“While there is no indication that Miriam Cates meant the phrase in this way, politicians should generally endeavour to find better terms to promote their politics.”

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

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Solihull man pleads guilty to sharing white supremacist content 130 times

A man has pleaded guilty to stirring up racial hatred by sharing 130 pieces of white supremacist content.

Richard Osbourne, 53 from Solihull, was said to have posted content to the Russian social media platform VK, which is believed to have an active user base of at least 60 million.

Birmingham Crown Court heard that Mr Osbourne posted 120 pieces of content that targeted Jews and other groups between 16th February 2022 and 9th January 2023. 

He reportedly posted another ten pieces that were said to have attacked people based on sexual orientation between 24th September 2021 and 1st December 2022.

It was said that Mr Osbourne shared a moving image of the flag of National Action, the neo-Nazi terrorist group that was proscribed by the British Government following repeated calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Mr Osbourne also pleaded guilty to possessing a shotgun without a license. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Google

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London anti-Israel rally featuring Nazi comparisons and calls to “End Zionism” attended by myriad of disgraced figures

Today’s anti-Israel protest outside Downing Street in London, believed to have been attended by thousands, featured a number of comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.

Volunteers from Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit were present at the protest to gather evidence.

One sign read “Free Palestine from German guilt,” while a large banner placed near the BBC’s headquarters made a comparison between Israel and Nazi Germany. A sign affixed to a bicycle presented a swastika next to the Israeli flag.

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

Signs calling to “End” and “Smash” Zionism were present, as were placards calling Israel a “racist” state. Examples can be seen here and here.

The chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was heard throughout the rally. Signs and clothing bearing the words of the chant were also on display.

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of the Definition. 

According to the Definition, “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination (e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour)” is an example of antisemitism.

Calls for another “intifada” were also heard. The “intifada” is widely understood as the campaign of Arab terrorist violence against Jewish Israeli targets in the early 2000s that claimed hundreds of civilian lives and brought an end to the peace process.

One prominent sign at the event, aimed at Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, read: “Racist Starmer supports Zionism without question”. 

Additionally, support for Leila Khaled, a convicted terrorist, plane hijacker and member of the violent Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who took part in two terrorist hijackings in 1969 and 1970, was on display.

The antisemitic former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was one of the event’s featured speakers and issued “a huge thank you to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, not just for today, but for all the days that they’re campaigning.”

A month-long investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism in 2017 exposed extensive antisemitic bigotry amongst Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) supporters on social media. Earlier this year, a PSC branch published an Instagram post calling Zionists “brainwashed racists” who should be fired from their places of work.

Delia Mattis, a self-described “social justice activist” who claims to be the Founder of Black Lives Matter Enfield, also took to the stage to address the crowd. During her speech, she said that Zionism was “a psychotic ideology” and that Israel “stood for white supremacy.”

Attendees at the event included the disgraced Reverand Dr Stephen Sizer, who in January was handed a twelve-year ban by the Church of England after having been found to have “engaged in antisemitic activity” by a tribunal of the Church of England, and the controversial activist Jim Curran who was spotted holding a sign that read “The Nakba was a Holocaust”. Mr Curran has been seen with similar signs in the past and is a regular attendee at a group called Keep Talking, a group of far-right and far-left conspiracy theorists who come together to promote antisemitism.

The protest was also attended by the controversial environmental group, Just Stop Oil, whose founder, Roger Hallam, previously described the Holocaust as “just another f***ery in human history.”

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Similar signs and chants were on display at last month’s “Al Quds Day” rally in central London.

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

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Newly-elected Conservative councillor suspended pending antisemitism investigation

A newly-elected councillor, who was barred from running for Labour after the Party was alerted to his history of inflammatory activity on social media but who was endorsed instead by the Conservatives as their candidate, has now been suspended pending an investigation.

Shakeel Munir Hussain had hoped to run as a Labour candidate in Stockton-on-Tees in the local election as he has on previous occasions, but after being blocked by the Party, he then ran instead for the Conservatives in the Ropner ward.

Mr Hussain’s posts, shares and likes on Facebook allegedly include Rothschild conspiracy theories, comparisons of Israel to the Nazis, suggestions that Israel is in league with ISIS, and claims that “the world knows all too well that their governments are controlled by Zionist money” and that the Jews control American politics, all of which are antisemitic tropes.

Mr Hussain ran for the Labour Party in 2019 and 2021, before a member of the public drew the Party’s attention to his social media history. Most of that activity predates those elections and apparently was not picked up by the Party or was ignored. The Conservative Party then committed the same error.

After being alerted, the Conservatives appeared to try to distance themselves from Mr Hussain, with the Party revealing days before the election that he “would not be allowed to join the Conservative group on the council, if elected, until any investigations had been completed.”

Mr Hussain was elected, although the Conservative Party’s position, for a time, remained unclear, with the Stockton Conservative Group leader reportedly saying: “Ropner is a really, really great win. The two councillors who won have worked their socks off. They know the issues, the residents are fed up with Labour, they complain about the same issues time after time.”

However, it has now been reported that an internal party investigation into Mr Hussain’s posts has been launched, during which time he will remain suspended.

Elsewhere, in North Lincolnshire, Conservative candidate Ashley Sykes, who was standing for the Ashby Lakeside ward, was suspended by the Party after allegedly sharing jokes about the Holocaust online. A spokepserson for the Conservatives said that the Party had “acted swiftly” to suspend Mr Sykes after becoming aware of the historic posts. Mr Sykes did not win his contest.

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

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“F***ing Jew, he’s a f***ing devil”: Video footage appears to show man threatening Jewish person on London bus

Newly surfaced video footage appears to show a man physically threatening a Jewish person on a London bus.

The man in the video can be seen shouting what appears to be slurs to the person recording.

At one point, the man appears to say: “You shouldn’t be in Palestine, you’re some f***ing murderers…kill people’s children.”

A few moments later, he seems to say “F***ing Jew, he’s a f***ing devil.”

As the situation progresses, the man seems to grow increasingly agitated and jabs at the person recording him with what appears to be a metal pole. 

The person recording repeatedly says “Don’t hit me” before the video abruptly ends.

The alleged incident occurred at approximately 9:00 on 11th May on the 253 bus route from Finsbury Park to Stamford Hill, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 1929/11/5/23.

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Charity Commission takes action against the Islamic Centre of England following concerns over leadership

The Charity Commission has taken action against the Islamic Centre of England (ICE), appointing an interim manager.

Solicitor Emma Moody has reportedly been tasked with overseeing the charity and undertaking a review of its governance and administration. The move follows numerous complaints against leaders at ICE as a result of several concerning reports of inflammatory rhetoric towards Jews.

In March, Abbas Abedi, the Deputy Director of ICE, was accused of making incendiary claims about Jews and Zionism in a series of speeches, which he denies. 

According to the JC, Mr Abedi gave a speech in Urdu in 2021, in which he said: “Jews took revenge on Muslims and tens of thousands of Palestinians were made homeless, their kids were slaughtered, women raped, thousands violated, kids killed… the Zionist lobby made this possible, it became possible due to American and UK help.”

In a separate speech, he is alleged to have said that Zionism was responsible for the creation of ISIS.

Mr Abedi reportedly claimed that “All people who are free believe that Zionism is the mother of terrorism…Zionism is the mother of ISIS. Don’t say ‘Islamic State’. Say ‘Israeli State in Iraq and the Levant’.”

The Deputy Director refused to accept the accusations, asserting that “Some politically motivated groups are trying to drag the charity into their political disputes.” He also reportedly suggested that “misinterpreting my old speeches” was a restriction of his liberty.

Also in March, it was reported that a cleric in Manchester, who is listed as a speaker at ICE, gave a speech in which he praised an Iranian terror chief at an event where the audience chanted “Death to Israel”.

Cleric Farrokh Sekaleshfar was said to have appeared as a keynote speaker at a memorial event for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) terrorist mastermind, Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States in 2020. 

During the event in Qom, Iran, the audience is reported to have chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to England”. Mr Sekaleshfar is also reported to have described Soleimani as a “martyr” in a separate speech in 2021.

Earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to all MPs calling on them to back the Government’s reported proposal to proscribe IRGC under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and the Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, and all MPs with a dossier on the IRGC, detailing its horrendous record of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people.

In light of the mounting pressure to proscribe the IRGC, there have been calls made to close ICE, which is located just minutes from several synagogues in the area. The Centre is believed to serve as an office for Iran’s Supreme Leader, and its Director, Seyed Hashem Moosavi, is understood to have been appointed by the regime as a mid-ranking cleric.

The institution also aired an Iranian propaganda film, posted on IRGC websites, featuring children singing a song that referenced an apocalyptic myth about murdering Jews, according to the JC. The Islamic Centre denied that its “local version of the song” carried the same meaning. It also has a history of publishing inflammatory rhetoric about Zionists and extolled Iranian support for the antisemitic terror groups Hamas and Hizballah.

Charity Commission Chairman, Orlando Fraser KC, said: “We need to act robustly where serious concerns about a charity exist, so that the public, and the charity sector itself, can have confidence in what it means to have charitable status. The appointment of an interim manager will help the Commission ensure the charity’s governance is restored and is improved to a better standard.”

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Jewish Netflix star Dr Sheila Nazarian opens up about antisemitism, Jewish students, and escaping Iran as a child

Dr Sheila Nazarian, an award-winning Jewish Iranian-American plastic surgeon and the star of the Emmy-nominated Netflix Series, ‘Skin Decision: Before and After’, appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where she expressed her concerns about the way antisemitism is affecting Jewish students on university campuses in the United States.  

The Beverly Hills doctor said that one of her primary concerns right now lies with those “in a position of power to change the curriculum to take out Holocaust education…that’s where the real threat to me is coming from, is the antisemitism cloaked in progressivism, because I’ve smelled that before in Iran.” 

Dr Nazarian, now rising in Los Angeles, revealed on the podcast how she and her family fled Iran, in no small part due to fears for their safety as Jews. 

“We left towards the tail-end of the Iran–Iraq War. There were bombs flying everywhere. My parents could see that there was really no future as Jews and as women in Iran for their two daughters,” she said, “so my father actually said he was going on a medical conference in the US, went to Vienna, and stayed there with a friend, a colleague, and worked on getting visas for my mother, my sister and I.

“Meanwhile, about a week later, my mum, my sister, and I went to the bazaar. We got into the back of a truck in the foetal position with strangers, just fitting in however we can. They put burlap on top of us, and corn, and took us close to the border. I remember there was a pole at the bottom of the truck that they used to tie crops to that was sticking into my ribs. I kept telling my mum ‘That hurts’, and she’s like ‘Shh, just be quiet.’ 

“So, we got close to the Pakistani border, and that’s when she told me in a makeshift hut of a bathroom that was basically made of clay, just a big hole in the ground, that we were going to America…we slept one night in the desert and the next day we were seen by border police. They started shooting at us and we were, thank God, able to get away, and we made it into Pakistan. We were in Pakistan for a few months with other people who escaped, and eventually, we were able to make it to America.”

Dr Nazarian has since become an award-winning plastic surgeon and has guest-starred on numerous television series, including ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’, ‘Basketball Wives’, and ‘Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian’, but still ensures that she has time to speak out against antisemitism, both online and in-person.

The plastic surgeon said that she feels that “antisemitism is always there,” describing it as “underlying everything” and noting “the comfort with which it bubbles to the surface”. 

She told Podcast Against Antisemitism: “I speak on a lot of college campuses to encourage the Jewish students to not hide, to speak up, to educate, to go to administration, and so I think the messaging there is ‘Don’t hide, don’t change who you are, or suppress parts of who you are in order to feel accepted’. What we have to do is empower people to fight for the right thing, to fight for justice, and to speak up.”

Dr Nazarian, who in 2016 was named the “Iranian Jewish Women’s Organization Woman of the Year”, said that her activism began when she realised that her daughter, who was then four years away from enrolling in a university, might not feel able to safely speak on certain aspects of her identity, particularly in relation to Zionism.

“I was like, ‘Wait, if I don’t start speaking up about Judaism and being a proud Jew, how is my daughter going to go bring that message to people in college who maybe have never met a Jewish person before?’”

The award-winning doctor called on people to take action against antisemitism, encouraging everyone to do what they can.

“You can always start in your own capacity and I think speaking up when you witness it is very powerful…supporting activists, or people on social media, even if it’s just a message,” she said. “Being an ally, speaking up for the Jewish people, sharing posts…everyone has the capacity to do something.”

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

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Charity Chairman allegedly shared “Zio-zombies” post and claims Israel masterminded 9/11 attacks

The Chairman of a charity is alleged to have shared posts about “Zio-zombies” and claims that Israel masterminded the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Nasar Mahmood, Chairman of the Manchester-based British Muslim Heritage Centre (BMHC), is also reported to have used his social media to publish other incendiary posts and conspiracy theories, including the accusation that Israel harvests organs from Palestinians. 

The claim that Israel is harvesting of organs is reminiscent of the medieval blood libel, in which Jews were alleged to murder Christian children in order to use their blood in religious rituals.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis” is an example of antisemitism.

Screenshots also appear to show a 2019 Facebook post from Mr Mahmood’s account which links to an article claiming Nick Griffin, former leader of the far-right BNP, accepted money from Zionists in order to attack Islam.

These reports arrive only weeks after we wrote that we would be writing to both the Charity Commission and the Honours Forfeiture Committee over incendiary social media posts that were understood to have been shared by the BMHC’s Chief Executive, Maqsood Ahmad OBE. 

Mr Ahmad, who was reported by the Jewish News to have posted several inflammatory tweets in reference to Zionism and Zionists, is understood to no longer work at the BMHC.

One such post allegedly said: “The Holocaust and Nazism wasn’t just the gas chambers. It had many things that Zionism is today, to a degree…They wail ‘never again’ – but never is happening again. Don’t take my word for it. The decent Jewish are even saying it.”

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

Mr Ahmad also reportedly left a comment beneath a video of a man burning the Israeli flag stating: “Respect, these are the real Jews.”

The JC reported that Mr Ahmed also ‘liked’ Twitter posts in which a United States ambassador and a Congressman was referred to as a “ZioNazi” and one which asserted that Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development, David Lammy, had been “bought and paid for” by the Israeli lobby.

He was also said to have retweeted an image of the Statue of Liberty with its eyes covered by the flag of Israel, alongside the caption: “Palestine [sic] isn’t the only country occupied by zionism.” Mr Ahmed is also alleged to have commented, in response to a post from comedian David Baddiel about rapper Kanye West, that “Kanye West may be dangerous but not as dangerous as Zionist Government of Isreal [sic] who continue to discriminate and occupy Palistinian [sic] land…”

A statement from the BMHC released at the time, apparently signed off by Mr Mahmood, said that Mr Ahmad’s “views are not consistent with the views of the British Muslim Heritage Centre.” 

Trustees of the BMHC have now said that “Maqsood Ahmad left his position as CEO of the BMHC at the end of April,” adding that “We are also reviewing our training, policies and procedures, and will seek support from relevant organisations to strengthen our approach in these areas for both staff and trustees.”

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Liverpool man in possession of neo-Nazi documents jailed for 30 months on terrorism offences

A Liverpool man who was found to be in possession of neo-Nazi documents was jailed on terrorism offences yesterday.

Counter Terrorism Police first became aware of Nicholas Street after he was discovered to be in connection with a man who had attempted to purchase a firearm. West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit further uncovered messages exchanged between the pair, in which they spoke of homemade firearms. 

Mr Street, 20, was arrested in December 2019 by Counter Terrorism Police North West (CTPNW) who conducted a full search of his electronic devices.

The search uncovered messages exchanged between Mr Street and members of far-right organisations which included discussion of guns and the sharing of neo-Nazi propaganda and videos.

Additionally, documents contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 were also found on Mr Steet’s devices. 

Mr Street was arrested once again by CTPNW, one year later, and was charged with three counts of possession of material likely to be of use in terrorism and one charge of encouraging terrorism.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Street pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing terrorist documents contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and, at an earlier hearing, was found guilty of offences contrary to section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Mr Street has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Meeks of Counter Terrorism Policing North West said: “Individuals idolising and encouraging the actions of terrorists and extremists pose a great risk to our society and I hope the result today shows that CTPNW are committed to rooting out and prosecuting those individuals.

“Every year, thousands of reports from the public help police tackle the terrorist threat. If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and ACT. Reporting won’t ruin lives, but it could save them.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Greater Manchester Police

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Lancashire community centre defaced with swastikas and antisemitic drawings 

A community centre in Lancashire has been defaced with swastikas and antisemitic drawings.

Images show the interior of Accrington’s Spring Hill Community Centre vandalised, including the daubing of a swastika and the scrawling of the phrase “Seig Heil” on the walls.

In another image, a sketch of what appears to be a racist cartoon of a Jewish person was stuck on the wall. A Star of David was drawn on the person’s face while a swastika was drawn on the chest.

Smashed glass, strewn furniture and splattered paint were also visible in the images. Books, including Islamic children’s books, were thrown on the floor and the iron railings on the outside of the Centre, which also functions as a nursery, had been ripped off.

Shamim Miah, a trustee at the centre alongside his wife, said: “We are speechless. It is so distressing and demoralising. We just don’t know what to do and who to turn to. 

“This is a small community centre and it caters for the local community. We have a nursery which is run by someone else and they had to tell the parents what had happened. Who in their right mind would do this? It is damage on a huge scale. We don’t even know where to start.

“You just cannot comprehend what would be going through someone’s mind to purposely go through each and every part of the building and do this.”

Lancashire Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Tom Edmondson said: “Our enquiries are continuing into this serious offence. We are working closely with community leaders and patrols will be increased in the area for reassurance.”

Image credit: Google

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“The beast will come for you people soon”: Verbal abuse reportedly hurled at Jewish people in London

Video footage has shown what appears to be a torrent of verbal abuse being hurled at Jewish people at the Park Avenue Hotel in Clapton Common, near Stamford Hill.

The video shows a woman seemingly telling the person recording that “The beast will come for you people soon”, quoting the number “666”, known as the mark of the devil.

In another clip, the person in the video, who was later apprehended by the police, seems to yell: “F*** off.”

The alleged incident occurred yesterday and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 3631 08/05/23.

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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“Jewish motherf***ers”: Suspect arrested following reported verbal abuse against Jewish passersby

A suspect has been arrested following reported verbal abuse against Jewish passersby.

In one piece of video footage, a man seems to yell “Jewish motherf***ers” to someone filming.

In another, an individual, who appears to be the same man, shouts what sounds like “f***ing Jewish” to a person driving a car.

The alleged incident occurred in the afternoon of 7th May and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 7746/07/05/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Arrest made following reports of verbal abuse against Jewish woman in Stamford Hill

An arrest has been made following reports of verbal abuse against a Jewish woman in the North London area of Stamford Hill.

The suspect allegedly told the Jewish woman: “One day I will kill all you Jews!” 

The alleged incident occurred on the corner of High Road and Ravensdale Road at 14:30 on 2nd May, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 4518/03/05/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

Image credit: Google

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Ofcom finds GB News in breach of broadcasting rules over comparison between COVID-19 vaccinations to “pre-Nazi Germany”

Ofcom has found GB News, the conservative news and opinion channel, to be in breach of broadcasting rules over comparisons made between the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations to practices carried out in “pre-Nazi Germany”.

The breach referred to Rule 2.1 of Ofcom’s code, which states that “Generally accepted standards must be applied to the contents of television and radio services…so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion in such services of harmful and/or offensive material.”

The incident occurred at 20:00 on the 4th October 2022 edition of the Mark Steyn programme, later reaired at 02:00 on 5th October, when writer Naomi Wolf said of the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout: “I think we’re there. I mean, Mark, I’m Jewish and you know I can say this. I don’t think you’re going too far. I think you’re going exactly where you should go. It was the doctors in pre-Nazi Germany in the early thirties who were co-opted by the National Socialists and sent to do exactly what we’re seeing kind of replaying now. It was the medical organisations in the early thirties who were emboldened to be the arbiters of, you know, ‘life worthy of life, life unworthy of life’.”

Ms Wolf said of the vaccine rollout that a “mass murder has taken place”.

The idea of “life unworthy of life”, although conceptualised before the Nazis rose to power, was heavily utilised by the Party as a means of initially justifying the killing of those with disabilities, but shortly expanded to include Jews and other groups deemed inferior, racially or otherwise. 

In its conclusion, the media watchdog said that “It is important to note that the Code does not prevent the broadcast of controversial or challenging opinions and this includes viewpoints which ‘challenge the status quo’.”

However, it added that “We were particularly concerned about the significant and alarming claim that ‘mass murder’ was taking place through the rollout of the [COVID-19] vaccinations which she repeated three times.

“Taking all the above factors into account, Ofcom did not consider that the programme included adequate protection for viewers from the inclusion of potentially harmful material and it was therefore in breach of Rule 2.1.”

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

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Alleged member of far-right group Patriotic Alternative told Telegram followers Hitler did “nothing wrong”, court hears

A man reported to be a member of the far-right group Patriotic Alternative said that Adolf Hitler did “nothing wrong”, members of the Old Bailey were told. 

Kristofer Thomas Kearney, 39, has been described as an “alleged far-right fitness guru” who operated under the online moniker of Charlie Big Potatoes. Originally from Liverpool, Mr Kearney was living in Alicante when he was extradited in September to face charges.

In March, Mr Kearney entered his pleas at the Old Bailey by way of video link from HM Prison Chelmsford, pleading guilty to two offences of disseminating terrorist publications, both in relation to two Telegram posts on 23rd January and 8th March 2021. 

The documents reportedly glorified and encouraged extreme right-wing terror attacks.

Mr Kearney posted links to 89 extremist documents in the Charlie Big Potatoes Telegram channel, including the manifestos of the Christchurch mosque shooter, Brenton Tarrant, the Norwegian neo-Nazi terrorist, Anders Breivik, and the shooter responsible for the Chabad of Poway Synagogue attack, John T. Earnest. 

Prosecutors have now said that posts made by Mr Kearney, who is alleged to have acted as ‘head of fitness’ within Patriotic Alternative, also described Jewish people as “responsible for a lot of the world’s ills.” 

Mr Kearney is said to have been a regular host on the Patriotic Talk podcast and is understood to have set up a fitness channel named “Fascist Fitness”.

The podcast host reportedly sent messages to Telegram users claiming that Hitler did “nothing wrong,” and posted quotes from the dictator in a private chat group called “west is best”.

Ged O’Connor, defending, described Mr Kearney’s behaviour as “reckless” rather than an active promotion of terrorism, but prosecutor Naomi Parsons refuted this, stating that “There are numerous videos that suggest violence is looming, violence is inevitable. The evidence is consistent with intent rather than recklessness.”

A sentence will not be delivered until a two-day trial is carried out in order to better determine Mr Kearney’s motivation.

It was also said that Mr Kearney was a member of the far-right group, National Action, which was proscribed by the British Government in 2016 following repeated calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Patriotic Alternative is a UK-based group headed by the former leader of the youth wing of the BNP, Mark Collett. Mr Collett is reported to have dabbled in Holocaust denial, is regularly heard as a guest on the radio show of the former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard, David Duke, and has described the Holocaust as “an instrument of white guilt”.

The group is known for its efforts to recruit youth to its white nationalist ideology. Previously, the far-right group published an online “alternative” home school curriculum condemned as “poison” and “hateful” and attempted to recruit children as young as twelve through livestreaming events on YouTube, according to The Times.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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Councillor rejected by Labour but adopted by Conservatives is suspended and now elected

A candidate in last week’s local elections who was barred from running for Labour after the Party was alerted to his history of inflammatory activity on social media but who was endorsed instead by the Conservatives as their candidate has been elected, even as the Party appears, ambiguously, to be trying to distance itself from him.

Shakeel Munir Hussain had hoped to run as a Labour candidate in Stockton-on-Tees in the local election as he has on previous occasions, but after being blocked by the Party, he then ran instead for the Conservatives in the Ropner ward.

Mr Hussain’s posts, shares and likes on Facebook allegedly include Rothschild conspiracy theories, comparisons of Israel to the Nazis, suggestions that Israel is in league with ISIS, and claims that “the world knows all too well that their governments are controlled by Zionist money” and that the Jews control American politics, all of which are antisemitic tropes.

Mr Hussain ran for the Labour Party in 2019 and 2021, before a member of the public drew the Party’s attention to his social media history. Most of that activity predates those elections and apparently was not picked up by the Party or was ignored. The Conservative Party then committed the same error.

After being alerted, the Conservatives appeared to try to distance themselves from Mr Hussain, with the Party revealing days before the election that he “would not be allowed to join the Conservative group on the council, if elected, until any investigations had been completed.”

Mr Hussain has now been elected, and the Conservative Party’s position is unclear, with the Stockton Conservative Group leader reportedly saying: “Ropner is a really, really great win. The two councillors who won have worked their socks off. They know the issues, the residents are fed up with Labour, they complain about the same issues time after time.”

Elsewhere, in North Lincolnshire, Conservative candidate Ashley Sykes, who was standing for the Ashby Lakeside ward, was suspended by the Party after allegedly sharing jokes about the Holocaust online. A spokepserson for the Conservatives said that the Party had “acted swiftly” to suspend Mr Sykes after becoming aware of the historic posts. Mr Sykes did not win his contest.

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

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CAA writes to Loughborough University over tweets comparing Zionists to Nazis

Campaign Against Antisemitism is writing to Loughborough University over a number of incendiary tweets comparing Zionists to Nazis, as first reported by the Gnasher Jew Twitter account

The tweets are believed to come from the account of Fazal Rehman who, according to his Twitter account, works at the University in the maintenance department. 

In one tweet, Mr Rehman appears to have tweeted “Hiel Hitler [sic]”, while another tweet read: “Antisemitism the allegation zionist throw around more  than confetti at a wedding.”

Several tweets made comparisons of Zionists to Nazis, some of which are viewable here, here, here, here, and here. 

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

Other inflammatory posts included the claim that “Zionist have control of Facebook” and the accusation that “Israelis are bloodthirsty barbarians with no regard for human life except their own.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Abhorrent tweets of ‘Hiel Hitler [sic]’ and comparisons of Zionists to Nazis, which is a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism, would be disgraceful regardless, but even more so given that these seemingly originate from the account of a Loughborough University employee. Any individual spewing such hateful rhetoric has no business working near students, and we will be in urgent contact with Loughborough University.”

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Police investigate Hizballah song being blasted outside Jewish school in London

A newly-surfaced video appears to show men in a car loudly playing a Hizballah song outside of a Jewish school in London.

In the video posted by the JC, men are seemingly seen singing and laughing in a car whilst filming a group of young children. A caption at the top says “Drove past the Zionist school on full blast” with three laughing emojis.

The translated song says: “We are Hizballah, be our witness, you son of the most righteous of prophets.” 

Comments on the original video, believed to have been first uploaded to TikTok, reportedly include remarks such as “Why not run them over? You missed the opportunity” from a user called “I hate kikes”.

Another comment allegedly said: “Ah my brother I know exactly where you are and what the school is around that corner! That’s brilliant what you did!!!”

The alleged incident took place on 26th April on the corner of Green Lane and Brent Street, between Hasmonean Primary School and the Independent Jewish Day School.

Reportedly, the original song was first published by Hamas. The words allegedly state that members “are immortalised by blood.” 

The incident is being investigated by police following reports from Campaign Against Antisemitism, CST and others.

In 2019, following a gruelling effort over several years by Campaign Against Antisemitism and our allies, Hizballah was completely proscribed by the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, with the support of the Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Hizballah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, has previously said: “If Jews all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.” Hizballah has been true to its mission, bombing Jewish targets from Buenas Aires to Burgas, and it has even been blamed for setting off two bombs in London outside buildings used by Jews and Israelis.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It is a criminal offence to show support for a proscribed terrorist organisation and to incite racial or religious hatred. This incident is especially concerning, having targeted schoolchildren, and both the perpetrators and some of those who commented on the video must urgently face justice.”

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“People should know they can do incredible things”: ‘A Small Light’ Executive Producer and Director Susanna Fogel on creating the series

Susanna Fogel, an award-winning director, screenwriter, and one of the creators behind the biographical drama A Small Light, a National Geographic miniseries streaming on Disney+, appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where she spoke on her experiences of creating the series.

A Small Light takes a look at the remarkable real-life heroism of Miep Gies, the woman responsible for hiding Anne Frank’s family, the van Pels family, and Fritz Pfeffer in the Secret Annex during the Holocaust.

Ms Fogel, the series’ Executive Producer and multi-episode Director, said that “a big point of the series is just to keep telling that story so that we can’t forget it.”

Expressing concerns over how many people remain unaware of the diarist’s story, Ms Fogel said: “I think if you’re Jewish, you can’t forget it anyway because it’s constantly part of your upbringing and your historical knowledge of yourself…The Diary of Anne Frank was something that we all read in school when I was growing up, but now I know that that’s not the case, and a lot of people don’t know. Or, a lot of people come to the Anne Frank House and don’t know who she was now. We were told by the people at the Anne Frank House that there are a lot of people who walk in and don’t know the story.

“We have this responsibility, and if the responsibility is an entertaining, immersive miniseries, that’s fine. It’s still just telling that story and making sure that people know that it happened so that they can’t deny that it happened.”

When asked what she hoped people would take away from the series, the director said she hopes that “people just become aware of what happened, whatever that means to them,” going on to say that anyone can make a difference in dire situations.

“I think people should know that they can do incredible things. Anyone can,” she said, echoing the sentiments of Ms Gies, the series’ protagonist.

Ms Fogel would also speak in detail on the personal process that the cast and crew of the series underwent.

She said: “The process of understanding what these people went through, the stakes of what they did, reading books about them, visiting the Terezin concentration camp – which was near where we were filming in Prague – all of these things that people did, retracing Miep’s steps, the things that Bel [Powley] did and the rest of the actors did…I think the actors really undertook those types of preparation in a solitary way. It’s a very personal, solitary thing that everybody kind of did in their independent study way.”

Ms Fogel added that preparation was also conducted as a group.

“When we were together, we really focussed on building those relationships. What is the human bond between these people? Developing the humanity and the warmth and the light and the humour, that’s the thing that we worked on as a group, because that’s the thing that we really wanted to make sure was coming through in the show.”

Speaking further on the relationship between those involved, she said: “The truth is that we all kind of became a family on the set. Everybody got along really well…there was a certain amount of just, living in this world is so dark, that we had to find the moments of levity in the day.”

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

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Ahlebait TV fined £10,000 by Ofcom for “antisemitic hate speech” 

Ofcom has fined the television channel Ahlebait TV £10,000 for “antisemitic hate speech”.

The fine comes less than one year after the regulator put the television channel on notice after deciding that it had breached hate speech regulations.

The media watchdog made the initial ruling last year against Ahlebait TV, which offers “current affairs and entertainment programming with an Islamic perspective”, following a complaint from CST.

The incident occurred on an edition of the programme 20th Hour entitled Money Power, Islam and a Just Order in March of 2021 when David Pidcock, one of the guests on the programme, said: “This is why the Jews have been expelled from 47 different countries and city-states in the last 1,000 years and as they recognise…their antisemitism comes from their actions of impoverishing people and they then respond and then they call it antisemitism but we know that it’s because they do and they get punished and as Allah says, you know, he will expel [sentence incomplete] – send them to all corners of the world to be an excoriation and a hissing and a booing to wherever he had sent them.”

Following this comment, fellow guest Clive Menzies remarked that “It’s worth just noting that antisemitism was created by Theodor Herzl at the back end of the nineteenth century in order to frighten and create the circumstances that would encourage Jews to migrate to Israel so antisemitism is actually a Jewish creation”. 

In a summary of its investigation, Ofcom said that it had “found this episode of 20th Hour contained uncontextualised antisemitic hate speech which justified and encouraged intolerance of Jewish people.”

It added: “We considered the breaches were serious. We considered that the programme contained uncontextualised antisemitic hate speech which amounted to abusive or derogatory treatment of Jewish people. We therefore considered that this programme contained statements which justified the hatred of Jewish people based on intolerance on the grounds of ethnicity, race, religion or belief.”

In a statement, the media watchdog said of the fine: “Ofcom has imposed a sanction on the Licensee of a financial penalty of £10,000, a direction to broadcast a statement of Ofcom’s findings on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom, and a direction not to repeat the programme.”

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The Guardian editor Katherine Viner must resign following the newspaper’s publication of an antisemitic cartoon

Campaign Against Antisemitism is calling upon Katherine Viner, editor-in-chief at The Guardian, to resign after the newspaper published an antisemitic cartoon on Friday night.

The now-deleted cartoon, drawn by Martin Rowson, depicted Richard Sharp, who last week resigned as Chairman of the BBC, and evoked several antisemitic tropes.

Mr Sharp, who is Jewish, is portrayed with a large nose and swarthy, gruesome features, like those commonly seen in Nazi propaganda about Jews. 

Mr Sharp is seen to be carrying a box containing, among other items, a puppet of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Nazi, Soviet and other antisemitic propaganda has consistently portrayed Jews as puppet masters, secretly pulling the strings and manipulating politics.

The box Mr Sharp is holding in the cartoon appears to read “Goldman Sachs” and contains a squid. He formerly worked at Goldman Sachs, which was once described in a Rolling Stone article as a “vampire squid”. 

However, one must ask, why is that foregrounded in a cartoon about his resignation from the BBC? Nazi and Soviet propaganda portrayed Jews as tentacled monsters, controlling and sucking the life from society, and since medieval times, Jews have been cast as miserly moneymen exploiting workers to enrich themselves.

Also featured in the grotesque cartoon is a pig vomiting blood. In antisemitic images, pigs often refer to the ‘otherness’ of Jews for not eating pork, whilst blood can be a reference to the medieval ‘blood libel’ which accused Jews of drinking the blood of non-Jewish children, leading to massacres of Jews.

Mr Rowson has since apologised for the cartoon, stating: “Satirists, even though largely licenced to speak the unspeakable in liberal democracies, are no more immune to f***ing things up than anyone else, which is what I did here…I know Richard Sharp is Jewish; actually, while we’re collecting networks of cronyism, I was at school with him, though I doubt he remembers me. His Jewishness never crossed my mind as I drew him as it’s wholly irrelevant to the story or his actions, and it played no conscious role in how I twisted his features according to the standard cartooning playbook.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Guardian said: “We understand the concerns that have been raised. This cartoon does not meet our editorial standards, and we have decided to remove it from our website. The Guardian apologises to Mr Sharp, to the Jewish community and to anyone offended.”

This is not the first instance of The Guardian publishing an inflammatory cartoon. In 2020, the newspaper published a cartoon that featured Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer presenting the head of former Leader Jeremy Corbyn on a platter in a pose deliberately reminiscent of the Caravaggio painting “Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist”, a depiction of the New Testament event of King Herod having Jesus’ mentor, John the Baptist, beheaded at the request of his Jewish stepdaughter Salome.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Today, whilst Jews observed the Sabbath and were unable to respond, The Guardian saw fit to publish a depiction of a Jew that would not have looked out of place on the pages of Der Stürmer.

“Though the cartoon has now been deleted, and the cartoonist has apologetically declared that the catalogue of anti-Jewish imagery — from bags of gold and a reference to banking, to a tentacled animal, to an outsized nose, and a pig apparently vomiting blood — were all a mistake, it was waved through by editors.

“This is surely a resignation offence for editor Katherine Viner whose newspaper has become known in the Jewish community for its platforming of antisemitism deniers, incitement during the Corbyn years, and occasional relapses into raw medieval anti-Jewish imagery of the kind published today. Under her editorship, The Guardian has given a veneer of genteel legitimacy to antisemitism and helped to fuel hatred against Jews.”

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CAA helps Jewish victim of unfair dismissal to achieve major settlement

Campaign Against Antisemitism has assisted a Jewish victim of unfair dismissal to vindicate his complaint against his former employer and achieve a major compensation package.

The victim was invited by his line manager to wear a kippah (skullcap) to a Jewish religious event that the company was hosting two weeks later. Having already intended to wear a kippah for the event, which he always prefers to do at Jewish occasions, the victim agreed.

On the day of the event in question, the victim arrived wearing a kippah, however a supervisor approached the victim and relayed a message from a different manager directing him not to wear the kippah. The victim explained to the supervisor that, as this was a Jewish event, he was wearing the kippah, as he had always done at such events. The supervisor explained that he was merely relaying the message from the manager. The victim ignored the request to remove the kippah and continued working.

An hour later, the manager approached the victim and asked him to remove his kippah. The victim politely refused, even when the manager insisted. Asked again by the manager why he was wearing it, even though it was not part of the uniform, the victim replied: “It’s a religious event, I have worn the kippah at every Jewish event throughout my life. I won’t take it off, but you can dismiss me.”

The manager retorted: “Go then, you’re dismissed”. He allegedly gestured with his hand in a disdainful manner, clearly instructing the victim to go while looking away.

The victim stopped working and turned to leave. As he was on his way out, the victim turned and said: “I want a written reason for my dismissal.”

The manager reportedly yelled at him aggressively: “Reason? No reason! No one else is wearing one, it is not part of the uniform, everyone is wearing the uniform, it’s like you’re doing your own thing! I am happy for you to stay, but not wearing this!”

The victim again refused to remove the kippah, to which the manager reacted: “Go then, you’re dismissed”, waving to the door. The victim said his goodbyes to his colleagues and left.

The victim reported feeling grossly discriminated against, noting that religious symbols were worn openly at the company by staff from other religious communities, including Christians and Muslims. “I feel angry, hurt and upset,” he told Campaign Against Antisemitism. His feelings of distress and anger did not subside for several weeks, during which he suffered from poor sleep, nightmares and anxiety. He also felt nervous about displaying any Jewish symbols, including the Star of David, or his kippah. These effects were in addition to the financial cost of the dismissal.

He was also deeply insulted by the manager’s suggestion that “I am happy for you to stay, but not wearing this,” which the victim interpreted as essentially meaning that “You can work here, as long as you don’t look like a Jew.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism was proud to provide the victim with legal assistance and other support, all free of charge. The lawsuit was settled with a considerable compensation package for the victim, part of which he is very kindly donating to us, so that we can assist others like him who suffer discrimination at work or elsewhere.

The victim was assisted by Jamie Susskind, as counsel, and by Asserson Law Offices, as solicitors.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “What happened to this young victim was utterly appalling. Such racist conduct is abusive and can leave lasting effects. We are proud that this victim stood up for his rights and that he had the courage to come to us and see this case through. The business entirely deserves the financial penalty that it has had to pay. Hopefully it will think twice in future before telling its workers that they cannot engage in perfectly reasonable expression of their religious identities. We are delighted to have secured justice for this victim, and hope that it serves as an example to other victims to come forward.”

If you believe that you may be the victim of antisemitic discrimination at work or elsewhere, please record or write down details of the incident and contact us urgently – as time is often of the essence in such legal cases – at [email protected].

Image credit: JoshMB

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Jewish professional wrestler Simon Miller speaks on antisemitism in wrestling

Simon Miller, a Jewish professional wrestler and one of the presenters of the WhatCulture Wrestling YouTube channel, which regularly posts wrestling-related content to over 2 million subscribers, appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where he spoke on how issues of Jewish identity and antisemitism have been dealt with in the wrestling industry, both on and off-screen.

Mr Miller discussed how the Jewish identity of the wrestling manager and on-screen character Paul Heyman, who currently works in the global wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and, in a documentary on the WWE Network, revealed that his mother was a Holocaust survivor, has been presented in a positive manner that allows Mr Heyman to playfully draw upon his Judaism.

However, Mr Miller also touched upon the various reported instances in which Judaism and antisemitism were handled poorly.

Remarking on the fact that he read from multiple sources that a “Nazi character” was once pitched as a wrestler, Mr Miller said that he was not entirely surprised, given that this was reported to have occurred at a time “when wrestling was super-duper about stereotypes.”

Mr Miller also gave his thoughts about the way the Jewish identity of the wrestler Colt Cabana was infamously handled, during which, in the mid-2000s, the wrestler had signed with WWE under the character of ‘Scotty Goldman’. Mr Cabana would appear in scripted segments where, in post-edit and reportedly without his knowing, klezmer music and stereotyping sound effects were added in. 

The wrestler also alleged that one of the WWE trainers would refer to him not as “Colt Cabana”, but as “Kike Cabana”. To date, WWE has never commented on or disputed the wrestler’s allegations, but neither have they been confirmed.

Mr Miller said: “You see that headline and you’re like ‘What?!’ I mean, it’s really even hard to come up with the words for it. ‘Scotty Goldman’, the name alone…you’re like, ‘What did you do? Did you just type in “common Jewish names”?’ 

“And to add all the [sound] effects in afterwards…I always thought about it from a Colt Cabana point of view. It must have put him in such an awkward position, because you’ve made it to the top. You’re in WWE…and then the one thing they lean on you for is ‘He’s Jewish so we’ll make him a Jewish guy’. It almost undermines everything else that he’s done.”

The WhatCulture Wrestling presenter went on to say that it was “disappointing, because there’s more to it than that,” adding: “I’m not saying that you couldn’t come up with an interesting Jewish storyline if everything is treated with respect, but that’s the point…it’s not, is it? It makes you want to stop watching.”

Mr Miller warned that presenting Jewish wrestlers in a demeaning manner could have serious, real-world consequences. 

“To an audience that may be a little bit ignorant towards [Judaism] or maybe a little bit uneducated, that may just back up certain ideas or it may actually enforce ideas they never thought they would have had before,” he said.

Speaking on the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and WWE star Bill Goldberg, a wrestler whose Jewish identity had never been acknowledged on-screen, Mr Miller said that had it been acknowledged positively, it could have served as necessary representation for Jewish fans.

“Let’s say on commentary, every now and then you just mentioned that he was of Jewish faith, as somebody may do with sports commentary just to add a little bit of flavour to proceedings, as a little Jewish kid that would have been the coolest thing ever,” he said. “It’s representation, right? It makes you go ‘Well that’s a badass thing! Maybe one day I can grow up and do that too.’ It’s just how people think. 

“So, all of a sudden, you try and make a caricature out of it, all that’s going to do is tell the little kid watching wrestling that maybe their religion is a bit silly, which is just not true, and it’s not fair, and it’s dangerous. More dangerous, I think, than people realise.”

Mr Miller also spoke on his admiration for the wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman, known to wrestling fans as MJF, who is signed to the promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the largest wrestling promotion in the United States after WWE. MJF, who is currently the AEW World Champion, has often used his screen time to deliver impassioned speeches about his Jewish identity and antisemitism, revealing that he was bullied at school for being Jewish. 

“I find it really inspiring, and really motivational. I really, really do,” Mr Miller said. “He’s made it to the top, he’s established. He’s been doing it the whole time, and he’s been shining a spotlight on [Jewish identity], and he’s been telling his stories. Be it on social media, or interviews, the fact he doesn’t shy away from it and the fact he’s tied it up in his character, and the fact that he’s proud of it…you look up to it, because you’re like ‘That is so cool to see somebody doing that,’ and he has shared terrible, terrible stories of some of the antisemitism that he has experienced in wrestling, especially growing up.”

Mr Miller praised the manner in which MJF has repeatedly called out antisemitism on social media. “It’s great, because if he is doing it, that should then roll downhill, and other people can get the confidence to go ‘Actually, maybe I shouldn’t let this happen, and I won’t let this happen.’ And as soon as you start doing that, it can really inspire change.

“I think he’s doing a really, really important job, and I bet it’s not as easy as he makes it seem because I imagine he’s been through some real horrible stuff.”

Mr Miller revealed that MJF’s experiences resonated with some of his own, stating that he has been on the receiving end of antisemitic abuse. 

He said: “The big one that always stands out to me was in my first job when I was working in a cinema…there was this one guy, we saw each other every day, and my Judaism came up. He looked at me and he just said, ‘Oh, we can’t be friends anymore. I’m not allowed to like Jews.’ It all came down to the fact that that is what had been instilled in him as a child from his family. ‘We don’t like Jewish people.’ I never found out why.”

The wrestler said that this experience had, over the years, caused him to be wary about who he would reveal his Jewish identity to.

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

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Magistrate and Labour Party councillor issued formal warning by Judicial Conduct Investigations Office over posts containing “antisemitic content”

A magistrate and Labour Party councillor has been issued a formal warning by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) over Facebook posts containing “antisemitic content”.

The warning relates to posts said to have been made between 2015 and 2019 that are believed to be behind Ansar Hussain’s suspension from the Party in May of last year.

Mr Hussain, who was elected in Milton Keynes in 2021 and previously served as Wolverton’s mayor, was alleged to have shared conspiracy theories about the Jewish state on social media, including some that appeared to compare Israeli policies to those of the Nazis. 

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

Contacted by the JC, Cllr Hussain reportedly said at the time that he “disagreed with antisemitism” and, regarding the posts, that “I don’t remember these posts.” 

The JCIO said of its warning to Mr Hussain: “Following a judicial disciplinary investigation, a conduct panel of the South East Region Conduct Advisory Committee found that Mr Hussain had, on four occasions between 2015 and 2019, shared and responded to social media posts which contained antisemitic content.

“The panel decided that Mr Hussain’s actions, two of which took place before he became a magistrate, were prejudiced, and fell below the high standards of conduct expected of a judicial office-holder.

“In deciding to issue Mr Hussain with a formal warning, Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor took into consideration that he reported the matter to his bench chair straightaway, accepted responsibility for his conduct and that it was highly improper, apologised, closed his public social media accounts, and voluntarily undertook diversity and inclusivity training.”

The Labour Party was found by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to have engaged in unlawful discrimination and harassment of Jews. The report followed the EHRC’s investigation of the Labour Party in which Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant, submitting hundreds of pages of evidence and legal argument. Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Labour Party.

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

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

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CAA to write to Charity Commission and Honours Forfeiture Committee over charity Chief’s alleged social media posts about Zionism and the Holocaust

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to both the Charity Commission and the Honours Forfeiture Committee over incendiary social media posts that are understood to have been shared by the Chief Executive of the British Muslim Heritage Centre.

Maqsood Ahmad OBE is reported by the Jewish News to have posted several inflammatory tweets in reference to Zionism and Zionists, including one which read: “The Holocaust and Nazism wasn’t just the gas chambers. It had many things that Zionism is today, to a degree…They wail ‘never again’ – but never is happening again. Don’t take my word for it. The decent Jewish are even saying it.”

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

Mr Ahmad also reportedly left a comment beneath a video of a man burning the Israeli flag stating: “Respect, these are the real Jews.”

The JC reported that Mr Ahmed also ‘liked’ Twitter posts in which a United States ambassador and a Congressman was referred to as a “ZioNazi” and one which asserted that Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development, David Lammy, had been “bought and paid for” by the Israeli lobby.

He was also said to have retweeted an image of the Statue of Liberty with its eyes covered by the flag of Israel, alongside the caption: “Palestine [sic] isn’t the only country occupied by zionism.”

Mr Ahmed is also alleged to have commented, in response to a post from comedian David Baddiel about rapper Kanye West, that “Kanye West may be dangerous but not as dangerous as Zionist Government of Isreal [sic] who continue to discriminate and occupy Palistinian [sic] land…”

Following the reports of his historic social media posts, Mr Ahmad resigned from his role as the non-executive director of the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

A spokesperson for the Trust said: “As soon as we were informed about the comments, we raised them with Maqsood Ahmad and he stepped down from his role on the board with immediate effect.”

However, Mr Ahmad, who is understood to have also worked at the Home Office where he claims that he was “responsible for developing equality and human rights policies for the police”, seemingly remains in his role as Chief Executive of the British Muslim Heritage Centre.

A spokesperson for the British Muslim Heritage Centre said: “We have spoken to the CEO and can assure you that his views are not consistent with the views of the British Muslim Heritage Centre. These are the CEO’s private Twitter responses, expressed on his personal Twitter account. 

“Moving forward we are reviewing our social media policy for all our staff to ensure that they maintain professionalism and good judgment in their private social media activity. In addition to this we will be organising a social media training workshop for all staff.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “These comments are horrific. It is staggering to think that someone with these views held such significant positions in these institutions. It is only right that Mr Ahmad has stepped down from his role at the NHS, but he appears to remain as Chief Executive of the British Muslim Heritage Centre, which we will be writing to the Charity Commission about. Additionally, we will be drawing his remarks to the attention of the Honours Forfeiture Committee.”

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Jewish man reportedly punched in the face in Stamford Hill

A Jewish man has reportedly been punched in the face in Stamford Hill.

The alleged victim was said to be walking with a friend in towards Braydon Road Clapton Common when the suspect, described as being a Black male riding a bicycle, supposedly intentionally rode into the victim’s friend. 

The suspect reportedly then turned around and punched the victim in the face, breaking his glasses.

The alleged incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 7375 24/04/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

Image credit: Google

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Andrew Bridgen MP expelled from Conservative Party after comparing COVID-19 vaccines to the Holocaust 

The Conservative Party has expelled Andrew Bridgen MP after he appeared to compare COVID-19 vaccines to the Holocaust.

The move arrives after the Party removed the whip from Mr Bridgen in January following a tweet in which he posted an article about the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the lead American agency handling the US response to the pandemic. The article analysed reports made to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System which apparently indicate side-effects of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

In his tweet captioning the article, he wrote: “As one consultant cardiologist said to me this is the biggest crime against humanity since the holocaust.”

During and since the pandemic, anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes, including baseless and grotesque allusions to the Holocaust.

A Party spokesperson said: “Mr Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party on 12 April following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. He has 28 days from this date to appeal.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that he “completely condemns those types of comments in the strongest possible terms”, adding: “Obviously, it is utterly unacceptable to make linkages and use language like that, and I’m determined that the scourge of antisemitism is eradicated. It has absolutely no place in our society. And I know that the previous few years have been challenging for the Jewish community, and I never want them to experience anything like that ever again.”

Mr Bridgen said of his removal from the Party: “My expulsion from the Conservative Party under false pretences only confirms the culture of corruption, collusion and cover-ups which plagues our political system. I have been a vocal critic of the vaccine rollout and the party have been sure to make an example of me. I am grateful for my newfound freedom and will continue to fight for justice for all those harmed, injured and bereaved due to governmental incompetence. I will continue to serve my constituents as I was elected to do and intend to stand again at the next election.”

In 2014, Mr Bridgen attracted controversy when he suggested that “the political system of the world’s superpower and our great ally the United States is very susceptible to well-funded powerful lobbying groups and the power of the Jewish lobby in America.”

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

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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.

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Arsenal launches “Jewish Gooners” partly in response to antisemitism

Arsenal Football Club has announced the launch of a new affiliate called “Jewish Gooners”, partly in response to antisemitism among supporters.

The purpose of the group will be to combat antisemitism and cultivate a more “inclusive” environment for Jewish fans, for example by enabling Jewish fans who observe the Sabbath to share their tickets with friends.

Jewish fans have complained about antisemitism among some of their fellow fans, including anti-Jewish jokes and Holocaust-denial, and plans to set up the group have reportedly been in the works for a couple of years.

The group will officially launch with a party on 14th May at Emirates Stadium.

The announcement came as Arsenal also disclosed that it was banning five supporters for three years over antisemitic incidents online and in the stadium, as well as 31 other exclusions for other forms of abusive behaviour.

Arsenal’s Supporter Liaison Officer said: “We’re very pleased to welcome the Jewish Gooners supporters’ club to the Arsenal family. We’ve already worked together on a number of initiatives and we’re looking forward to building on this in the future. Their counsel and support helps our ongoing drive against abuse and discrimination and we’ll work collaboratively, as we do with all our supporters’ clubs around the world, to celebrate and champion our diverse communities with the aim of ensuring everyone feels welcome at Arsenal.”

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Lord Mayor of Norwich apologises to Jewish community for first known instance of antisemitic blood libel

The Lord Mayor of Norwich has apologised to the Jewish community for the first known instance of the antisemitic blood libel.

The original antisemitic blood libel dates to 1144 when Jews were falsely accused of the murder of a boy known as William of Norwich.

Following this, accusations of blood libel grew in the Middle Ages, eventually evolving to the point of claiming that Jews murdered Christian children in order to use their blood in Passover rituals. In 1290, it was the pretext for the confiscation of all Jewish property and the complete expulsion of Jews from England. They were not permitted to return until 1655. Blood libel has been responsible for the persecution and killing of Jews ever since.

In the modern era, blood libel continues to be a major aspect of antisemitism. It has extended its reach to accuse Jews of many different forms of harm that can be carried out against other people. Manifestations of blood libel include the accusations that Jews steal human organs, Jews harm the children of non-Jews, or Jews drink or utilise the blood of non-Jews.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis” is an example of antisemitism.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Kevin Maguire, delivered the apology at a civic Seder to an interfaith audience, stating: “William’s murder is a story for today. We apportion blame for any harms and seek to punish those who are not like us; those who do and say things differently to the way that we say or do things.

“Medieval Norwich blamed the Jews and we see the horrendous events that followed. Today we see other ‘not like me’ groups turned upon and blamed for shortcomings in society.”

Cllr Maguire asked for forgiveness and made a “very personal apology to all Jews who continue to suffer because of the past actions of our citizens and their accusation of the blood libel.”

He added: “For me, the answer is to say ‘no more’ and to work for Norwich to be free of antisemitism – and to counter the lies told blatantly by those who would wish to foment hate.”

Image credit: Norwich City Council

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Liberal Democrats suspend council candidate following alleged Facebook posts calling antisemitism “a fraud”

The Liberal Democrats have suspended a candidate standing for Rochdale Council after it was reported that he made and shared several incendiary Facebook posts about antisemitism.

Guido Fawkes reported that several questionable posts and shared posts had surfaced from the Facebook account of hopeful council candidate Fezan Khalid, with screenshots appearing to corroborate the report.

In one screenshot, Mr Khalid appeared to state that “anti-semitism [sic] is a complete fraud”, apparently going on to claim that Ashkenazi Jews “created Zionism/Communism and then Israel…they are not semitic Jews but white European causation [sic] Jews.”

Another screenshot seemingly shows that Mr Khalid shared a post from a different account that said of Home Secretary Suella Braverman: [She] is a Buddhist, Morher [sic] is Indian Christian Father is Hindu. Husband is Jewish mix that up and you get a cocktail of hatred…”

Mr Khalid is reported to now be suspended by the Liberal Democrats whilst an internal investigation takes place.

A spokesperson for the Party said: “Based on further evidence that has been reviewed under the Party’s Independent Complaints Process, Fezan Khalid has been suspended from the party, pending outcome of the complaint.”

Cllr Andy Kelly, leader of Rochdale Council’s Liberal Democrats group, said: “Rochdale Liberal Democrats welcome this decision and cannot make further public comment as not to influence the ongoing investigation. In the meantime the local party have been asked to enforce this suspension as best as is reasonably practical, and will be doing so effective immediately.”

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

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CAA to submit complaint to GMC after prominent junior doctor suspended by BMA over jokes on Twitter about gassing the Jews

Campaign Against Antisemitism is to submit a complaint to the General Medical Council (GMC) in relation to a prominent junior doctor with a history of inflammatory posts on social media.

Dr Martin Whyte, a Deputy Chair of the Junior Doctors’ Committee who also sits on the Executive of the British Medical Association (BMA), has been suspended from his roles over tweets that he allegedly posted in the past which the union has described as “totally unacceptable” in an e-mail to members.

In a 2018 tweet, Dr Whyte allegedly wrote: “hahaha zeig heil hahaha gas the jews hahaha just kidding but have you seen these youtube videos about the holohoax the’re pretty convincing imo [in my opinion]…”

That same year, he also allegedly tweeted: “Me: It’s important to represent Judaism and Jewish people fairly and respectfully in art. Also me: Jew banker goblins.”

A year earlier, he allegedly tweeted: “Lifehack: promise not to boycott Israel, but do it anyway. Do it out of spite.”

He has also reportedly posted other controversial material unrelated to Jewish people or antisemitism.

He has reportedly now deleted his Twitter account.

Dr Whyte is a registrar at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and was elected to his roles in the BMA. Following his suspension he has reportedly tried to resign from his positions but is unable to do so while he is subject to an investigation by the union.

In an e-mail to junior doctors, the BMA wrote: “Dear member, We unfortunately have distressing information to share. Today we have discovered that a UK Junior Doctors Committee officer has made deeply troubling comments online that are antisemitic. There is absolutely no place in the BMA for antisemitism.

“The comments in question were made by Dr Whyte, who had until today been an officer of the UK Junior Doctors Committee. This was totally unacceptable. We were not aware of these comments, nor of any antisemitic views. Any form of antisemitism is inexcusable. We strive to be a tolerant, diverse and progressive organisation. We want to assure members that we treat antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and discrimination with the utmost seriousness. As soon as this information came to light, Dr Whyte was immediately removed from all BMA activities and has subsequently resigned from the UK JDC. As such, he is no longer involved with any BMA work or communications.”

A spokesperson for the BMA said: “These tweets are totally unacceptable and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms. The views expressed in no way reflect the values of the BMA. Dr Martin Whyte has been removed from taking part in any and all BMA business with immediate effect and the BMA will be undertaking an external independent investigation.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism shall be submitting a complaint about the doctor to the GMC, the regulator of the medical profession.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “These tweets are utterly vile. Imagine how a Jewish patient, or indeed any decent person, would feel on discovering that this is their doctor. The BMA must urgently investigate and dissociate itself from this individual and his views, and we shall be writing to the General Medical Council. Such foul language has no place in the medical profession.”

Image credit: www.independent.co.uk/news/health

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Labour must expel Diane Abbott after she claims Jewish people cannot suffer “racism”

The Labour Party has suspended Diane Abbott after she claimed that Jewish people cannot suffer “racism”.

Ms Abbott, who has a history of minimising antisemitism in the Labour Party, made the claim in a letter to The Observer newspaper.

The letter, published today, was in response to an article by Tomiwa Owolade in last week’s newspaper which commented on a new report on ethnic inequality that revealed that “Irish, Jewish and Traveller people are among the most abused. In fact, the two groups most likely to say they have experienced racist abuse, according to the survey, are Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities and Jewish people. More than 60% of Gypsy and Traveller people reported that they had experienced some form of racist assault. More than 55% of Jewish people report the same.”

In her letter, Ms Abbott wrote: “Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from ‘racism’. They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships.”

Following an outcry, Ms Abbott issued a retraction, writing: “I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and dissociate myself from them. The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused. Racism takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others. Once again, I would like to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them.”

In the meantime, Labour has withdrawn the whip from Ms Abbott, pending an investigation.

​​A spokesperson for the Labour Party said: “The Labour Party completely condemns these comments, which are deeply offensive and wrong. The Chief Whip has suspended the Labour whip from Diane Abbott pending an investigation.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Diane Abbott’s claim that Jewish people cannot suffer ‘racism’ is outrageous in itself, but made all the more extraordinary given all that has unfolded in the Labour Party over the past few years. She and her allies on the far-left of the Party could never accept how bad antisemitism had become because they do not even acknowledge that it is a form of racism. We already made complaints against her, which the Party has never investigated. Her suspension now is past time, and must be the first step towards her expulsion from the Party.”

On the day of the publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) report, Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted a major complaint against Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott and other sitting MPs. These complaints are yet to be acknowledged by the Party, and they must be investigated by the independent disciplinary process that the EHRC demanded and Sir Keir Starmer promised.

The Labour Party was found by the EHRC to have engaged in unlawful discrimination and harassment of Jews. The report followed the EHRC’s investigation of the Labour Party in which Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant, submitting hundreds of pages of evidence and legal argument. Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Labour Party.

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

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

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CAA launches 2023 summer internship programme

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched our summer internship programme, and applications are now open.

The internship programme takes place at our office in Central London from 14th to 27th August 2023.

Students wanting to help us tackle the world’s oldest hatred are invited to spend two weeks this summer making Britain a safer place for Jews alongside our expert staff and volunteer team who dedicate their time to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law.

Successful applicants will get the opportunity to learn more about how to develop and use their skills to protect the Jewish community. Additionally, even when the internship comes to an end, those who completed the programme will remain a key part of our team as they head back to campus, and beyond.

Interns will be placed in one of three teams that have places to offer this year; Litigation, Education and Outreach, and Communications.

Daisy, one of CAA’s 2022 interns, said of her time during the programme: “I decided to do the internship because I wanted to help grow my understanding of antisemitism, as well as understand how Campaign Against Antisemitism works in order to help fight antisemitism. I learned so much about the history and law aspects of antisemitism, as well as how Campaign Against Antisemitism works as a charity. I had an amazing two weeks, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone.”

Lucy, who worked in our Litigation team, said: “I would recommend Campaign Against Antisemitism internship to anyone. I learned so much in just two weeks about antisemitism, antisemitism and the law, and my rights. We had social media training, learned about defamation, and did real work to help real people facing antisemitism. The team is extremely supportive, and I met some incredible people who taught me so many skills that I will definitely use in the future and I use in my everyday life now. It was such an invaluable internship, and I would recommend everyone to do it.”

For more information and to apply, visit antisemitism.org/internships

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Jewish woman and baby reportedly spat on and verbally assaulted on bus in North London

A Jewish woman and baby were reportedly spat on in North London.

The pair, who were said to be travelling on the 67 bus at the time of the reported incident, were also allegedly the victims of a verbal assault.

The suspect has been described as being a man with a small beard who is around 50 years of age.

The alleged incident took place at 11:20 on 18th April on a bus on High Road in Wood Green, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 7720 19/04/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Arrest made after Jewish family in Stamford Hill reportedly has home vandalised after being threatened

An arrest has been made after a Jewish home in Stamford Hill was reportedly vandalised and threats were allegedly made against the family.

The home’s mezuzah – a decorative case containing a Jewish prayer that is traditionally fixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home – was reportedly stolen, the carpet was said to have been doused in water and ketchup was allegedly thrown against the front door.

There are also allegations that death threats were made against the family.

The family, who is said to be feeling scared, includes four children, the youngest of whom is three years old, and a mother who is 38 weeks pregnant.

The alleged incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 8353 19/04/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Two men charged with stirring up racial hatred over reported “Khaybar” chant at London protest

Two men have been charged with stirring up racial hatred after they reportedly performed the “Khaybar” chant at a London protest in 2021.

The chant “Khaybar Khaybar, ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad, sa yahud” can be translated in English as “Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.”

The “Khaybar” chant is a classic Arabic battle cry referencing the massacre and expulsion of the Jews of the town of Khaybar in northwestern Arabia, now Saudi Arabia, in the year 628 CE. The chant has been heard in numerous anti-Israel rallies in Britain and abroad.

Khaldoun Ahmad El-Ali, 27, and Mohammad Jihad Al Safi, 25, had the charges brought against after they were identified by CST.

A CST spokesman said: “CST welcomes these charges and thanks the police for all the work they have done on this investigation following our original complaint. We hope this sends out a powerful signal regarding chanting on anti-Israel protests.”

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Labour drops prospective local election candidate after being alerted to his history of inflammatory social media comments, but Conservatives take him on

The Conservatives have endorsed a candidate in the local elections who was barred from running for Labour after the Party was alerted to his history of inflammatory activity on social media.

Shakeel Munir Hussain had hoped to run as a Labour candidate in Stockton-on-Tees in the coming local election as he has on previous occasions, but after being blocked by the Party, he is now running instead for the Conservatives in the Ropner ward.

Mr Hussain’s posts, shares and likes on Facebook allegedly include Rothschild conspiracy theories, comparisons of Israel to the Nazis, suggestions that Israel is in league with ISIS, and claims that “the world knows all too well that their governments are controlled by Zionist money” and that the Jews control American politics, all of which are antisemitic tropes.

Mr Hussain ran for the Labour Party in 2019 and 2021, before a member of the public drew the Party’s attention to his social media history. Most of that activity predates those elections and apparently was not picked up by the Party or was ignored. The Conservative Party has now committed the same error.

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

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CAA writes to University of Gloucestershire over Visa and Immigration Officer’s incendiary comments about Zionists and Hamas

Campaign Against Antisemitism is writing to the University of Gloucestershire over incendiary comments made by its Visa and Immigration Officer about Zionists and Hamas.

Comments posted to the Twitter account of Joe Sucksmith, who is said to work at the University in the student-facing role, included saying that “Zionists should stfu [shut the f*** up] on the topic of racism” and that “Zionism is racism”.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination (e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour)” is an example of antisemitism.

Other comments from Mr Sucksmith’s account included writing “Oh f*** off about the Hamas charter” and professing support for the disgraced academic David Miller, whose employment was terminated after Campaign Against Antisemitism brought a lawsuit on behalf of students at the University of Bristol against the institution, which alleged unlawful harassment on the basis of Jewish ethnicity and Judaism, amounting to breaches of the Equality Act 2010, as well as breaches of contract.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Comments minimising the racist hatred of the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group, Hamas, showing solidarity with the disgraced former Bristol professor David Miller, and telling ‘Zionists’ that they have no right to speak about racism, are reprehensible. They have no place even on social media, let alone coming from an official in a university’s administration. The University of Gloucestershire has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism. It must now show that this was not an empty gesture, and urgently investigate and sanction this individual. We will be writing to the University.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

Image credit: Twitter via University of Gloucestershire

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Man who shared antisemitic messages and Hitler quotes jailed for twelve months 

A man who shared antisemitic messages and quotes from Adolf Hitler online has been jailed for twelve months after being found guilty of stirring up racial hatred.

Gareth Anthony Brett, 35 from Poole, used his Twitter and Telegram platforms to disseminate the racist posts to his 2,000 followers, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

Mr Brett reportedly became obsessed with COVID-19 conspiracy theories in 2020, leading him down a “rabbit hole” that saw him posting incendiary messages about people who were not of “Aryan” or European descent.

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Prosecutor Amy Packham said of Mr Brett’s online activity: “There are posts highlighting the physical traits of Jewish people, coupled with images and symbolism which is well known to be antisemitic and antisemitic views used by neo-Nazis. 

“He also on that account documented that he had taken a sample of his own DNA to determine his heritage and he implied that he would take his own life if the results showed that he was to be even one percent Jewish.”

Other messages contained extracts from Mein Kampf and content about white supremacy.

Ms Packham said: “This was not simply Mr Brett finding material that he was attracted to and resharing it, he was creating images such a white man wearing a swastika thumping on the back of a Jewish man with his mouth open against what is either a rail or a curb.” 

Mr Brett was also said to have posted messages and images containing sexist, racist, and homophobic sentiments.

Following Mr Brett’s arrest on 28th January 2021, his Twitter and Telegram accounts were suspended. Admitting to the police officers that it was he who had posted the content in question, he explained his actions by saying that he was “simply posting the truth and wanted to help people realise the truth about the world.”

Jonathan Underhill, defending, told the court that Mr Brett “does accept through me that the nature of the posts that formed the basis of the charge goes beyond and outwith any genuine political view that he may have and fall into the realm of that which is illegal.”

Judge Robert Pawson, sentencing, described Mr Brett as “a loner with no purpose” in his summation, telling the defendant: “Judging someone on the colour of the skin, their religion or their race or nationality is like you being judged on the basis of a Mancunian accent or having a beard. To judge someone on the basis of they’re a White European is, I hope you appreciate, mad. 

“From what I have read your background has a reasonably objectively sad aspect to it. (You have) lost contact with your mum, never known your father and drifting as a loner with no purpose.”

CST reported that evidence was supplied to CPS as a result of its open-source intelligence work.

Mr Brett pleaded guilty to four counts of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred between 29th May 2020 and 15th January 2021, and was sentenced to twelve months and two weeks in jail and ordered to pay a £156 victim surcharge.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Dorset Police

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Disgraced figures speak at London’s “Al Quds Day” rally which featured Nazi comparisons and calls for Israel’s destruction

Yesterday’s “Al Quds Day” rally in central London saw numerous signs and chants that called for Israel’s destruction, as well as several comparisons to Nazis.

The “Al Quds Day” rallies are an Iranian-backed global event, but they have faced controversy over expressions of antisemitism and calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. In previous years, for example, Berlin banned the parade from taking place, while footage of the protests this year in numerous German cities appeared to show participants shouting phrases like “Scheiße Jude!” (“S***ty Jew!”), “Drecksjude” (“dirty Jew”), and “Strike, oh Qassam, don’t let the Zionists sleep.”

Volunteers from Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit were present at the protest to gather evidence.

One sign read: “Where did all the Nazis go after WW2? Israel!!!”

Another placard displayed a swastika alongside the Israeli flag alongside the words “Same mindset! Different era!”

A person was also spotted wearing a top bearing the words: “The world stopped Nazism. The world stopped apartheid. The world must stop Zionism.”

Our Monitoring Unit also captured evidence of a sign which implied that Pakistan should deploy nuclear weapons on “Nazi Israel”.

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

The chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was present and led by Nazim Ali, the march’s inflammatory leader who made antisemitic statements during the 2017 march. In addition, multiple signs, viewable here and here, bore the words of the chant.

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of the Definition. 

Last year, the Court of Appeal refused Mr Ali’s request for permission to appeal the High Court’s ruling quashing a decision by the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Fitness to Practice Committee. The High Court ruling came after an appeal by the Professional Standards Authority against the original ruling by the Committee at the request of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Speakers at this year’s rally included the disgraced Reverand Dr Stephen Sizer, who in January was handed a twelve-year ban by the Church of England after having been found to have “engaged in antisemitic activity” by a tribunal of the Church of England, and the former Labour Party MP Chris Williamson, who was suspended from Labour and then readmitted, only to be resuspended following a public outcry after claiming that Labour has been “too apologetic” over antisemitism. Mr Williamson has previously tweeted that “Zionist teachers around the country are violating children’s rights” and that Zionism is “a racist ideology.”

Mr Williamson’s speech at the rally included repeatedly talking about Israel killing “innocent children” and Zionism being inherently racist.

The inflammatory rapper Lowkey, whose real name is Kareem Dennis, also spoke at the rally. Lowkey’s songs include lyrics such as “nothing is more antisemitic than Zionism”. He is a patron of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). A month-long investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism in 2017 exposed extensive antisemitic bigotry amongst PSC supporters on social media. Lowkey has previously described Israel as a “racist endeavour” in direct and deliberate contravention of the Definition, described Zionism as “antisemitic”, and spoken of the “Zionist lobby” in the context of global capitalism.

An array of literature was available to attendants of the rally, including articles and books from Tony Greenstein, an expelled member of the Labour Party and founder of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who last year surrendered what remained of his claim against Campaign Against Antisemitism for calling him a “notorious antisemite”. 

One of Mr Greenstein’s available works present at the rally was entitled: “Zionism During The Holocaust. The Weaponisation of Memory in the Service of State of Nation.”

Also on display were images in support of high-ranking Iranian figures, such as the antisemitic Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps terrorist mastermind, Qasem Soleimani, and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has said that the West is a mafia-like organisation under the control of “prominent Zionist merchants”.

The event also saw the burning of the Israeli flag, indicating support for the destruction of Israel.

Numerous flags were waved, including that of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella organisation of mostly Shiite militia groups, as well as a large red flag, which in Shiite tradition symbolises blood spilled unjustly and calls for vengeance, and is traditionally associated with the legend of Imam Hussein. The appearance of the flag at an “Al Quds Day” rally, where accusations of murder by Israel of innocents are repeatedly hurled, is reasonably understood as an indication of violent intent toward the Jewish state.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2021 showed that over 94% of British Jews consider the threat from Islamists to be moderately or very serious.

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Man reportedly shouts comments about Jews and blood outside Stamford Hill synagogue

A man reportedly shouted comments about Jews and blood outside of a Stamford Hill synagogue, in addition to other alleged antisemitic remarks, before driving off.

The suspect was said to be a middle-aged man in a silver Mercedes, which was reportedly parked outside of the synagogue.

The alleged incident took place at 19:20 on 8th April on Lampard Grove in Stamford Hill and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 3058 09/04/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

Image credit: Google

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“Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar” and “From the river to the sea” chants recited during Luton demonstration

Two incendiary chants concerning Jewish people and Israel were recited on the street in Luton during a demonstration, online footage has shown.

In the video, the chant “Khaybar Khaybar, ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad, sa yahud” can be heard, which, translated in English, means “Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.”

The “Khaybar” chant is a classic Arabic battle cry referencing the massacre and expulsion of the Jews of the town of Khaybar in northwestern Arabia, now Saudi Arabia, in the year 628 CE. The chant has been heard in numerous anti-Israel rallies in Britain and abroad.

In the same video, the chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was also present. “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of 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.

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Incoming NEU General Secretary under fire as Union insists his past remarks did not intend to convey encouragement for violence against Jews

The incoming General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) has come under fire over his past remarks and appearances.

Daniel Kebede, an activist and teacher based in north-east England, is due to become the leading teachers’ union’s new General Secretary later this year. He is replacing Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney. Mr Courtney has been a magnet for controversy relating to Jewish people during his tenure.

Mr Kebede appeared at a rally in Newcastle in 2021, where the chant “Khaybar, oh Jews” was heard, a reference to the antisemitic “Jews, remember Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning” chant. The “Khaybar” chant is a classic Arabic battle cry referencing the massacre and expulsion of the Jews of the town of Khaybar in northwestern Arabia, now Saudi Arabia, in the year 628 CE. The chant has been heard in numerous anti-Israel rallies in Britain and abroad.

New video has emerged of Mr Kebede’s speech at the rally, which was organised by the inflammatory Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Although he is not seen in the video joining the chant, his remarks are caught on camera, in which he can be seen holding a microphone and saying that it is “time to stand together and oppose Apartheid, oppose occupation and fight for Palestinian liberation,” before going on to proclaim: “Let’s do it for Palestine, Ramallah, West Bank, Gaza – it’s about time we globalise the intifada.”

The “intifada” is widely understood as the campaign of Arab terrorist violence against Jewish Israeli targets in the early 2000s that claimed hundreds of civilian lives and brought an end to the peace process.

The rally took place in the same period as at least 25 members of the NEU from Jewish school JFS quit over concerns about antisemitism at the Union. At the time, Mr Courtney spoke at antisemitism-infested rallies, and Mr Kebede is now under scrutiny for having done so as well.

The new revelation comes after another union in the education sector, the National Union of Students (NUS), sacked its President late last year. She had a history of antisemitic and inflammatory comments. A ground-breaking report, into which Campaign Against Antisemitism and others provided input, was also published in January by Rebecca Tuck KC, finding that NUS created a “hostile environment” for Jews.

A spokesperson for the NEU said: “Daniel Kebede was present at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally in solidarity with Palestinians facing eviction in Sheikh Jarrah in 2021. In speaking to the rally Mr Kebede called for peace and justice in the Middle East and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“He used the slogan ‘globalise the intifada’ which is an expression of such solidarity, and of support for civic protests; it did not convey any support for violence. He wasn’t aware of the chanting of ‘Khaybar, oh Jews’ and both he and the National Education Union completely condemn such chants, all acts of antisemitism and any attacks on Jewish people.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “For the NEU to have to clarify that past remarks by its incoming General Secretary were not intended to encourage support for terrorist violence against Jewish targets around the world is hardly a promising start to his term in office. It would be a concerning development in any trade union, but we have helped Jewish teachers and staff who felt unable to turn to the NEU precisely because they do not feel that it is on the side of its Jewish members. Daniel Kebede’s inflammatory past rhetoric, and appearance at rallies where indisputably antisemitic chants were heard, will do nothing to stop the exodus of Jewish members or reassure those who remain.

“The NEU should follow in the footsteps of the NUS by admitting that it has historically had a dreadful relationship with its Jewish members and commissioning an independent investigation into its own conduct over recent years and that of its leadership.”

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SRA “issues advice” to solicitor following CAA complaint about his social media activity

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has “issued advice” to a solicitor following a complaint by Campaign Against Antisemitism about his social media activity.

After a member of the public brought the online conduct of solicitor Michael Walton, formerly of NP Law, to our attention, we submitted a complaint in respect of numerous posts that he appeared to have published.

The posts included myriad descriptions of the Jewish Labour MPs Luciana Berger, Dame Louise Ellman and Dame Margaret Hodge, as well as prominent figures in the fight against antisemitism such as Rachel Riley, as “bitches”, and posts such as: “Sadly, we now know who is really leading the labour party. The Israeli Zionist Jews and Starmer is their puppet [sic].”

Other posts said of Dame Margaret “the poisonous witch IS anti Semitic” and asked: “Why hasn’t the stupid bitch been expelled?” Of Rachel Riley, another post asked: “Can somebody please sue that stupid, spiteful bitch Rachel Riley? How dare she use a photo of Corbyn being led away from an apartheid rally yet in the same breath say he’s anti-Semitic?! It beggars belief. HE IS NOT ANTI SEMITIC WHATSOEVER just rightly critical of Israel [sic].”

To Luciana Berger MP, one post read: “F*** OFF. You are a poisonous little bitch and your slander together with Hodge’s et al is destroying the great Labour Party – MY Labour Party – and that brings ME real pain. Jeremy is the least racist person you could ever meet, as is CW. And you’re doing it by deliberately.” “CW” is likely a reference to Chris Williamson, the disgraced former Labour MP.

These are just a sample of the considerable volume of examples of abusive social media postings, which we provided to the SRA.

Following an investigation, the SRA decided to “issue advice to Mr Walton and confirm that should the conduct or behaviour be repeated or the situation continue, more serious action is likely to be taken.”

His comments on social media were found to be “hostile and offensive” and to be in breach of Principle 6 of the SRA Principles 2011 and Principle 2 of the SRA Principles 2019, as the comments were made between the new and old handbooks. Mr Walton does not have the right to apply to the SRA for a review of this decision.

The SRA advised that this decision will not be published but will remain on Mr Walton’s records and may be considered in any future investigations.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are grateful to the member of the public who brought these abominable social media posts to our attention. It beggars belief that a regulated professional could consider such conduct appropriate, and we are pleased that the SRA has taken these concerns seriously. Those who abuse Jewish people should know that we will stop at nothing to bring them to justice.”

If you are aware of a regulated professional who has engaged in behaviour that is hostile to Jewish people, please call us confidentially on +44 (0)330 822 0321 or e-mail us at [email protected].

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Teenager who pleaded guilty to sharing neo-Nazi videos given three-year community order

A teenager who pleaded guilty to sharing videos that promoted neo-Nazi and white supremacist content was given a three-year community order on Friday.

Oliver Riley, nineteen from Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in July on terrorism charges.

Mr Riley was convicted of three counts of possession of a document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and of sending a message that was grossly offensive. 

He was also convicted of providing a service to others that enables them to obtain, read, listen to, or look at such a publication and intended, or was reckless, as to whether an effect of his conduct would be a direct or indirect encouragement, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Tom Williams, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey on Friday that Mr Riley had begun pursuing an interest in extremist videos as a teenager, and that he was sixteen or seventeen years old at the time of the offences.

Following Mr Riley’s arrest, police officers conducted a search of his room, during which they discovered that he had uploaded 23 videos to BitChute, an online platform often favoured by members of the far-right. The videos were described as “racist, homophobic, glorify[ing] Nazism and terrorist attacks” by the prosecution.

WhatsApp messages between Mr Riley and his girlfriend were also revealed.

In one, the defendant had sent a meme said to have perpetuated Holocaust-denial. In another, he said: “Sometimes I want to die, kill myself, go to war or something, I sometimes want to kill people and rape people because I am so angry.”

Ed Henry KC said that Mr Riley was a “product of chronic sense of under-achievement and chronic sense of anxiety” and described him as having traits of being on the autism spectrum.

Mr Henry said: “He made a series of calamitous errors of judgment, mistakes. He hardly plays the role of being a terrorist in the dock of the Central Criminal Court.” 

Quoting Mr Riley’s own explanation, Mr Henry said: “Instead of being a person, instead of having an identity, I spent my day doing nothing productive, just s***-posting and being lonely.”

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, sentencing, acknowledged the videos as “racist, antisemitic and homophobic” but further noted that Mr Riley felt “genuine remorse” for his actions.

Mr Riley was sentenced to a three-year community order that involves him having to complete a rehabilitation activity for 60 days, 200 hours of unpaid work, and not delete his digital history for three years.

Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “It was criminally reckless for Oliver Riley to post this racist and extremist material online for others to view. By his actions others were being encouraged to assist or engage in terrorist activity. We carefully considered his age and learning difficulties before bringing these charges but concluded a prosecution should be brought. The CPS takes all cases involving hate crime extremely seriously and will continue to prosecute those who pose a threat to our society.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: “Our investigation uncovered videos in Riley’s possession, the content of which supported white supremacy and hatred; he chose to share the material with others, promoting and glorifying these abhorrent views. I now hope that he takes the opportunity he has to get whatever help he needs to understand how dangerous and harmful this kind of material is.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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“Antisemitism is not racism-lite,” says Home Secretary, as she condemns “double standard” on hate towards Jews

The Home Secretary has revealed her concern that there exists a “double standard” when it comes to antisemitism, which must not be treated as “racism-lite”.

Suelle Braverman made the remarks in an interview last week with the JC.

“When it comes to antisemitism,” she said, “I have felt for a long time that there’s a double standard.” She added: “Racism that would be called out if it were directed against any other minority is explained away or ignored when it comes to Jews. We need to be really clear. Antisemitism is not racism-lite. It’s racism.”

She went on to elaborate that “whereas racism directed against other minority groups would trigger a very firm response from law enforcement, when similar behaviour is targeted towards the Jewish community, it tends to be accepted. A blind eye is turned, and so it becomes normalised. That is something we cannot tolerate.”

After being shown the level of security at Jewish institutions, which is funded by a Government grant managed by CST, she concluded: “you can’t but say that yes, collectively, as a law enforcement community, we can do better. And we must.”

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

At the CST annual dinner later the same day, she announced the establishment of a new Jewish Community Police, Crime and Security Task Force, which will be led by her and will include senior figures from the Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service, police and Jewish charities.

The Task Force is intended to meet three times a year to strengthen accountability and enhance efforts to combat antisemitic crime and violence against Jewish communities.

She also noted her support for the International Definition of Antisemitism and that she “is writing to all Home Office public bodies and police leaders to ask them if they’ve adopted it. And I’ll encourage them to do so if they haven’t.”

Regarding the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), for the proscription of which Campaign Against Antisemitism and other groups have called, she observed: “We’ve seen how the IRGC sponsors terrorism across the globe and has used its illicit money to suppress dissent in Iran itself.” She would not comment on whether the Government is intending to ban the group, a move that is being heavily resisted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, according to reports, despite its role propagating antisemitism in the Middle East and around the world and the very real security threat that the organisation presents to the Jewish community and the UK as whole.

She reflected: “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment on that. What I can say is that the Government and I are well aware of the threat that Iran and the IRGC pose and we will take robust and appropriate action to keep the British public safe.”

In the interview, she also noted that her husband is “a proud Jew and Zionist”, and she has often reflected on her connection to the Jewish community.

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Spotify removes songs allegedly calling for “death of Israel” among other incendiary lyrics about Jews

Spotify has removed songs said to have contained incendiary lyrics about Jews and Israel. 

The JC described the songs as “violent extremist antisemitic content”.

It was reported that in one song titled Udrub Udrub Tel Abib (We Will Strike a Blow at Tel Aviv), the lyrics included: “Strike a blow at Tel Aviv and frighten the Zionists. The more you build it the more we will destroy it”, “Oh you settler, with your sidelocks, in your shelter you cower with fear”, and “Strike, oh Qassam missile, do not let the Zionists sleep. Even if they beg for mercy – be sure not to show Tel Aviv any mercy”.

Spotify were said to have removed the songs following a petition from the group We Believe in Israel and the Board of Deputies.

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Fourteen-year-old identifiably Jewish boy reportedly assaulted on way home from synagogue

A fourteen-year-old identifiably Jewish boy was reportedly assaulted on his way home from attending a synagogue in Stamford Hill.

The assailant allegedly shouted anti-Jewish slurs at the boy and pushed him.

The alleged incident took place outside of a petrol station in Stamford Hill and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 2425 19/03/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Identifiably Jewish women with babies reportedly chased and sworn at outside Stamford Hill synagogue

Identifiably Jewish women, who were said to be with babies, were reportedly chased and sworn at outside of a Stamford Hill synagogue.

The suspect was described as being a white male with black hair wearing dark clothing.

The alleged incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 2903 19/03/23.

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Former NUS President Shaima Dallali reportedly joked about killing Zionists

The former NUS President Shaima Dallali is reported to have joked about killing Zionists.

According to the JC, Ms Dallali, who was removed from her position as NUS President amidst investigations into her conduct following allegations of antisemitism, made the inflammatory comments in 2014 in relation to entering the West Bank.

She is alleged to have said of Israeli border guards: “I don’t want no Zionist near my passport, I’ll probs kill him tbh.”

Ms Dallali’s lawyers have apparently said that her remarks were “clearly not remotely serious”.

The JC added that in a Facebook comment, Ms Dallali said that fatwas from radical clerics meant “we’re not allowed to go to occupied Palestine…Israel and that…It’s still not allowed because you’ll need Israeli authorities to stamp your passport and that’s like recognising Israel…”

One of the clerics reportedly cited was Yusuf al-Qaradawi who, in 2009, said on Al-Jazeera TV that he would “shoot Allah’s enemies, the Jews” and called upon God to “kill them, down to the very last one.”

Ms Dallai is alleged to have described him as the “moral compass for the Muslim community at large”. 

In a 2010 interview on BBC Arabic, Mr Yusuf al-Qaradawi reportedly said: “Throughout history, Allah has imposed upon the [Jews] people who would punish them for their corruption. The last punishment was carried out by Hitler. By means of all the things he did to them – even though they exaggerated this issue – he managed to put them in their place. This was divine punishment for them. Allah willing, the next time will be at the hand of the believers.”

Ms Dallali’s lawyers are said to have stated that she does not endorse all of the cleric’s views and added that the JC’s newest findings was an example of old posts being dredged up to “besmirch her reputation”, that it was “not language she would use now” and “would not have been taken remotely seriously by anyone reading it”.

Her removal as NUS President, which came after she became the first President in the Union’s 100-year history to have been suspended, arrived in the wake of Rebecca Tuck KC’s damning report into the allegations of antisemitism within the NUS.

Ms Tuck’s report, which was released in January and followed an investigation into which Campaign Against Antisemitism, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and others provided input, observed that NUS allowed the development of a “hostile environment” for Jewish students, with instances in which Jewish students were “subjected to harassment” likely to be in breach of the Equality Act 2010, in addition to NUS’s own code of conduct. It rightly recognised that there had been a “poor relationship” between NUS and Jewish students for a long time. Ms Tuck drew on Campaign Against Antisemitism’s input and past research, including our annual Antisemitism Barometer survey of the Jewish community.

The report recommended improvements in NUS’s record-keeping, elections, due diligence of candidates, and code of conduct complaints. It also called for antisemitism training and the provision of educational materials, and a governance review. Ms Tuck also advised improvements in discussions about Israel, including the inclusion of an “experienced facilitator” in such debates.

Importantly, the report also called for the establishment of an advisory panel to ensure the implementation of the recommendations and for a survey of Jewish students to test that implementation, which were among the suggestions made to Ms Tuck by Campaign Against Antisemitism to ensure the durability of any recommendations that the report made. Indeed Ms Tuck observed how the recommendations of past reports relating to NUS have often not been implemented, a point that we stressed to her.

The announcement of Ms Tuck’s investigation last April came after Robert Halfon MP (then the Chair of the Education Select Committee) wrote together with Campaign Against Antisemitism to the Charity Commission calling for an investigation into the union’s charitable arm, which the Commission agreed to launch. The full dossier on NUS, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, can be read here.

There were numerous controversies involving NUS in 2022. In one scandal, the rapper Kareem Dennis, known as Lowkey, was due to headline NUS’s centenary conference but, after initially dismissing the concerns of Jewish students, who pointed out the rapper’s inflammatory record, the Union came under media scrutiny and eventually Mr Dennis withdrew from the event. As the scandal erupted, Robert Halfon MP excoriated NUS for failing to send a representative to attend a hearing held by the Education Select Committee, which he chairs.

This scandal was immediately followed by the election of Shaima Dallali as NUS’s new President, despite her history of antisemitic tweets and other inflammatory social media posts. Ms Dallali was forced to apologise for tweeting the words of an antisemitic chant. In 2012, during an escalation of tensions between Israel and the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group Hamas, Ms Dallali tweeted the words “Khaybar Khaybar, ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad, sa yahud.” Translated into English, this chant means “Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.” It is a classic Arabic battle cry referencing the massacre and expulsion of the Jews of the town of Khaybar in northwestern Arabia, now Saudi Arabia, in the year 628 CE.

These scandals come after decades of atrocious relations between NUS and Jewish students. Ms Tuck’s investigation is at least the third major such inquiry into NUS’s relations with Jewish students in the last twenty years.

It was reported recently that, claiming that her dismissal was discriminatory, Ms Dallali is taking legal action against NUS.  

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

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Charity’s Deputy Director accused of claiming Jews “raped” and “violated thousands” in speech

A charity’s Deputy Director has been accused of making incendiary claims about Jewish people in a series of speeches.

Abbas Abedi, the Deputy Director of the Islamic Centre of England (ICE), is said to have denied that he made inflammatory remarks about Jews and Zionism.

Mr Abedi gave a speech in Urdu in 2021, according to the JC, in which he said: “Jews took revenge on Muslims and tens of thousands of Palestinians were made homeless, their kids were slaughtered, women raped, thousands violated, kids killed… the Zionist lobby made this possible, it became possible due to American and UK help.”

In a separate speech, he is alleged to have said that Zionism was responsible for the creation of ISIS.

Mr Abedi reportedly claimed that “All people who are free believe that Zionism is the mother of terrorism…Zionism is the mother of ISIS. Don’t say ‘Islamic State’. Say ‘Israeli State in Iraq and the Levant’.”

The Deputy Director refused to accept the accusations, asserting that “Some politically motivated groups are trying to drag the charity into their political disputes.”

He also reportedly suggested that “misinterpreting my old speeches” was a restriction of his liberty.

We recently reported that a cleric in Manchester, who is listed as a speaker at ICE, gave a speech in which he praised an Iranian terror chief at an event where the audience chanted “Death to Israel”.

As reported by the JC, cleric Farrokh Sekaleshfar appeared as a keynote speaker at a memorial event for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) terrorist mastermind, Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States in 2020. 

During the event in Qom, Iran, the audience is reported to have chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to England”. Mr Sekaleshfar is also reported to have described Soleimani as a “martyr” in a separate speech in 2021.

Earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to all MPs calling on them to back the Government’s reported proposal to proscribe IRGC under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and the Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, and all MPs with a dossier on the IRGC, detailing its horrendous record of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people.

In light of the mounting pressure to proscribe the IRGC, there have been calls made to close ICE. The Centre is believed to serve as an office for Iran’s Supreme Leader, and its Director, Seyed Hashem Moosavi, is understood to have been appointed by the regime as a mid-ranking cleric.

The institution also aired an Iranian propaganda film, posted on IRGC websites, featuring children singing a song that referenced an apocalyptic myth about murdering Jews, according to the JC. The Islamic Centre denied that its “local version of the song” carried the same meaning. It also has a history of publishing inflammatory rhetoric about Zionists and extolled Iranian support for the antisemitic terror groups Hamas and Hizballah.

The Islamic Centre is located just minutes from several synagogues in the area.

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CAA concludes “eye-opening” six-part educational programme at Immanuel College

Campaign Against Antisemitism has concluded a successful six-part educational programme for the Year 12 students of Bushey’s Immanuel College that has been described as “eye-opening” and “thought-provoking”.

Each week, we have delivered a session on a different issue relating to antisemitism. Session topics included “Antisemitism on social media”, “Exposing antisemitism and enforcing the law”, and “Tackling antisemitism on university campuses”.

We spoke of antisemitism in far-left and far-right circles, Holocaust-denial, and anti-Zionist antisemitism. Also discussed were the dangers posed by antisemites with large social media followings, like Kanye West.

Following the conclusion of the programme, one student told us: “I’m so grateful to Campaign Against Antisemitism for giving us the opportunity to learn how to be proud and to stand up to other people when they try and test your identity, and it’s given me many lessons for the wider world.”

Another said: “I would say that it was a very fascinating and insightful course that’s really provided me with great information that I think will help me in my later life when I tackle university.”

In addition to those sessions delivered by experts from Campaign Against Antisemitism, guest speakers included Rabbi Joseph Dweck, journalist Nicole Lampert and Jewish students currently studying at university.

Yitzy Hill, Head of Informal Jewish Education at Immanuel College, said: “The Year 12 students have had the privilege to engage in a six-week course with CAA. These courses have been educational, eye-opening and thought-provoking for all students involved, with the variety of speakers proving a real success. We look forward to working with CAA again.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Educating younger generations of British Jews is a vital responsibility. We consider it a privilege to be able to connect and inspire students in the Jewish community, and we would also like to thank our fantastic guest speakers who dedicated their time to contribute to the programme. We would also like to extend a big thank you to Immanuel College, for providing us with the opportunity to speak to your community.”

Should you wish to learn more about Campaign Against antisemitism’s educational offering, or to bring us to your school, please e-mail us at [email protected].

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After CAA provides evidence appearing to show Birkbeck’s Prof. Rob Singh using antisemitic language, University confirms he is leaving at end of academic year

Birkbeck, University of London has confirmed to Campaign Against Antisemitism that Professor Rob Singh will be leaving the institution at the end of the academic year.

The confirmation comes after we provided the University with evidence that appeared to show Prof. Singh using the most appalling language in correspondence with a third party.

We wrote to Vice-Chancellor Professor David Latchman CBE, sharing copies of the messages, which contained expressions of various forms of bigotry, including a number of antisemitic comments, urging the University to investigate.

Comments included appearing to accuse a Jewish person of contemplating theft and saying “Too bad you live down to stereotypes.” asking “Is it difficuybeing a Jew?” [sic] and “Are you pretending to be a Jew?” There was also a reference to “Jew boy” and other inflammatory language. In addition there were also references in the messages to “f***ing apes” and uses of the n-word, and abuse directed at other minority groups.

Prof. Latchman responded to Campaign Against Antisemitism to inform us that Prof. Singh would be leaving the University on 31st July 2023, without going into further detail.

Prof. Singh currently serves as Professor of Politics and Director of Education in the Department of Politics at Birkbeck. He did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The language used in the correspondence that was provided to us is extreme and appalling, containing various forms of bigotry, including a number of antisemitic comments. Someone who repeatedly uses such language, even in the heat of sustained argument, has no place teaching impressionable young people. It is right that he is imminently leaving Birkbeck.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.

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Labour votes not to endorse Jeremy Corbyn’s candidacy because he loses votes rather than because of antisemitism, and still he remains a member of the Party

The Labour Party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) has today voted not to endorse Jeremy Corbyn as a candidate in the next general election.

The motion, which passed by a vote of 22 to twelve, was brought by Party leader Sir Keir Starmer. It argued that, “in order to effect the NEC’s primary purpose to maximise the Labour Party’s prospects of winning the next general election, and to avoid any detrimental impact on the Labour Party’s standing with the electorate in the country as a whole; the Labour Party’s interests, and its political interests at the next general election, are not well served by Mr Corbyn running as a Labour Party candidate; And it is not in the best interests of the Labour Party for it to endorse Mr Corbyn as a Labour Party candidate at the next general election. Accordingly…Mr Corbyn will not be endorsed by the NEC as a candidate on behalf of the Labour Party at the next general election.”

Mr Corbyn currently sits as an independent MP, having been indefinitely suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party, but he remains a member of the Labour Party itself, which briefly suspended him in 2020 before readmitting him.

Joe Glasman, Head of Political and Government Investigations at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We obviously welcome Labour’s decision not to endorse Jeremy Corbyn’s candidacy, given the central role that he has played in the Party’s antisemitism scandal. But the fact remains that, despite everything, he is still a member of the Labour Party. He has never been subjected to formal disciplinary proceedings or expelled. Even this decision to try to sever ties with him has been framed as being about him costing the Party votes. This is therefore not a stand against racism but a pragmatic approach to try to win elections.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism previously lodged a complaint against Mr Corbyn, holding him responsible for conduct that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Labour Party, as the Leader during the period of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) shameful findings of institutional racism in the Party. Given the serious detriment that this conduct caused, we have consistently been seeking Mr Corbyn’s immediate resuspension from the Party and, if the complaint is upheld, his expulsion. On the day of the publication of the EHRC’s report, we also submitted a major complaint against Mr Corbyn and other sitting MPs. These complaints are yet to be acknowledged by the Party, and they must be investigated by an independent disciplinary process that the EHRC has demanded and Sir Keir has promised.

The Labour Party was found by the EHRC to have engaged in unlawful discrimination and harassment of Jews. The report followed the EHRC’s investigation of the Labour Party in which Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant, submitting hundreds of pages of evidence and legal argument. Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Labour Party.

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

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Alleged airgun shooting suspects released by police with their weapon after being apprehended by Jewish community

Police have released suspects who reportedly shot gel pellets at identifiably Jewish people with an airgun.

The victims of one of the alleged attacks, many of whom, it is understood, believed that the gel gun was a deadly firearm, belonged to the Jewish community in Stamford Hill.

The alleged incidents were reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

The volunteer group has said that there were four suspects who allegedly fired the gun from a grey Volkswagen. Police, who were said to have taken fifteen minutes to have arrived on the scene, reportedly released the suspects after a short conversation.

According to one of the victims, in one incident, the suspects were driving around Stamford Hill, one of London’s most diverse areas, firing exclusively at Jews. At approximately midnight on Saturday 18th March, a car with tinted windows drove past a woman and her husband, both of whom are identifiably Jewish, rolled down the window and fired three shots from a black gel gun before laughing. Under the impression that the car intended to run them over, the couple ran for cover.

Another individual told us that following an alleged incident in which there was another shooting of the airgun on Sunday night, the men in the car were then stopped by members of the Jewish community, who blocked the car from driving away. Police arrived fifteen minutes after being called, at which point there had been a total of five victims. Police reportedly informed the individual that the details of the men have been collected, but then released the men without seizing the weapon.

If you have any more information on the alleged incident of 18th March, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference numbers: CAD 2734/19MAR23 and CAD 496 26/03.

If you have any more information on the alleged incident of 26th March, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference numbers: CAD 498 26/03/23.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism: “This is but the latest in a spate of incidents against the Jewish community in Stamford Hill in which police have either been slow to react, if at all, or refused to take action altogether. We must ask, why is this incident allegedly not being investigated? What more must the Jewish community undergo before action is taken?”

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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CAA to write to travel companies found to use happy emojis to promote tours to Auschwitz

After Hays Travel was forced to apologise for a second time for using smiley-face emojis to promote tours to the Auschwitz death camp, it can be revealed that another travel firm has also been operating the same practice.

Snowdonia Travel and Cruise used happy face emojis with heart eyes to publicise its ‘Krakow and Auschwitz tour’. Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to the agency.

Polka Dot Travel Wrexham also used coloured heart emojis to promote its ‘Krakow with Auschwitz tour’.

We are grateful to the member of the public who brought this to our attention.

Recently, Hays Travel apologised for a second time after it was discovered that it once again used jovial imagery on Facebook to promote its Auschwitz tours, which it listed along with trips to Disneyland and the Grand Canyon.

Hays Travel said: “We are very sorry to have caused offence especially after we tried to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. As soon as this was brought to our attention we immediately removed these posts from Facebook.”

According to the JC, the Advertising Standards Authority said in relation to Hays Travel that it took “this particular issue very seriously and recognise that this obviously has the potential to prompt concerns,” adding that its rules say that advertisements “should not contain anything likely to cause harm or offence.” It has the power to order advertisers to remove materials.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Despite the controversy over Hays Travel’s repeated use of emojis to advertise trips to Auschwitz, for which the company has apologised, for other travel firms to be doing the same is utterly incredible. Of all institutions, travel agents should be most sensitive to what the destinations that they are advertising represent. That so many in the travel industry continue to portray Auschwitz as some sort of theme park through the use of jovial emojis shows a dreadful lack of awareness and understanding. This appalling industry-wide practice must end.”

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Man who stabbed two women in Burnley M&S after antisemitic rhetoric reportedly shouted found guilty of attempted murder

A man who stabbed two women in Burnley M&S after antisemitic rhetoric was reportedly shouted has been found guilty of attempted murder and wounding with intent at Manchester Crown Court. 

Munawar Hussain, 59, used a knife to wound the shop manager in the neck before chasing her through the store on 2nd December 2020. He then stabbed a customer in the arm before the blade snapped, having become stuck in the customer’s handbag strap.

It was reported at the time that antisemitic rhetoric was also heard during the incident.

Following the attack, Mr Hussain reportedly tried to flee the scene but was detained outside by the shop’s security guard and members of the public before police arrived.

The court heard that, following his arrest, a note in Urdu was found on his person that read: “O Israel, you are inflicting atrocities on Palestinians and Marks Spencer helping you financially.”

It is understood that he was discovered to have had a history of mental health problems but was considered fit to answer questions and stand trial.

According to the prosecution, “he told the police that he had targeted Marks and Spencer deliberately because he believed Marks and Spencer funded Israel in what he described as its persecution of Palestine. He said that had his knife not broken he would have gone on to kill others. He said that he expected that the police might kill him and he intended to be a martyr.”

The store manager, who suffered a collapsed lung and nerve damage, told police that her assailant was wearing a COVID mask and that his eyes “looked pure evil”. She added: “If I had fallen he would have killed me. I just thought he is not taking me away from my kids.”

Judge Nicholas Dean KC, presiding, said: “An offence arising out of claims that Israel was causing atrocities against Muslims, and an attack of retribution for that, at face value, is precisely the definition of a terrorist offence.”

Sentencing has been scheduled for May.

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

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CAA writes to Hungerford auction house over sale of Nazi medals

CAA has written to an auction house in Hungerford over the grotesque sale of Third Reich memorabilia. 

The Emporium auction house, which boasts a wide range of antiques, was discovered to have been selling emblems and medals featuring swastikas. 

One item, listed at £135, was labelled “WW2 German Boxed Faithful Service Cross 2nd Class”.

Another, priced at £55, was tagged as “WW2 mothers cross in silver”. 

This is not the first reported instance of an auction house selling Nazi memorabilia.

In October, Charles Hanson, who regularly appears as an expert on the BBC programme Bargain Hunt, was said to have been selling Nazi memorabilia at his auction house. 

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Technology Minister warns Twitter against failure to comply with online safety legislation after research shows antisemitism has doubled on platform

The Technology Minister has warned the social media company Twitter to comply with online safety legislation that is currently making its way through Parliament.

The warning from Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, comes after research has shown that antisemitic vitriol on Twitter has doubled in the past year since Elon Musk’s offer to purchase the company was accepted.

According to research from King’s College London, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and CASM Technology, there has been a 105 percent increase of antisemitic tweets on the platform between April 2022 and February 2023.

Another study, carried out by the Combat Antisemitism Movement in conjunction with the Network Contagion Research Institute, found that monthly references to the controversial financier and activist George Soros and to “globalists”, which are both tropes usually associated with the far-right, have nearly doubled.

Ms Donelan issued the warning at a technology summit, saying: “No matter the leadership or what have you, the ramifications of not complying with the law will still be so stringent and hit them where it hurts.”

The Online Safety Bill is currently in the House of Lords and expected to receive royal assent over the summer. Campaign Against Antisemitism has provided input to the drafting of the legislation.

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.

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Labour mayor shares platform with expelled Ken Loach, despite leadership pledge to sanction those who do so

A Labour mayor has controversially shared a platform with the expelled outspoken filmmaker Ken Loach.

Jamie Driscoll, the Mayor of North of Tyne, appeared alongside Mr Loach at an event in Newcastle.

Mr Driscoll was elected with the backing of Momentum, and remains one of the most prominent pro-Corbyn figures in the Labour Party, although he has reportedly described the “Corbynista tag” as an attempt to “define us by London Westminster politics”.

In the past, Sir Keir Starmer has promised to sanction Labour members who share platforms with expelled members, but has not fulfilled this pledge.

Mr Loach was expelled from the Labour Party in August 2021 without public explanation. Mr Loach had been a leading ally of other controversial figures in Labour’s antisemitism scandal, especially those who denied that there was such a scandal of antisemitism. He said at the time of his expulsion: “Labour HQ finally decided I’m not fit to be a member of their party, as I will not disown those already expelled,” adding that he was “proud to stand with the good friends and comrades victimised by the purge. There is indeed a witch-hunt…Starmer and his clique will never lead a party of the people. We are many, they are few. Solidarity.”

Mr Loach’s voice was among the loudest of those who attempt to dismiss Labour’s antisemitism crisis as non-existent and a right-wing smear campaign. He claimed that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was subjected to a “torrent of abuse” that was “off the scale” and that regardless of what he did, the “campaign” of antisemitism accusations was “going to run and run”. He described the BBC’s Panorama investigation into Labour antisemitism as “disgusting because it raised the horror of racism against Jews in the most atrocious propagandistic way, with crude journalism…and it bought the propaganda from people who were intent on destroying Corbyn.”

He was also reportedly behind a motion passed by Bath Labour Party branding the Panorama programme a “dishonest hatchet job with potentially undemocratic consequences” and asserting that it “disgraced the name of Panorama and exposed the bias endemic within the BBC.” John Ware, the programme’s reporter, is apparently considering legal action against Mr Loach for his comments.

In 2017, Mr Loach caused outrage when, during an interview with the BBC, he refused to denounce Holocaust denial. The International Definition of Antisemitism states that “denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust)” is a manifestation of antisemitism. Although Mr Loach later sought to clarify his remarks, he has continued to make inflammatory and provocative statements about Labour’s antisemitism scandal.

While speaking at a meeting of the Kingswood Constituency Labour Party, Mr Loach advocated the removal from the Party of those Labour MPs, some of whom are Jewish, who have taken a principled stand against antisemitism. Shortly after that incident, the Labour Party announced that it would no longer use Mr Loach as a producer of their election broadcasts.

The Labour Party was found by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to have engaged in unlawful discrimination and harassment of Jews. The report followed the EHRC’s investigation of the Labour Party in which Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant, submitting hundreds of pages of evidence and legal argument. Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Labour Party.

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

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

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Antisemitic chants heard outside Downing Street as Benjamin Netanyahu meets Rishi Sunak

The antisemitic “From the river, to the sea” chant was heard outside of Downing Street today as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.

The footage was captured by an evidence-gathering team from Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit.

A sign was also spotted that made reference to “Jewish terrorists”. 

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

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Executive Director and CEO of YIVO Jonathan Brent exposes the lie that Jews went “like sheep to the slaughter” during the Holocaust

Jonathan Brent, an academic and historian who serves as the Executive Director and CEO of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where he explained what YIVO’s archive can teach about Eastern European Jewry’s response to the rise in antisemitism.

YIVO is a cultural organisation and place of higher learning with a world-renowned library and archive of 24 million documents whose mission is to preserve, study, share, and perpetuate knowledge of the history and culture of Eastern European Jewry worldwide.

Mr Brent stated how YIVO’s archive served as evidence of the various means of resistance from Jewish communities during the Holocaust, refuting the lie that Jews went to their deaths “like sheep to the slaughter”.

Mr Brent said of Jewish people persecuted in the Holocaust: “You have to remember, they had no army. They had no police. They had no means, they didn’t have guns. What did they have? They had the resilience.”

The YIVO CEO spoke passionately of the “inner resilience” and “cultural resistance” that can be seen throughout the archives. 

He said: “The Jewish people of Eastern Europe responded largely through trying to organise their societies, to cope with these outbreaks of antisemitism…we have photographs of these Jewish defence committees throughout the Pale of Settlement. But what could they do when there were thousands, tens of thousands, of angry Ukrainians or Lithuanians or Romanians, let alone the Nazis, that came?

“So what did they do? Many became partisans and one of the fantastic things that has come out of the materials that we have is the diary of Yitskhok Rudashevski, a young boy – again, thirteen years old – who wrote his diary in the Vilna Ghetto, and he talks about how what they are doing in the Vilna Ghetto in retaining their traditions, in singing songs, in having literary events, in putting on music, in reading poetry, in writing poetry, how this is defying the Nazis. This is their act of defiance.”

Mr Brent noted that “yes, it is a tragic story but within this tragic story, there is so much to be proud of. So much to think about in terms of how, as a small people, one deals with these forces that are growing in the 1920s.”

Outlining the multitude of threats that the Jewish world faced, he added: “There was Bolshevism to the East, and Nazism to the West, and America would not let Jews in. And what could you do? You were stuck. The world would not let Jews in.

“They resisted, in the ways that they could, and thank God that they did, because that resistance gave them dignity, and that is the thread that connects us to them. That dignity. That pride, that they had in being who they are.”

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

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UCL Jewish Society, backed by CAA and others, sends letter to UCL Council urging rejection of alternative definitions of antisemitism

The University College London (UCL) Jewish Society has submitted a letter to the UCL Council, urging it to reject alternative definitions of antisemitism that contradict the International Definition of Antisemitism, which the University has previously adopted.

The Jewish Society letter is backed by Campaign Against Antisemitism, UJS and other leading Jewish community charities.

In 2021, UCL’s Academic Board passed an advisory resolution calling on the University to “retract and replace” the International Definition of Antisemitism, which UCL adopted in 2019. The resolution was greeted with outrage, with one academic resigning in protest and others writing a letter in support of the Definition.

Tomorrow, UCL’s Council is considering the Academic Board’s recommendations to dilute the Definition by adopting three other definitions, including the so-called Jerusalem Declaration, which is a wrecking document intended to undermine the globally-recognised International Definition of Antisemitism. The letter urges the Council not to do so and instead to uphold the status quo.

The letter notes that UCL was the first University to admit Jewish students, and yet numerous serious antisemitic incidents on campus prompted an internal investigation and a report, followed by the appointment of an Antisemitism Programme Manager by the University.

A recent survey of Jewish students at UCL by the Jewish Society found that 98 percent of Jewish students support only the International Definition of Antisemitism, while polling by Campaign Against Antisemitism for our Antisemitism Barometer has shown that a staggering 92 percent of British Jews believe that antisemitism in British universities is a problem, and the CST has recorded a 22 percent increase in antisemitism on campus.

In a statement, the UCL Jewish Society said: “We strongly stand behind IHRA as the only definition that can protect our Jewish students at UCL. Jewish students are most affected by any policy changes on antisemitism. This is a crucial moment and we thank the Jewish community for their unwavering support. We look forward to Council standing up for Jewish students.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “UCL’s Jewish students have every right to expect that, when it comes to defining the hatred that they themselves experience, the University will listen to them. Like the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community, there is near-unanimous support among UCL’s Jewish students for the International Definition of Antisemitism, and the strength of that opinion must be heeded by UCL’s Council. The International Definition of Antisemitism is the only definition that can protect Jewish students.

“We are proud to have supported UCL’s Jewish Society, along with other communal organisations, in making the voice of its members heard.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

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Extracts read to court in trial of man accused of creating antisemitic and racist podcasts

A trial has resumed following a break of several months for a man accused of creating the website “Radio Aryan”, later named “Radio Albion”, in order to upload antisemitic and racist podcasts.

James Allchurch, 51 from Pembrokeshire, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday after the trial began in July but had to be adjourned due to barrister strikes. 

Mr Allchurch is accused of fifteen counts of distributing a sound recording stirring up racial hatred.

The charges allege that Mr Allchurch distributed recordings that included the titles “Rivers Of Blood”, “Banned In The UK”, “The Leftist Supremacist Mindset”, and “The Usual Suspects”. The alleged offenses were said to have taken place in Gelli, a village in south Wales.

In previous hearings, the defendant requested he be referred to as “Sven Longshanks”, his podcasting name which is apparently taken from King Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks, who expelled the Jews from England in 1290.

Last year, the prosecution, referring to the podcasts in question, told the court that “These recordings are insulting or abusive and were distributed with intent to stir up racial hated,” labelling the recordings “highly racist and highly antisemitic in nature” as well as “white supremacist in nature”.

The court was played an audio clip in which Mr Allchurch reportedly introduced a song that said the world was better when Black people were enslaved and Jews were persecuted under Adolf Hitler as “one of his favourite tracks”.

Other recordings allegedly made reference to Jewish people controlling the media, banks and TV and film industries.

In a raid of his home, police reportedly discovered a notebook belonging to Mr Allchurch containing usernames and passwords which included entries such as “JewsAreTheEnemy”, “RaceWarMessiah” and reference to the numbers 14 and 88. 

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

During Monday’s trial, prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC said that “The very purpose of Radio Aryan was to spread his propaganda about racial conflict.”

The court heard extracts from the podcast, one of which read: “No other race is equal to the white race.”

Mr Allchurch was said to have been joined by guests on the podcast, one of which reportedly included Alex Davies, who was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison last year after he was convicted of membership of the neo-Nazi terrorist group, National Action.

The trial continues.

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High Court grants CAA permission to intervene in Ken Livingstone’s bid to overturn EHRC investigation into antisemitism in Labour Party

Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and Labour councillor Pam Bromley have failed in their opposition to Campaign Against Antisemitism’s application to intervene in their judicial review of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

In a written judgment, Mrs Justice Lang decided that Campaign Against Antisemitism should be allowed to intervene formally in the judicial review proceedings in which Mr Livingstone and Ms Bromley are seeking to overturn the EHRC’s landmark 2020 report which concluded that the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership had engaged in unlawful antisemitic harassment of its Jewish members.

Despite our role as originating complainant in the EHRC’s investigation into Labour, Mr Livingstone and Ms Bromley had strongly opposed the High Court giving permission to us to intervene in the case, arguing that our intervention would “not provide any benefits”.

Rejecting Mr Livingstone’s and Ms Bromley’s position, Mrs Justice Lang ruled: “In my judgment, the Court is likely to be assisted by CAA’s intervention…It made the complaint to [EHRC], and requested that an investigation took place. It provided substantial evidence, conceptual framework analysis and legal submissions to support the investigation. It has been particularly concerned with antisemitism denial as a form of harassment. As a Jewish community charity, it is rooted in the Jewish community and it has built up a longstanding expertise on the nature of modern antisemitism. Because of its expertise, it is likely to be able to contribute information, analysis and context more effectively than the other parties [the EHRC and the Labour Party].” 

The EHRC supported Campaign Against Antisemitism’s intervention, while the Labour Party neither supported nor opposed it, remaining neutral.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased that the High Court has ruled that, as complainant in the EHRC’s investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party, and as an expert body, we are well-suited to assist the court in understanding the nature of antisemitism denial as a form of harassment and other important matters in this case.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism is represented by Derek Spitz and Adam Wagner, of counsel, instructed by Asserson solicitors.

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Guardian ignores complaints over article that appears to endorse antisemitic blood libel

The Guardian, at the time of writing, has yet to respond to complaints submitted early last week in connection with an article that appeared to endorse an antisemitic blood libel.

In an article titled “Adelaide Writers’ Week: rare moments of empathy and nuance found amid a storm of controversy”, written by journalist Sian Cain and dated 11th March 2023, the write quotes a line from a poem by a young Arab activist with a history of inflammatory remarks on social media.

In the poem, Mohammed El-Kurd, a correspondent for The Nation, writes of Israel: “They harvest organs of the martyred, feed their warriors our own.”

The claim that Israel is harvesting of organs is reminiscent of the medieval blood libel, in which Jews were alleged to murder Christian children in order to use their blood in religious rituals.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis” is an example of antisemitism.

The article went on to say “El-Kurd, speaking to the crowd via video link from New York, addressed the line about organs that some had labelled antisemitic: it was based on easily found and widespread news reports from 2009 in which the Israeli military admitted pathologists had harvested organs from dead Palestinians, and others, without the consent of their families for years.”

These are not Mr El-Kurd’s words but the journalist’s, and are grossly misleading in two ways.

First, the words are lifted almost verbatim from a Guardian article of almost fifteen years ago, an article that itself was subject to correction because it was misleading. The truth, as the correction recognised, was that Israeli pathologists had extracted organs from a range of categories of deceased persons, including Israelis. By emphasising “Palestinians” and marginalising “and others”, the article gives a misleading impression of the practice, implying that it was targeted specifically at one group.

Second, Mr El-Kurd had claimed in his poem: “They harvest organs of the martyred, feed their warriors our own.” The justification provided by the journalist of Mr El-Kurd’s line makes no reference to the consumptionof organs. The notion that Jewish people consume the blood and organs of others is a textbook antisemitic blood libel, and this was not only not addressed but, by ignoring it while appearing to justify the rest of the line, appeared indirectly to defend it.

Worse still, the journalist implies that it is unreasonable to label the harvesting allegation as antisemitic because it is, in fact, “easily found” to be true. While she may be paraphrasing Mr El-Kurd, that is not clear from the article. If they are Mr El-Kurd’s words, then they should have been quoted or presented as such and challenged, for, pace Mr El-Kurd, there is no basis for the antisemitic allegation that Jews eat the organs of others. If, alternatively, they are not Mr El-Kurd’s words but the journalist’s – which, given that they paraphrase the earlier Guardian article, seems likely – then the journalist has essentially defended his poem, including the allegation about consumption of organs. This adds The Guardian’s insult to the injury inflicted by Mr El-Kurd.

Not only is this atrocious journalism, looking to defend a controversial figure instead of putting his views in full context and pointing out their inaccuracies, but it promotes a horrific antisemitic trope and implies that those who take issue with it are buffoons for not uncovering the “easily found” evidence.

We and CAMERA, which brought the article to our attention, submitted complaints to The Guardian. We called on the newspaper to urgently correct the article and apologise for giving such a prominent platform to racist myth.

To date, neither we nor CAMERA have heard back from The Guardian.

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“Hitler” graffiti discovered on Manchester postbox

Graffiti bearing the word “Hitler” was discovered on a postbox in Manchester last night.

Photographs appear to show the postbox defaced with a heart followed by the name “Hitler”, as well as separate etching of “Hitler” directly below.

A concerned Twitter user, with whom Campaign Against Antisemitism has been in touch, uploaded the image to the social platform, along with another photograph in which the word “Palestineo” is scratched into the pavement.

The graffiti was discovered on Albert Avenue in Prestwich at around 21:00.

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Manchester cleric reportedly praised Iranian terror chief at event where audience chanted “Death to Israel”

It has been reported that a cleric in Manchester gave a speech in which he praised an Iranian terror chief at an event where the audience chanted “Death to Israel”.

According to the JC, cleric Farrokh Sekaleshfar is listed as a trustee and director at the Islamic Cultural Centre, a Manchester-based charity, and as a speaker at the Islamic Centre of England, the latter of which is said to have been described as the “London office” of the antisemitic Islamist terrorist group known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and is currently under investigation by the Charity Commission.

Mr Sekaleshfar is alleged to have appeared as a keynote speaker at a memorial event for IRGC terrorist mastermind, Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States in 2020. 

During the event in Qom, Iran, the audience is reported to have chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to England”. 

Mr Sekaleshfar is also reported to have described Soleimani as a “martyr” in a separate speech in 2021.

Earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to all MPs calling on them to back the Government’s reported proposal to proscribe IRGC under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and the Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, and all MPs with a dossier on the IRGC, detailing its horrendous record of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people.

In light of the mounting pressure to proscribe the IRGC, there have been calls made to close London’s Islamic Centre. The Islamic Centre is believed to serve as an office for Iran’s Supreme Leader, and its Director, Seyed Hashem Moosavi, is understood to have been appointed by the regime as a mid-ranking cleric.

The institution also aired an Iranian propaganda film, posted on IRGC websites, featuring children singing a song that referenced an apocalyptic myth about murdering Jews, according to the JC. The Islamic Centre denied that its “local version of the song” carried the same meaning. It also has a history of publishing inflammatory rhetoric about Zionists and extolled Iranian support for the antisemitic terror groups Hamas and Hizballah.

The Islamic Centre is located just minutes from several synagogues in the area.

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British diplomat met cleric who compared Jewish people to “apes and pigs”

It has been revealed that a British diplomat met with a cleric who compared Jewish people to “apes and pigs”.

The JC reported that UK Consul-General Diane Corner, Britain’s top diplomat in Jerusalem, met with Mahmoud al-Habbash, said to be the spiritual adviser to Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.

In a sermon, Mr al-Habbash can be seen stating that Jews are “cursed by Allah”, “humanoids”, and comparable to “apes and pigs”.

A Twitter post from the British Consulate in Jerusalem featured a photograph of Mr al-Habbash standing next to Ms Corner smiling.

Asked for comment by the JC on the meeting between Corner and al-Habbash, the Foreign Office reportedly declined.

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CAA considering legal action after SOAS Palestine Society reportedly posts quote from Hizballah Secretary-General

Campaign Against Antisemitism is considering legal action after the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Palestine Society reportedly shared a quote from the Secretary-General of Hizballah.

In 2019, following a gruelling effort over several years by Campaign Against Antisemitism and our allies, Hizballah was completely proscribed by the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, with the support of the Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Hizballah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, has previously said: “If Jews all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.” Hizballah has been true to its mission, bombing Jewish targets from Buenas Aires to Burgas, and it has even been blamed for setting off two bombs in London outside buildings used by Jews and Israelis.

According to the JC, the SOAS society shared an Instagram post to its story which contained a quote from Mr Nasrallah that read: “The law of executing Palestinian prisoners will increase the faith, courage and willingness of the Palestinian youth to carry out operations, and this measure is a foolish one.

“Everything that is happening now indicates the end of the Zionist entity.”

The society reportedly also shared a video hours prior of an interview, during which a girl says that “The Jews are hateful”.

In 2021, Professor David Hirsh, a lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London who was appointed as the Chairman of a panel that oversaw an antisemitism-related complaint at SOAS, said that SOAS could be institutionally antisemitic.

The incident related to a complaint from a former student at SOAS who sought to have his fees refunded after he was forced to leave the University due to a ”toxic antisemitic environment”.

The University has not adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

The University has told Campaign Against Antisemitism that: “While SOAS has not adopted the IHRA definition, we are committed to maintaining a neutral platform and ensuring that all members of our diverse community are free to express their opinions in a mutually respectful and collegial environment.

“SOAS has a strong academic track record in research and teaching which relates to Israel Studies and Jewish Culture, including the UK’s first Professor of Israel Studies, an active Centre for Jewish Studies and a range of degree programmes including Hebrew with Arabic. The School is also home to the Jewish Music Institute. All of this is part of our leading role in the development of thinking on issues relating to the Middle East.

“We will continue to promote open and robust discussion on campus.”

Image credit: JC

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NUS conference opens with apology for failings over tackling antisemitism 

The National Union of Students (NUS) opened its conference earlier this week by apologising for its failings in tackling antisemitism.

The apology arrived in the wake of Rebecca Tuck KC’s damning report into the allegations of antisemitism within the NUS.

Nehaal Bajwa, NUS’ Vice President for Liberation and Equality, said at the conference: “[Rebecca Tuck’s] findings were truly shocking and showed us what Jewish students have been saying and have known for a long time; that antisemitism is real and it is happening in NUS spaces as well as in student unions and wider student politics.”

Chloe Field, Vice President for Higher Education, added: “So, we really want to open conference today with a moment of accountability for NUS and a moment of humanity towards our Jewish friends and members. On behalf of NUS today and the past, I am genuinely, truly sorry that it has taken us so long to address antisemitism head-on. You have been let down by the very organisation that you should have been able to trust the most. My team and I will do everything that we can do to make sure that you never have to fight this fight on your own again.

“Let us say this to anyone in doubt: antisemitism is real and it is happening in student politics today. Antisemitism is an attack not just on Jewish people, but on all of us and the shared values we hold.”

Ms Tuck’s report, which was released in January and followed an investigation into which Campaign Against Antisemitism, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and others provided input, observed that NUS allowed the development of a “hostile environment” for Jewish students, with instances in which Jewish students were “subjected to harassment” likely to be in breach of the Equality Act 2010, in addition to NUS’s own code of conduct. It rightly recognised that there had been a “poor relationship” between NUS and Jewish students for a long time. Ms Tuck drew on Campaign Against Antisemitism’s input and past research, including our annual Antisemitism Barometer survey of the Jewish community.

The report recommended improvements in NUS’s record-keeping, elections, due diligence of candidates, and code of conduct complaints. It also called for antisemitism training and the provision of educational materials, and a governance review. Ms Tuck also advised improvements in discussions about Israel, including the inclusion of an “experienced facilitator” in such debates.

Importantly, the report also called for the establishment of an advisory panel to ensure the implementation of the recommendations and for a survey of Jewish students to test that implementation, which were among the suggestions made to Ms Tuck by Campaign Against Antisemitism to ensure the durability of any recommendations that the report made. Indeed Ms Tuck observed how the recommendations of past reports relating to NUS have often not been implemented, a point that we stressed to her.

The announcement of Ms Tuck’s investigation last April came after Robert Halfon MP (then the Chair of the Education Select Committee) wrote together with Campaign Against Antisemitism to the Charity Commission calling for an investigation into the union’s charitable arm, which the Commission agreed to launch. The full dossier on NUS, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, can be read here.

After the investigation was announced, Shaima Dallali, the then-President of NUS, was removed from her position amidst allegations of antisemitism. This was the first time in the Union’s 100-year history that a President has been removed.

There have been numerous controversies involving NUS over the past twelve months. In one scandal, the rapper Kareem Dennis, known as Lowkey, was due to headline NUS’s centenary conference but, after initially dismissing the concerns of Jewish students, who pointed out the rapper’s inflammatory record, the Union came under media scrutiny and eventually Mr Dennis withdrew from the event. As the scandal erupted, Robert Halfon MP excoriated NUS for failing to send a representative to attend a hearing held by the Education Select Committee, which he chairs.

This scandal was immediately followed by the election of Shaima Dallali as NUS’s new President, despite her history of antisemitic tweets and other inflammatory social media posts. Ms Dallali was forced to apologise for tweeting the words of an antisemitic chant. In 2012, during an escalation of tensions between Israel and the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group Hamas, Ms Dallali tweeted the words “Khaybar Khaybar, ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad, sa yahud.” Translated into English, this chant means “Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.” It is a classic Arabic battle cry referencing the massacre and expulsion of the Jews of the town of Khaybar in northwestern Arabia, now Saudi Arabia, in the year 628 CE.

These scandals come after decades of atrocious relations between NUS and Jewish students. Ms Tuck’s investigation is at least the third major such inquiry into NUS’s relations with Jewish students in the last twenty years.

It was reported today that, claiming that her dismissal was discriminatory, Ms Dallali is taking legal action against NUS.  

It was also reported that Manchester Students’ Union is set to hold a referendum on whether it should disaffiliate from NUS, citing concerns over antisemitism and Islamophobia.

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

Image credit: NUS via Twitter

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“F*** Jews”: Man reportedly launches verbal assault on young Jewish children in Stamford Hill

It has been reported that a man launched into a verbal assault on young Jewish children in Stamford Hill. 

The children, said to be girls aged seven, nine and eleven, were allegedly subjected to comments such as “You make babies all day,” “f*** Jews,” and “your mother is fat”.

The alleged incident occurred on Firsby Road and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 13/03/23.

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

Image credit: Google

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Former Glasgow security guard who exchanged antisemitic messages in far-right group jailed for nearly three years  

A former security guard who exchanged antisemitic messages with an online far-right group and shared an instructional video on how to build a replica submachine gun was jailed for nearly three years yesterday.

James Farrell, 32 from Priesthill in Glasgow, admitted to posting the video to the “Oaken Hearth” Telegram channel, in which he also professed an admiration for the Norwegian neo-Nazi murderer, Anders Breivik.

Antisemitic propaganda in support of Adolf Hitler was also said to have been shared, and at one point, Mr Farrell is alleged to have said: “It’s about time someone firebombed a synagogue.”

Mr Farrell joined the Telegram group in March 2021 and, after the group was infiltrated by an undercover police officer, was arrested in October of that year. 

Mr Farrell admitted in Glasgow’s High Court of Justiciary to sharing a video clip featuring instructions on how to build a 3D-printed replica MAC-11 firearm, which he had previously described as an “edgy, cool video”, and pleaded guilty to a breach of the 2006 Terrorism Act.

Sentencing him to two years and eight months in prison, Lord Clark said: “As the criminal justice social work report states, you continue to adhere to your far-right wing views. You have expressed no remorse.”

Lord Clark added that Mr Farrell, who shared the video under the online moniker “Jabz”, “made the video directly available to extremists and potential terrorists and encouraged or induced or assisted them.”

Last year, four members of the Oaken Hearth channel were convicted under anti-terrorism and firearms legislation and sentenced to a total of 31 years.

Image credit: Police Scotland

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“Extreme, insufferable, close-minded”: Allison Josephs criticises media outlets’ depiction of Orthodox Jews

Allison Josephs, the Founder and Executive Director of Jew In The City, a non-profit organisation that seeks to change negative perceptions of religious Jews, appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where she spoke of the often-used tropes used against Orthodox Jews in the media.

“I think the general way that we see Orthodox Jews depicted is extreme, insufferable, xenophobic, close-minded,” Ms Josephs said. She added that “that’s not to say that those types of people don’t exist,” but lamented how the “normative religious Jew” was portrayed as “dysfunctional and abusive”. 

Speaking on the hotly debated Netflix drama series Unorthodox, which revolves around the life of a former Hasidic Jew from Brooklyn, Ms Josephs described the premise as “troubling”.

“Put that dynamic on any other minority community, where you put ‘un’ in front of it,” she said. “Unblack? Unhispanic? It’s a really gross dynamic that you become celebrated when you become less of what you are.”

Also discussed during the conversation was the Netflix film ‘You People’ and the myriad of tropes it used in depicting Jewish people. Campaign Against Antisemitism produced a short review of the film earlier this year.

When asked why she felt that much of the media depicts Orthodox Jews in a negative light, she said: “There are not a small number of Jews in media. Hollywood was founded by Jews because of antisemitism, and so they started their own thing out west, and a lot of them were running from their own persecution. And when you’re persecuted for being a Jew, that leaves you with a lot of complicated feelings about your relationship to your identity.”

Ms Josephs criticised media outlets for disproportionately telling negative Jewish stories over positive ones.

“What doesn’t happen is the happy people, who are happy and healthy and living meaningful lives as religious Jews, they are not contacting The New York Times, they are not contacting Netflix, they are going about their business living their best life, so their stories don’t get told,” she said. “There’s also something salacious about all of the drama.”

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

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CAA launches four-part “Debunked: Black Hebrew Israelites” Instagram series 

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a four-part video series on Instagram in which we take a closer look at the Black Hebrew Israelite movement.

The Black Israelite Hebrews are an extremist Black supremacist group that asserts that they are the “true” Jews. The group has harassed and intimidated Jews on the streets of the United Kingdom and the London Underground, and is thought to have been connected to the New Jersey kosher grocery store shooting in 2019.

The first episode of the Debunked: Black Hebrew Israelites series, which features Podcast Against Antisemitism guest Tova the Poet, explains why the movement is considered so dangerous. 

The second episode is set to be released to our Instagram account on Monday.

You can watch the first episode here.

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Man with swastika-engraved dagger who sent antisemitic messages sentenced after pleading guilty to terrorism charge

A man discovered to have been in possession of Nazi memorabilia and who sent antisemitic messages was sentenced last week after he pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge. 

Matthew Patterson of Kettering first came to the attention of Counter Terrorism Police when he sent racist tweets amid the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

Shortly after, police conducted a search of his home where they discovered a collection of Nazi memorabilia, which included an SS ring, a gas mask and a swastika-engraved dagger. 

Police also retrieved extreme far-right antisemitic messages from Mr Patterson’s digital devices.

Mr Patterson pleaded guilty to one charge of collecting information for terrorist purposes under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and was given an eleven-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Leicester Crown Court. He will be subject to an extended period on license of one year.

Detective Inspector Alan Jackson from Northamptonshire Police’s Counter Terrorism Police-East Midlands Special Branch team said: “This was a complex investigation that led to the discovery of extreme right-wing and antisemitic communications as well as a number of Nazi memorabilia in his possession.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Google

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CAA submits recommendations on legal reform to introduce tougher punishments for racist councillors

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted recommendations on proposed amendments to the Localism Act 2011 to the Parliamentary Committee for Standards in Public Life, in order to introduce tougher punishments for racist councillors.

The Committee, chaired by Lord Evans, has previously made recommendations to the Government on reforms to the sanctions regime for local councillors. The Government rejected the proposals, but the deficiencies of the current system mean that the problem is still very much alive.

Our submission considers the Committee’s proposals in the light of recommendations that we have published as part of our ongoing study of the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by local authorities, which, uniquely, is updated in real-time. The project also records incidents of antisemitism at local councils around the country. To see if your local council has adopted the Definition, please visit the project.

The recommendations include stricter and more uniform sanctions for local authorities to be able to impose on councillors who engage in antisemitic conduct, more clarity on when a councillor is or is not subject to the council’s code of conduct, the importance of training, and other matters. These recommendations are in addition to the importance of adopting the Definition and applying it when allegations of antisemitism arise.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased to be able to provide the Parliamentary Committee for Standards in Public Life with our recommendations for how the sanctions system in local government can be improved to better address antisemitic incidents at local councils. This submission is part of our ongoing policy work, which seeks to ensure that the authorities are empowered by law to address incidents of antisemitism wherever they arise.”

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CCTV footage appears to show identifiably Jewish man accosted in Stamford Hill

CCTV footage has appeared to show an identifiably Jewish man being accosted by a fellow pedestrian in Stamford Hill.

It was reported that the Jewish man believes the suspect to have intentionally collided with him as they were both walking, and stated that, following the alleged altercation, the suspect made a motion as though to repeat it.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: 4605754/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information sharing agreement.

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Man reportedly attacks identifiably Jewish teenager at Stoke Newington railway station

An identifiably Jewish teenager was reportedly attacked by a man at Stoke Newington railway station.

The alleged attack, in which the suspect has been accused of knocking the sixteen-year-old’s hat off of his head, was reported to have been unprovoked.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 7376 09/03/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information sharing agreement.

We are seeking to recruit a Programme Manager to join our London office

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Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Everything that we do is done by people who volunteer their time, using donations contributed by members of the public. Join the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to our updates, volunteering, or donating.