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BBC’s Jeremy Bowen must be dismissed over tweet instructing “every Jew” to read article claiming “Racism, hate and violence are Jewish values too”

Campaign Against Antisemitism is calling for the BBC to dismiss its Middle East Editor, Jeremy Bowen, over a tweet on his official BBC Twitter account, posted today, instructing “every Jew” to read an “exploration of Judaism” that claimed that “Racism, hate and violence are Jewish values too”.

The linked article, published in the Ha’aretz newspaper, argued that the Torah contains plenty of examples of people behaving in a manner that is racist, hateful and violent, and that their behaviour can be interpreted as being “Jewish values” by some extremists.

Though the article itself argued in its fullness that the Torah can be an extremely constructive or destructive influence, depending on how it is interpreted by individuals, that part of the article was behind a paywall, so that the vast majority of Mr Bowen’s followers are likely to have only seen the inflammatory headline, image and opening paragraph, without context.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Jeremy Bowen is an experienced journalist, who is supposed to act with impartiality. He knows about the impact of words and images. As antisemitic incidents against Jews in Britain surge, Mr Bowen has chosen this moment to order all Jews to read an article that most people will have taken to be an analysis of why Judaism is a religion of ‘racism, hate and violence’. He will have known the feelings towards Jews that this would incite and recklessly added fuel to the fire. Had he tweeted in a similar way about any other minority, I do not believe that he would still be in his position this evening. The BBC must act immediately.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has published a petition calling for Mr Bowen’s dismissal.

Mr Bowen has prior form. In 2015, he tweeted that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, “plays the holocaust [sic] card” during a speech in which Mr Netanyahu had acknowledged that Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel was in the audience and promised to learn the lessons of the Holocaust by ensuring that Jews never again faced annihilation. Bowen never apologised, but tweeted that he considered himself to be neither an antisemite nor a Holocaust denier, without addressing his vile turn of phrase, which the BBC dismissed as “journalism shorthand”.

The BBC is currently investigating Mr Bowen’s colleague on BBC Arabic, Nour Eddine Zorgui, who tweeted an article charging those calling for the University of Bristol to discipline Professor David Miller with being “Israel lobbyists”. Campaign Against Antisemitism complained to the BBC, which has so far only “reminded [him] of the BBC social media guidelines.”

Earlier this month, Campaign Against Antisemitism forced the BBC to amend its website to confirm that Jews do count as an ethnic minority, having queried whether they should in a live panel discussion.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s latest Antisemitism Barometer study revealed that two thirds of British Jews are deeply concerned by the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish concern, and 55% by its handling of antisemitism complaints.

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Conservative councillor previously suspended over Facebook posts diminishing impact of Holocaust withdraws as party leader in Aberdeen after complaints

Ryan Houghton, a Conservative councillor who was previously suspended over antisemitic Facebook posts which diminished the Holocaust, has withdrawn from his role as the next Leader of the Aberdeen Conservatives after complaints.

This comes less than one week after Mr Houghton agreed to take up the position.

In a post on a martial arts forum eight years ago, Mr Houghton wrote under the username, Razgriz, that there was “no credible evidence to suggest the Holocaust did not happen” but revealed that “I do find some of the events fabricated, and exegarated [sic] in some cases.” He continued: “As history is written by the victors there is always going to be a bit of re-writing.” He also praised the “interesting” research of the antisemitic Holocaust-denier, David Irving. However, in a later post he said that he was “not defending David’s Irving’s views” and that he does not agree with “some of the stuff he says.”

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

Mr Houghton is also accused of having made homophobic and anti-Muslim statements online. In a statement at the time, he said: “I apologise unreservedly for any hurt now caused by these comments and have been in contact with members of the Jewish community in Aberdeen.” Mr Houghton also said that he was a member of the Holocaust Education Trust, had visited Auschwitz-Birkenau and has “never held antisemitic or intolerant views.”

The Scottish Conservatives readmitted him last year, but apparently there was no further sanction or expectation for him to undertake antisemitism training.

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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Norfolk Messianic institution vandalised with antisemitic graffiti including swastika and racial slur

A Messianic institution in Norfolk has been vandalised with antisemitic graffiti where a swastika was spray painted below the words “Free Palestine” and the antisemitic slur ‘kike’.

Binyamin Sheldrake, the spiritual leader of the Adat Yeshua Messianic Synagogue, said: “It’s horrible, it’s just people feeling they have permission to be antisemitic at the moment. They get encouraged to step out and do stuff like this…it’s not the kind of place where you would expect this kind of reaction.”

Norfolk Police issued an appeal around midday today which read: “Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident of criminal damage in Norwich overnight. The incident happened sometime between 4pm on Thursday 13 May and 7.30am on Friday 14 May when offensive graffiti was sprayed onto the door of a synagogue in Essex Street. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and officers are conducting reassurance patrols in the area. Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information concerning it, to come forward. Please contact PC James McAvoy at Earlham Police Station on 101 quoting crime reference 36/32537/21.”

We recently reported on the rise of antisemitic incidents in Britain in the wake of fighting between terrorist organisations and Israel.  

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

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Success for CAA as General Pharmaceutical Council accepts that Al Quds Day leader Nazim Ali’s comments were antisemitic and confirms it will not contest appeal

In a success for Campaign Against Antisemitism, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has accepted that comments made by Nazim Ali, a pharmacist and leader of the annual Al Quds Day rally, were antisemitic.

The GPhC has also confirmed that it will not contest an appeal brought at Campaign Against Antisemitism’s behest by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) over a previous decision to let Mr Ali off with a formal warning over his comments at the rally in 2017.

Last year, the GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committee, found that Mr Ali brought the pharmaceutical profession into disrepute, following a two-week hearing that culminated on 5th November arising from a complaint by Campaign Against Antisemitism. However, the GPhC panel did not find that he had been antisemitic and let him off with just a formal warning.

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

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

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

The PSA made the referral that we requested, opening the way for the High Court to decide whether to quash the GPhC panel’s decision, leading to the matter being re-opened.

However, the Chief Executive of the GPhC has now told Campaign Against Antisemitism that the regulator “took the view, and still does, that the comments were antisemitic.” He confirmed that the GPhC does not intend to contest the PSA’s appeal to the High Court, accepts that Mr Ali’s comments were indeed antisemitic and that the GPhC panel’s decision was inadequate and wrong, and that it intends to leave Mr Ali to defend the decision himself in the High Court if he wishes to do so. The GPhC has suggested to the High Court that it might consider the option of making a decision on the matter itself rather than returning it to the GPhC for another fitness to practice hearing.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We commend the GPhC for recognising that the original ruling by its Fitness to Practise panel was badly flawed and for taking the necessary steps to correct it. It is absolutely right to recognise that Nazim Ali’s comments were antisemitic and that the panel’s decision and sanction were inadequate and wrong. The road to justice in this case has proved long and winding, but we are again heading in the right direction. It is important that we are unrelenting in pursuit of such cases.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism made its initial complaint to the GPhC related to Mr Ali’s actions in 2017, when he led the pro-Hizballah “Al Quds Day” parade for the controversial London-based organisation calling itself the Islamic Human Rights Commission, just four days after the Grenfell Tower tragedy in which over 70 people were burned alive.

Heading the parade, surrounded by the flags of Hizballah, the genocidal antisemitic terrorist organisation, Mr Ali shouted over a public address system: “Some of the biggest corporations who are supporting the Conservative Party are Zionists. They are responsible for the murder of the people in Grenfell, in those towers in Grenfell. The Zionist supporters of the Tory Party. Free, Free, Palestine…It is the Zionists who give money to the Tory Party to kill people in high-rise blocks. Free, Free, Palestine. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

At another point he told marchers: “Careful of those Rabbis who belong to the Board of Deputies, who have got blood on their hands, who agree with the killing of British soldiers. Do not allow them in your centres.”

The events were filmed by members of Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit.

Mr Ali is the Managing Partner of Chelsea Pharmacy Medical Clinic. Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted a complaint to the GPhC, which confirmed that the matter “calls into question the pharmacy professional’s fitness to practise as a pharmacist.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism previously sought a criminal prosecution of Mr Ali. When the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) refused to prosecute him, we launched a private prosecution which the CPS disgracefully used its statutory powers to take over and discontinue, protecting Mr Ali from prosecution.

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Stamford Hill rocked by antisemitic hate crimes over the weekend, including knife threats and intimidating indoor graffiti

The Jewish neighbourhood of Stamford Hill has been rocked by numerous antisemitic hate crimes over the past several days.

On Friday 7th May, a man dressed in camouflage issued Nazi salutes to Jewish passers-by at Manor House Station (CAD 7253 09/05/21).

On Saturday morning at 01:45, two Jewish men walking on Cazenove Road were approached by a man threatening them with a large knife.

Also over the weekend, Jewish residents of Clock House woke to find the word “Hitler” scribbled onto the ceiling of a communal area in their block (CAD 5431 09/05/21).

All three incidents were 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 the relevant reference numbers above.

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

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Court hears student ran neo-Nazi website that called for the “eradication of Jewish people” after he is charged with encouraging terrorism and stirring up racial hatred

Andrew Dymock, a politics graduate from Aberystwyth University, has been accused of creating and running the website of the neo-Nazi System Resistance Network (SRN) group.

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

One article was allegedly titled “Join your local Nazis”, while another, “The Truth about the Holocaust”, said that “the only guilt felt by the Germanic race in regard to the Holocaust should be that we did not finish the job.”

It reportedly went on to say that Jews were a “cancer on this earth…that must be eradicated in its entirety”. Numerous antisemitic stereotypes and tropes were also said to have been included, such as conspiracy theories about Jewish control of the banks and the Government.

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

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward told jurors that “the article is clear in its encouragement of the eradication of Jewish people.” She added: “Such encouragement constitutes encouragement to commit acts of terrorism.”

Mr Dymock is accused of harbouring “books, flags, clothes and badges” in both his bedroom at home and at university. It was understood that Mr Dymock promoted the SRN on a right-wing website, claiming that SRN was “focused on building a group of loyal men, true to the cause of National Socialism and establishing the Fascist state through revolution.

“The System in the United Kingdom is the most oppressive within the Western World, so we are only looking for the truly dedicated and motivated soldiers to carry the flame with their comrades and ignite the fire that will burn the rats and rot out,” he is alleged to have written.

Ms Ledward told the court that “Before its proscription, the prosecution case contends that Mr Dymock was not only an active member of SRN but also participated in its activities in significant and specific ways. It is the prosecution case that he set up and operated both a website and a Twitter account which he used to promote, encourage and advance the organisation and its aims.”

Ms Leward went on to say that Mr Dymock was not being prosecuted for his beliefs, but rather: “He is facing prosecution for his encouragement of terrorist activity, of violence, as a means to shape society in accordance with his beliefs, rather than through free speech and democracy.”

The court was also shown a propaganda video which was hosted on the SRN website that featured members posing with the groups flag. Others, believed to be members of the American neo-Nazi group, Atomwaffen Division (AWD), were also seen in the video wearing masks covered in skulls.

The video depicted people burning flags and putting a pumpkin with a swastika carved into it outside a Welsh police station.

AWD is a paramilitary neo-Nazi group that trains its members in the use of firearms and reportedly seeks to ignite a race war in the United States. Last year, a member of AWD who made terror threats against American Jewish journalists and activists was sentenced to sixteen months in federal prison in Washington state.  

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, recently called for the proscription of the AWD. This would make membership of the group punishable by up to ten years in prison.

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

Mr Dymock denies five charges of encouraging terrorism, two of funding terrorism, stirring up racial hatred and hatred based on sexual orientation, four counts of disseminating terrorist publications, possessing a terrorist document and possessing racially inflammatory material. 

The trial continues.

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

Image credit: Crown Prosecution Service

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Ruth George in, David Ward and Leanne Wood out: mixed results for controversial candidates in local elections, but questions remain for all parties who allowed them to stand in the first place

There have been mixed results for candidates with controversial histories relating to the Jewish community and antisemitism in last week’s local elections. The candidates hail from all political parties and ran in races across the UK. 

ENGLAND

In England, the Conservatives’ Darran Davies, who used an antisemitic “Jew Boy” slur online before apologising with a slap on the wrist from his Party, won his election for a seat on Hillingdon Council.

Labour’s Ruth George, the former MP for High Peak, retained her seat representing Whaley Bridge ward on Derbyshire County Council. Campaign Against Antisemitism has an outstanding complaint with the Labour Party against Ms George, who was challenged during the election campaign by a member of the public over her past antisemitic comments, for which she has apologised. In her response, she said: “You may wish to look into the political affiliations of the Campaign against Antisemitism and the ongoing complaints to the Charity Commission so you have a full picture.”

The suggestion that those calling out antisemitism in the Labour Party had mendacious or political motives for doing so was highlighted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in its report on antisemitism in Labour as being part of the unlawful victimisation of Jews that took place in the Party. Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant in the EHRC’s investigation of the Labour Party.

Elsewhere, Lisa Forbes, the controversial former MP for Peterborough, ran in the Fletton and Woodston ward, where two seats were being contested. Ms Forbes finished third, losing out on a place on the council. Campaign Against Antisemitism has an outstanding complaint with the Labour Party against Ms Forbes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently reported on the allegations of antisemitism in Peterborough within both the Constituency Labour Party and the local Conservative Association only days before the election.

The former Liberal Democrat MP and incumbent councillor David Ward campaigned to hold his seat in Bolton and Undercliffe ward in Bradford. He was running as an Independent after being expelled by the Liberal Democrats in 2017 for standing against the Party in an election, having previously been disciplined for comments about Jews, the Holocaust and Israel. There was some concern after the Liberal Democrats declined to run a candidate of their own in the ward, which some interpreted as the Party giving Mr Ward a free run. In the event, Mr Ward lost his election.

Several reports of antisemitism have emerged regarding some of Banbury’s Labour candidates, according to one Twitter user. Cllr Clair Bell, who did not win in Calthorpe North, was said to have shared an article entitled “The Jewish establishment’s ‘War Against Corbyn’ risks bringing real antisemitism to Britain.” The article alleged that the “Jewish community’s leadership or media” only had “one issue on their mind – Israel, and how best to protect it from criticism.”

Also in Banbury, Cllr Wajdan Majeed, who unsuccessfully ran for Calthorpe South, was similarly alleged to have shared a lengthy Facebook post which featured “long-ago debunked propaganda maps.” In a separate post, he was also said to have shared antisemitic tropes alleging that ISIS was “found to protect Israel”, going on to state that “the Iraqi people fought a war against the alternative Zionist army.”

Cllr Cassi Perri, who lost the seat for Banbury Town Centre, tweeted that the International Definition of Antisemitism was “unlawful” and that for political parties to adopt it would “put them in direct conflict with human rights legislation.”

Labour Party Councillor Ross Willmott was unsuccessful in his bid for the position of Leicester and Rutland’s Police and Crime Commissioner. He has previously shared several antisemitic Facebook posts, including the antisemitic meme: “An antisemite used to be a person who disliked Jews. Now it is a person who Jews dislike.”

Ian Middleton, representing the Green Party, was elected in the Oxfordshire ward of Kidlington South.

Andrea Carey-Fuller, also representing the Green Party, stood for the New Cross ward in Lewisham but was not elected.

Brian Rose, the podcaster and entrepreneur, failed in his campaign for Mayor of London with the ‘London Real Party’. He previously interviewed the antisemitic hate preacher, David Icke, in a podcast, during which Mr Rose failed to challenge any of Mr Icke’s antisemitic diatribe regarding 9/11 or COVID-19. The podcast remains on Mr Rose’s website, even thought Ofcom sanctioned the television channel London Live for carrying the interview.

SCOTLAND

In Scotland, three controversial SNP candidates were in the spotlight.   

Stephanie Callaghan retained her seat in Uddingston and Bellshill, Lanarkshire. Colm Merrick failed to unstead his opponent in Eastwood in Glasgow, while Suzanne McLaughlin was also unsuccessful in winning Glasgow Southside. Past social media comments by all three candidates emerged during the race, with the first two comparing other mainstream political parties to the Nazis, and the third likening Zionism to fascism. 

Derek Jackson, the unsuccessful, anti-vaccination candidate for the Liberal Party (no connection to the Liberal Democrats), arrived at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow during the election count wearing sunglasses, a black suit, and a yellow star whilst performing a Nazi salute. Claiming his antics were merely satire, he was later escorted out by police.

Ryan Houghton, a Tory councillor who was previously suspended over antisemitic Facebook posts which diminished the Holocaust, has now been made the leader of the Aberdeen Conservatives.

WALES

In Wales, representing Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood, Carrie Harper and Sahar Al-Faifi were all unsuccessful in this year’s election to the Welsh Assembly.

Ms Wood, the former leader of Plaid Cymru with a history of endorsing controversial comments and articles, lost her Rhondda seat to Labour candidate Buffy Williams.

Ms Harper failed to take Wrexham, while Ms Al-Faifi was unsuccessful in her bid to gain the South Wales Central seat.

Joe Glasman, Head of Political Investigations at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Not only are some of these results troubling, but the very fact that some of these controversial candidates were endorsed by their parties to stand for office in the first place is deeply disappointing. We have publicised the records of many of these figures in the past, in many instances submitting formal complaints directly to their parties. Yet here they are again, representing their parties on local election ballots.

“No political party should have allowed these candidates to stand for office, particularly after the EHRC made clear that its recommendations applied not just to Labour but to all parties. These elections have shown how much more there is to do to combat antisemitism in public life.”

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 mobilises volunteers as Jewish children told “#HitlerWasRight”, media blames “Jewish lobbies” and protestors target Jewish institutions

Campaign Against Antisemitism is mobilising volunteers following a significant increase in reports by members of the Jewish community of antisemitism on our streets, on social media and in traditional media in the wake of fighting between terrorist organisations and Israel.

We have been contacted by a growing number of British Jews reporting antisemitic harassment on the street and in schools, and countless attacks on social media, including praise for Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.

On social media, abhorrent hashtags such as #HitlerWasRight, #HitlerTheGreat and #Holocaust_was_right, have all been trending internationally.

The hashtags were invariably accompanied by explanations. For example, one tweet was captioned: “Our modern history is always biased. The great Hitler was right about these Zionists”.

Many directly called for the extermination of the Jewish people. For example, one tweet read “#F***theJews Hitler was right. Now I know why he like slaughtering those Goddamn Jews [sic].”, and in another where one user wrote: “Now I think everyone has understand that Hitler was right [sic].”

Twitter users have also begun to spread a fabricated quote attributed to Hitler, in which it is claimed that he said: “I would have killed all the Jews of the world…but I kept some to show the world why I killed them.” Influencers including Pakistani actress Veena Malik tweeted the false quote to her 1.2 million followers before deleting it later.

Meanwhile on Britain’s streets, protesters in Manchester targeted a housing complex for Charedi Jews on Sunday, and in London, protesters yesterday tried to gain entry into Chelsea football stadium before burning an Israeli flag outside. Chelsea is owned by Jewish business Roman Abramovich who has pioneered a campaign to drive antisemitism out of football. Outside Downing Street, a demonstration last night featured numerous antisemitic banners comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, in breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.

We have also received reports from Jewish people of abuse shouted at them in the streets, for example in Golders Green, a Jewish patron of a kosher restaurant reported today that she and her friend were left shaken as a driver yelled “Free Palestine” at them as they walked in the street.

In a particularly concerning development, Jewish schoolchildren are being victimised by their peers, forced to try to explain allegations put to them about a foreign conflict, with demands made that they condemn Israel or face the consequences.

The situation has not been helped by media coverage of the fighting. For example, Sky News has blamed “powerful Jewish lobbies” overseas for housing policies in Jerusalem, strengthening the perception that the Jewish Diaspora is to blame for rising tensions in the city. Campaign Against Antisemitism’s most recent Antisemitism Barometer revealed that 90% of British Jews believe that media bias against Israel is used to fuel persecution of Jews in Britain.

Due to the volume of demand for our assistance, we are mobilising additional volunteers to help with the influx and to monitor online antisemitism, as well as to provide assistance to victims. If you would like to volunteer, please visit https://antisemitism.org/volunteer. If you cannot give your time, please consider donating to support our work at antisemitism.org/donate.

To report an antisemitic incident, please e-mail [email protected].

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We fear we may see a recurrence of the record-breaking spike in antisemitism that we witnessed in 2014, when we first established CAA due to the failure of the criminal justice system to enforce the law against anti-Jewish racists.

“This week, we have seen social media and our streets rife with antisemitic motifs, with a foreign conflict used as a pretext by antisemites to target Jewish schoolchildren, adults and institutions in Britain.

“In anticipation of a spike in antisemitism, we are mobilising volunteers to help monitor and report antisemitic incidents and provide assistance to victims.

“We continue to call on the Government to proscribe in its entirety Hamas, an antisemitic genocidal terrorist organisation that aspires to the destruction of Jews worldwide. Proscription is supported by over 90% of British Jews and will send a message of zero-tolerance of anti-Jewish hatred.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s 2020 Antisemitism Barometer revealed that an overwhelming 91% of British Jews want the British Government to proscribe the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group Hamas in its entirety.

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Protesters compare Israel to Nazis in breach of International Definition of Antisemitism at rally outside Downing Street

A rally was held outside Downing Street yesterday that protested the ongoing events in the Middle East and featured several antisemitic themes.

Around 1,500 people attended Tuesday’s “Emergency Rally for Palestine – Save Sheikh Jarrah.” Volunteers from our Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit gathered material which we are now reviewing for possible legal action.

We photographed several disturbing banners comparing Israel to the Nazis. One disturbing sign (pictured) read: “Holocaust 1941 (with a swastika), Holocaust 2021 (with a Star of David).”

Another antisemitic sign, referencing both the Holocaust and South African apartheid, read: “It wasn’t ok in South Africa. It wasn’t ok in Nazi Germany. So why is it ok in Palestine (It’s not!)”.

“Israel have no conscience, no honour, no pride. They curse Hitler day & night but they have surpassed Hitler in Barbarism”, read another.

At one point, protesters jumped on top of a double decker London bus and held aloft a banner equating the Israeli flag with the Nazi swastika. According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Other banners – in Arabic – appeared to incite and glorify violence against Israelis in graphic language, while songs were chanted calling for the destruction of the Jewish state.

The rally was addressed by former Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who failed to condemn Hamas in his remarks. The crowd welcomed Mr Corbyn with the familiar refrain of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn.” In the past, Mr Corbyn has referred to Hamas as his “friends”.

The demonstration was organised by the Friends of Al Aqsa (FOA), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Forum in Britain.

The founder of FOA told a cheering crowd in 2009 during a war between Israel and Hamas: “Hamas is not a terrorist organisation. The reason that they hate Hamas is because they refuse to be subjugated to be occupied by the Israeli state and we salute Hamas for standing up to Israel.”

An investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism in 2017 exposed extensive antisemitic bigotry amongst supporters of the PSC.

Stop The War Coalition has appeared in the past to advocate war against Israel and its marches routinely feature antisemitic tropes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s 2020 Antisemitism Barometer revealed that an overwhelming majority of British Jews — 91% — want the British Government to proscribe the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group Hamas in its entirety.

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St Anne’s College, Oxford deletes without apology its JCR statement offering support to Muslim members but not to Jews

St Anne’s College at the University of Oxford has removed a statement issued by the President of the College’s JCR and its MCR BAME representatives offering “support to the Muslim and Palestinian members of our community” but not to its Jewish members.

The statement related to ongoing violence in Jerusalem and said: “We want to sincerely support and send solidarity to St Anne’s Muslim and Palestinian members and the wider Oxford community. We would also like or remind students to reach out to the St Anne’s JCR & MCR Welfare and BAME Officers if they are struggling and would like somebody to talk to. In addition, you can also reach out to the Oxford University Islamic Society (ISOC) ‘Welfare Officers’ and/or the Oxford University Champaign for Racial Awareness Equality (CRAE) Officers.”

It went on to say: “We also encourage other Oxford colleges’ JCRs and MCRs to show solidarity with the wider Oxford Muslim and Palestinian community and combat the noticeable lack of support.”

Disgracefully, nowhere did the statement offer any support or resources to Jewish students. The “lack of support” to the College’s Jews was thus particularly “noticeable”.

The statement was shared on St Anne’s College’s official Instagram account. The College then prohibited comments on the statements before deleting the post entirely, without explanation or apology.

There are growing reports of Jewish students facing antisemitism on campus and online since violence in the Middle East has erupted in recent days.

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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Queen’s Speech introduces legislation banning Britain’s public bodies from joining in with BDS campaign because it “may legitimise antisemitism”

It was announced today in the Queen’s Speech, in which Her Majesty announces the Government’s legislative agenda, that a new law will be passed banning public bodies from joining in with the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, on the grounds that it “may legitimise antisemitism”.

According to the Government’s official documentation, the purpose of the legislation is to “deliver the manifesto commitment to stop public bodies from imposing their own approach or views about international relations, through preventing boycott, divestment or sanctions campaigns against foreign countries.”

The document also acknowledges the long-standing connections between the BDS movement and antisemitism, stating that: “Unofficial boycotts have been associated with antisemitism in the United Kingdom — including kosher food being removed from supermarket shelves, Jewish films being banned from a film festival and a student union holding a vote on blocking the formation of a Jewish student society.” 

While boycotting a country is neither illegal nor racist per se, the problem with BDS is that it is no mere boycott. Supporters of BDS routinely engage the International Definition of Antisemitism by:

  • Setting political tests which Jews must pass, or face being treated as a pariah, especially by demanding that Jews renounce their cultural and religious ties to Israel, the physical centre of the Jewish religion, the world’s only Jewish state, and the country in which almost half of the world’s Jewish population lives;
  • Attempting to isolate and shame Israeli Jews, but not Israeli non-Jews, who do not support BDS when they visit Britain or come to study or teach at British universities;
  • Treating the entirety of the State of Israel as occupied land, and thereby asserting that the existence of the State of Israel is a racist endeavour;
  • Working with genocidal antisemitic terrorist organisations;
  • Claiming that Israeli policy is to deliberately kill babies, or harvest the vital organs of non-Jews, which revives ancient blood libels;
  • Attempting to portray Israeli Jews as having created a Nazi state in the model of Nazi Germany, and of ‘using’ the Holocaust as political cover for purported Jewish crimes;
  • Defending against claims of antisemitism by proposing that the allegations are a ruse used by Jewish victims, not to call out racism but to silence criticism of Israel;
  • Projecting antisemitic conspiracy myths about nefarious Jewish power onto the Jewish state.

Campaign Against Antisemitism applauds the Government’s latest efforts in tackling antisemitism in Britain.

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Van Morrison faces fresh controversy after releasing new song entitled “They Own the Media”

Singer Van Morrison has faced fresh allegations of antisemitism after releasing a new song entitled “They Own the Media.”

The song alludes to a powerful elite who control the media and have influence over societal behaviours and beliefs. Some of the lyrics read:

“They tell us that ignorance is bliss
I guess by those that control the media, it is
They own the media, they control the stories we are told
If you ever try to go against them, you will be ignored”

In another verse, Mr Morrison sings:

“They control the narrative, they perpetuate the myth
Keep on telling you lies, tell you ignorance is bliss
Believe it all and you’ll never get, nеver get wise
To thе truth, ’cause they control everything you do”

By singing “they own the media,” Mr Morrison has been accused of deploying a trope regarding the hidden power of Jews which featured heavily in the antisemitic propaganda of the Soviet Union, as well as in other eras and places.

Tom Breihan, the Senior Editor for Stereogum, wrote that the song had “a title that sure seems to be an antisemitic trope.”

He went on to say: “Maybe it’s satire. Maybe the ‘they’ of the title doesn’t refer to any specific group of people. But when you consider that this man just went on a months-long COVID-denial tantrum, we have every right to be suspicious about this one.”

This is not the Northern Irish musician’s first brush with accusations of antisemitism. In 2005, Mr Morrison released “They Sold Me Out”, a song that appeared to perpetrate the antisemitic conspiracy theory of deicide. One verse of the song reads:

“Sold me out for a few shekels and divided up my robes
They sold me out
It’s the oldest story that’s ever been told
They sold me out”

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Tory councillor previously suspended over antisemitic Facebook posts diminishing impact of Holocaust is now party leader in Aberdeen

Ryan Houghton, a Tory councillor who was previously suspended over antisemitic Facebook posts which diminished the Holocaust, has now been made the Leader of the Aberdeen Conservatives.

In a post on a martial arts forum eight years ago, Mr Houghton wrote under the username, Razgriz, that there was “no credible evidence to suggest the Holocaust did not happen” but revealed that “I do find some of the events fabricated, and exegarated [sic] in some cases.” He continued: “As history is written by the victors there is always going to be a bit of re-writing.” He also praised the “interesting” research of the antisemitic Holocaust-denier, David Irving. However, in a later post he said that he was “not defending David’s Irving’s views” and that he does not agree with “some of the stuff he says.”

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

Mr Houghton is also accused of having made homophobic and anti-Muslim statements online. In a statement at the time, he said: “I apologise unreservedly for any hurt now caused by these comments and have been in contact with members of the Jewish community in Aberdeen.” Mr Houghton also said that he was a member of the Holocaust Education Trust, had visited Auschwitz-Birkenau and has “never held antisemitic or intolerant views.”

The Conservatives in Scotland readmitted him last year, but apparently there was no further sanction or expectation for him to undertake antisemitism training.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It is appalling that a politician who has previously minimised the impact of the Holocaust, a genocide which killed six million Jews, has been promoted to leader of the Aberdeen Conservatives. Denying the scope of the Holocaust violates the International Definition of Antisemitism, which the Conservative Government has adopted. This is not what zero tolerance looks like.”

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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Police intervene after anti-vaccination candidate in Glasgow wears yellow star and performs Nazi salute in pathetic attempt at “satire”

Derek Jackson, an anti-vaccination local election candidate for the Liberal Party (no connection to the Liberal Democrats), arrived at the Emirates Arena during the election count wearing sunglasses, a black suit, and a yellow star whilst performing a Nazi salute.

Mr Jackson, who was running for Glasgow’s Southside seat, was accompanied by several Liberal Party campaigners who were all dressed identically to Mr Jackson, and who were also performing the salute. Each of them had drawn red hearts onto the palms of their hands, and when performing the Nazi salute, would claim it was a “love salute.”

The yellow stars, designed to resemble the ones that Jewish Holocaust victims were forced to wear as a mark of identification, had the word “UNVAX” written on them. When questioned about the stars, the Liberal Party representatives stated that they were “sheriff badges.”

In an attempt to satire what he perceived to be the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) restrictions on hate speech, Mr Jackson performed the Nazi salute to a crowd of baffled onlookers as he proclaimed: “Love everyone…spread love…we’re just here to love everybody.”

Speaking directly to the crowd, he went on to say: “You’ve all got to love us as well. You’ve all got to love everybody, people you’ve never met before. You’ve got to care about people everywhere, all the time. You’ve got to give up your freedom and your liberty to love people you never met before.”

After being called a racist by a member of the crowd, Mr Jackson apparently grew agitated. He adopted what appeared to be a frustrated and confrontational tone and stated: “I hope you’re not stupid enough, all of you…I hope none of you are stupid enough to believe we’re promoting fascism, when plainly, and very obviously, we’re here to satire and parody the fascist SNP hate laws. Obviously. Are you all so stupid? Are you all so stupid, you think we’ve come here to promote fascism and racism and Nazism. Really? We are here to campaign against the SNP’s fascist hate speech laws which criminalise you expressing your thoughts in your home.”

Mr Jackson and his supporters were later escorted out of the arena by police.

The Liberal Party has now expelled Mr Jackson and given him a lifetime ban.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes, and this is not the first time that anti-vaccination campaigners have used the yellow star during events. Recently, London protestors were condemned online for wearing the yellow stars, while French protesters were seen wearing them at a demonstration in Avignon. They have also been seen elsewhere in Europe and North 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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Conservative candidate who used “Jew Boy” slur on Facebook wins seat in Hillingdon Council election

Darran Davies, the Conservative candidate who used an antisemitic slur on Facebook has won a seat in the Hillingdon Council election.

Mr Davies won with 2,098 votes while Labour candidate Steve Garelick finished a close second with 1,799.

Mr Davies, who expressed “deep regret” for his actions, shared an image of a man on Facebook with the words, “Wanted Jew Boy Reward $100”. Mr Davies shared the image on his personal Facebook page with the caption: “Guys have you seen this bloke.”

A friend of Mr Davies’ apparently commented that the message referred to him because he had not attended a local pub in some time.

When the post emerged last month, Hillingdon Council’s Conservative group leader said: “The posting…relates to the use of an inappropriate nickname among friends. Although the comment was inappropriate and below the standards expected of a Conservative member this has been resolved by admonishing Mr Davies and reinforcing with him the standards expected of persons seeking to represent Hillingdon Conservatives. Mr Davies has shown deep regret for his lack of judgment and has apologised.”

It has been reported that the matter is being investigated by the Conservative Party.

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 calls on British Government to follow United States in boycotting controversial “Durban IV” event to mark anniversary of notorious 2001 conference

Campaign Against Antisemitism has called on the British Government to boycott this year’s “Durban IV” event, following a similar decision by the United States, Australia and Canada.

The Durban conferences, while presented under the guise of combatting racism, have previously provided a stage for antisemitic hate speech and actions. At the original 2001 conference in the South African city, there were attempts to equate Zionism with racism, in an echo of the United Nations’ darkest period. Subsequent review conferences in the Durban series have included the distribution of the notorious antisemitic propaganda, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an early twentieth-century forgery long used to incite mob violence against Jews, as well as then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referring to the Holocaust as “ambiguous and dubious.”

While Britain boycotted the Durban III conference, the Government has yet to confirm its withdrawal from this year’s event. When asked in Parliament whether Britain would commit to a boycott recently, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that the UK “will not support any partisan or political attacks on Israel.” He went on to say that the Government is “absolutely crystal clear in our condemnation of and opposition to any and all forms of antisemitism.”

However, last month, the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, was reported to have said that the Government would “gauge how likely the conference is to host antisemitism again.”

Earlier this year, CAA reported that the UN General Assembly approved an operating budget that includes money to commemorate the Durban conference, an event which has been widely described as antisemitic.

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

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

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CAA provides online antisemitism training for Oxford University Labour Club

Campaign Against Antisemitism has provided training to the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC) after the campus group reached out to us to provide an online training session to fight antisemitism.

The training was particularly poignant given the OULC’s contribution to the scandal of institutional antisemitism in the Labour Party. The event, held last Tuesday, was very well received. 

In 2016, the OULC was investigated by the Labour Party following multiple allegations of antisemitism levelled by the Club’s co-Chair, who resigned in protest against the antisemitic conduct he witnessed. However, the investigation was dropped in January 2017.

Students testified that members of the OULC had called Auschwitz a “cash cow”; Jews were called “Zios”; Jewish members were asked to renounce Israel publicly before speaking; the dead Jewish victims of the Paris Hypercacher terrorist attack were mocked; terrorist acts against Jews in Europe were rationalised; and it was asserted that the banks were controlled by the “Paris-Tel Aviv axis” — all in clear breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Following this, Labour Students was sent to investigate, but its findings were suppressed. Baroness Royall was then commissioned to undertake her own investigation into alleged antisemitism in the OULC and in the Party more generally to her chagrin, only the executive summary of her report was published, providing a misleadingly positive account of the problem, and she later leaked the entire report to give the fuller picture. The Royall report was not officially published in full because it too was rolled into yet another inquiry, that of Shami Chakrabarti, who went on to produce a whitewash report that introduced a system of secrecy into the Party’s disciplinary process and thereby contributed significantly to the institutionalisation of Labour’s antisemitism problem.

As for the OULC, all accused students were cleared without censure.  

While the Club’s past cannot be undone, it is extremely encouraging to see its current members’ commitment to fighting antisemitism. In the description for the online event, the organisers wrote that the training was “mandatory for all committee members but strongly encouraged for other members – especially for those interested in running for OULC committee positions in future.”

Binyomin Gilbert, Programme Manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We provide antisemitism training to university groups, regulators, police forces and others, but this session was particularly poignant given the OULC’s prominent role in the Labour Party’s antisemitism scandal.

“This new generation of OULC members clearly grasps the importance of fighting antisemitism and has shown a commitment to restoring the reputation of the Club, and we are proud to have contributed to that noble effort. We encourage other university societies and public bodies to contact us to arrange antisemitism training and become allies in the fight against the world’s oldest hatred.”

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, or wish to arrange antisemitism training for their university society, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

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Northern Ireland Assembly adopts International Definition of Antisemitism

The Northern Ireland Assembly has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism. This came despite Sinn Fein’s opposition to the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) proposal to adopt it.

The DUP motion stressed “the need to tackle the scourge of antisemitism in every aspect of our society” and called on the Assembly to adopt the Definition in full with the illustrative examples, which are integral to the Definition.

Sinn Fein tried to pass an amendment to remove the reference to the Definition, but retained similar wording without the examples.

In the past, Belfast City Council explicitly rejected the adoption of the Definition.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We applaud this decision by the Northern Ireland Assembly to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism. We regret that Sinn Fein opposed the adoption resolution, but its passage is a strong demonstration of solidarity with the Jewish community and a powerful expression of opposition to anti-Jewish racism, which has no place in Northern Ireland or any other part of the United Kingdom. We continue to call on local authorities, as well as universities and other public bodies, to adopt the Definition and apply it in cases of antisemitism.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism applauds the decision. The British Government 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. Since then, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government have also both adopted the Definition.

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Judge agrees with unfair dismissal claim against Lidl after supermarket fired employee who brandished swastika tattoo to colleague

A judge’s decision has been criticised after he ruled in favour of a claimant claiming unfair dismissal against Lidl after the supermarket reportedly fired him for brandishing his swastika tattoo to a colleague.

Istvan Horvarth, the former caretaker at Lidl’s Telford Hadley branch in Shropshire, was said to have proudly displayed his tattoo whilst laughing. The Hungarian native also reportedly joked that it was “his country’s symbol.”  

The colleague who reported Mr Horvarth, referred to only as MB, was only on their second shift when Mr Horvarth approached him. They alleged that the swastika tattoo was surrounded by barbed wire, and that Mr Horvarth also had other far-right tattoos.

MB said: “[Mr Horvarth] exposed the top of his arm and shoulder and pointed to a tattoo of the swastika symbol. I thought it was disgusting for someone to brazenly show it as a proud symbol. I come from a military background so I was not impressed for that to be displayed so publicly in a company that promotes equality and the acceptance of people from different backgrounds.”

This led to a disciplinary hearing conducted by Andrew Shaw, the branch’s Area Manager, which then resulted in Mr Horvarth’s dismissal. Mr Shaw stated: “These are sensitive issues and I felt it was massively inappropriate for [Mr Horvarth to be] behaving this way. I felt that him showing the tattoos at work was damaging to Lidl’s reputation.”

When questioned, Mr Horvarth apparently claimed that the symbol was a “Buddhist peace symbol”, despite Lidl’s internal investigation confirming that it was indeed the Nazi symbol.

Judge Ian Miller, presiding in the case, concluded that the symbol was offensive, however he felt that a warning about uniform policy would have been more appropriate, and upheld Mr Horvarth’s accusation of unfair dismissal.

Despite stating that there was “beyond any sensible doubt that a Nazi swastika is offensive to most people for obvious reasons,” Judge Miller ruled in favour of Mr Horvarth, partly because he believed that Mr Shaw and branch boss Craig Taylor had already branded Mr Horvarth as a “troublemaker” and a “bully”. Judge Miller also felt that Mr Horvarth was not afforded an adequate opportunity to defend himself during his disciplinary hearing.

Mr Horvarth’s additional claim of race discrimination was denied.

Mr Horvarth is now awaiting compensation from the supermarket chain.

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

Image credit: Google

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CAA writes to BBC Director-General demanding proper response after BBC Arabic journalist who blamed “Israel lobbyists” for wanting Prof. David Miller fired is let off with mere reminder of social media guidelines

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to Tim Davie, the BBC’s Director-General, after our concerns over a BBC journalist’s social media activity were dismissed by BBC Arabic’s Head of Daily Output.

Last month, Nour Eddine Zorgui shared an article titled “Who are the Israel lobbyists that want David Miller fired?” that referred to Zionism as “Israel’s racist ideology”.

The article was published by The Electronic Intifada, an online news outlet which has also previously attacked Campaign Against Antisemitism.

In a letter from the BBC Arabic’s Head of Daily Output, we have been informed that Nour Eddine Zorgui was merely “reminded of the BBC social media guidelines.”

However, not only is the description of Zionism in the article offensive, but the article and tweet represents an intervention in the public debate over Prof. David Miller, a Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Bristol with a history of peddling conspiracy theories relating to Jewish students. Most recently, he asserted that “Zionism is racism”, declared his objective “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world” and accused the Bristol University Jewish Society of being part of a worldwide Zionist conspiracy, adding that it is “fundamental to Zionism to encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”. At the same online event, Prof. Miller also observed that the Jewish Society and the Union of Jewish Students are Zionist, thereby implying that Jewish students (and the wider Jewish community) inherently “encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”.

For a BBC journalist to intervene in this debate, share an offensive article and defend an academic accused of antisemitism – and to do so by suggesting that those making the allegations do so in service to Israel, which is precisely the sort of antisemitism-denial found by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to have contributed to institutional antisemitism in the Labour Party – is unacceptable. It is woefully insufficient for the BBC to be served with a mere reminder of the Corporation’s guidelines.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 revealed that two thirds of British Jews are deeply concerned by the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish concern, and 55% by its handling of antisemitism complaints.

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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Police investigate author over allegations of pro-Nazi hate messages through social media platforms

Author Shazia Hobbs is being investigated by police over allegations of posting pro-Nazi hate messages on social media platforms Telegram and Gab.

Ms Hobbs, who wrote a book centred around her own experiences of racism, was said to have attacked a member of an antisemitism awareness group by posting a photo of a Nazi salute with the caption: “raise your hand if you are tired of [name of member].”

Ms Hobbs’ Twitter account has been suspended, reportedly for antisemitic posts. She is also said to have created posts that featured swastikas on the social media platform Telegram and is accused of labelling a Holocaust survivor a “liar” on Gab.

In light of these accusations, her book contract is said to have been cancelled.

Last year, Ms Hobbes was photographed at an event for far-right group Patriotic Alternative. The group is led by the former head of the youth wing of the BNP, Mark Collett, who is reported to have dabbled in Holocaust denial, collaborated with the infamous American antisemite David Duke, and espoused antisemitic and racist views.

A report into Patriotic Alternative published last summer found that several members of the group engaged in Holocaust denial.

The group was found using social media platform Telegram to create neo-Nazi channels dedicated to share vile messages, antisemitic conspiracy theories and images glorifying Hitler. An investigation by Scottish news site The Ferret found over 2,000 messages swapped by members of Patriotic Alternative on Telegram.

Ms Hobbs is also known to have associated with the notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz, who was recently jailed for malicious communications relating to Jews.

When asked to comment, the Metropolitan Police said: “Police received an allegation of malicious communications relating to content of an antisemitic nature that had been posted online. Officers are in touch with the complainant. Inquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests at this stage.”

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

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

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As Labour reaches first “key monitoring date” in Action Plan agreed with EHRC, CAA evaluates disappointing lack of progress

This week saw the first “key monitoring date” in the Labour Party’s Action Plan, agreed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) regarding antisemitism in the Party.

The Action Plan came following the publication of the EHRC’s damning report into antisemitism in the Labour Party, the product of an investigation in which Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant. The EHRC found that Labour had unlawfully discriminated against and harassed Jews. Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Party.

A large proportion of the requirements due to be met by this first monitoring date are either proposals or internal policy changes, which will be assessed by the EHRC.

However, a number of items are outward-facing and are therefore available for evaluation.

The Labour Party is required by now, for example, to have engaged with stakeholders in the Jewish community and established an Advisory Board on antisemitism. It is understood that the Party has achieved this, but selectively. As we noted earlier this month, Sir Keir’s repeated refusal to engage with us, despite our being the complainant in the EHRC’s investigation into antisemitism in his Party, and Labour’s failure even to acknowledge our complaints against MPs, do not reflect a leadership wholly willing to address past failures.

The Party was also required, by this stage, to have published “at least one performance report”. The Party discharged this requirement earlier this year in part; the report contained ambiguities that made it difficult to assess. In particular, it referenced case numbers in 2014-2018 but appeared to make no reference to 2019 whatsoever.

By this first monitoring date, the Party was required to have published a Complaints Handling Handbook, which it has done. The handbook made some welcome improvements to the process but was largely a disappointment. In particular, the Handbook was pilloried for including a number of examples of what seemingly purported to be best practice, but which in fact served only to illustrate why Labour’s disciplinary process is unfit for purpose.

In one example, a Labour member “posted and shared several things on social media that were antisemitic; using Hitler, Nazi and Holocaust metaphors, distortions and comparisons in debates about Israel-Palestine”. In other words, they breached the International Definition of Antisemitism in at least one and possibly multiple ways. Yet the sanction given in the handbook was merely that the member was given a Formal Warning, which would remain on their record for eighteen months.

These case studies have now, however, been scrubbed from the Handbook entirely.

The Party was also required, by this stage, to have completed antisemitism training for all those officials responsible for disciplinary cases relating to anti-Jewish hatred. However, it recently emerged that a member of Jewish Voice for Labour, an antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation, chaired a Labour disciplinary panel on antisemitism just earlier this month. It is difficult to square that development with the fulfilment of the training requirement.

Labour was also due by now to demonstrate to the EHRC that it has completed its “clearing of the backlog” of antisemitism cases. It is difficult to see, however, how the Party can do so before introducing an independent disciplinary system, which it has said it will not do until later this year. Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted numerous complaints against MPs and others, which we expect the Party to investigate only once the independent system is in place. But the Party has not acknowledged our complaints, and the only indication that the Party has taken any action whatsoever was a report that our complaint against Deputy Leader Angela Rayner was dismissed out of hand earlier this year.

Reflecting on the milestone, Joe Glasman, Head of Political Investigations at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “This week was intended to be a landmark moment in the Labour Party’s recovery from the institutional antisemitism ushered in by Jeremy Corbyn. However, progress has been marked by inconsistencies, lack of transparency and potential burying of awkward issues, for example our complaints against Labour’s Deputy Leader and numerous other MPs.

“Only in the last few weeks, we have seen perplexing disciplinary outcomes, a member of an antisemitism-denial group chair a disciplinary panel, and now Labour has embarrassingly scrubbed its ‘best practice’ case studies from its Complaints Handling Handbook after we and others highlighted their absurdity.

“At this first major juncture in the Action Plan, we are yet to be reassured that the Party is capable of getting to grips with its antisemitism problem.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer study in 2019 found 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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Four years in prison for first police officer convicted of membership of far-right terrorist group

A police officer found guilty of being a member of the banned neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action has been jailed for four years and four months.

Benjamin Hannam, a 22-year-old from Edmonton in North London, has now been fired from by the Metropolitan Police for gross misconduct following his conviction earlier this month. Last year, it was alleged that he belonged or professed to belong to the proscribed group National Action between December 2016 and January 2018 and that he falsely represented himself in his application to join the Metropolitan Police in this connection.

With his conviction at the beginning of April, Mr Hannam became the first police officer to be convicted of far-right terrorism after being found guilty at the Old Bailey of membership in National Action, lying on his application to join the police and possessing guides to knife-fighting and bombmaking. It is understood that the ban on reporting the case was lifted after Mr Hannam admitted possessing an indecent image of a child.

Mr Hannam, who reportedly has autism, was apparently “desperate to impress” an older National Action organiser who gave him free stickers, but he ended his association with the organisation before he joined the Metropolitan Police.

Sentencing Mr Hannam at the Old Bailey today, Judge Anthony Leonard QC told him that “I consider what you did to be very serious and you have harmed public trust in the police by your deceit”, as he sentenced Mr Hannam to four years and four months in prison.

The Head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, which carried out the investigation, emphasised earlier this month that there is no evidence that Mr Hannam abused his position at the police force to further his far-right views.

Mr Hannam had denied being a member of National Action before or after it was proscribed, and told the court that he had been attracted to fascism aged sixteen because of its artwork and propaganda and was under the impression that it was a youth network. He denied engaging in any stickering or propaganda campaigns and insisted that he only attended social events.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “National Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation at our behest because it poses a considerable threat. Its members are indoctrinated to kill and instructed in the use of weapons. Benjamin Hannam posed as someone who would protect the public, when in fact he was a member of a dangerous far-right terrorist organisation, in possession of knife fighting and bomb-making manuals, as well as disturbing sexual images of a child.

“We applaud Counter Terrorism Command for its investigation of this very troubling case, as well as the CPS for prosecuting it and the court for delivering an appropriate sentence. Public confidence in the police depends on holding officers to a high standard and zero tolerance of far-right or neo-Nazi infiltration. The verdict and sentence in this disturbing case sends exactly the right message.”

Other members of National Action were recently convicted and sentenced to prison for their role in the organisation.

National Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in December 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others. Under section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000, membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation is a criminal offence.

Image credit: Metropolitan Police

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Chelsea bans antisemitic troll Sam Mole for ten years, following engagement with CAA

Chelsea Football Club has announced that it has banned an abusive online troll from its matches for ten years after he hounded a Jewish journalist who came forward and received support from Campaign Against Antisemitism. The announcement comes as football clubs around the country are walking out of social media in protest at online hate.

Sam Mole, a twenty-year-old from Kettering, had sent antisemitic and homophobic messages online to freelance Jewish journalist Dan Levene, including one wishing that Mr Levene would die and another lamenting that Mr Levene had not been killed in the Holocaust.

Further abusive messages had also been sent by Mr Mole from another account that Twitter suspended. Mr Mole, a fan of Chelsea Football Club, took issue with Mr Levene’s stance in opposition to antisemitic chanting by some fans of the club.

Earlier this year, a legal case against Mr Mole ended with a judge declaring his regret that “the law prohibits me from punishing you” following a blunder by the investigating police force. Mr Mole had admitted to police that he had sent the abusive tweets in October 2019, but he was found not guilty at Leicester Magistrates Court in February 2021 on the technicality that he was on holiday in Australia at the time, and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the UK’s courts.

Mr Mole was nonetheless issued a three-year restraining order prohibiting him from directly or indirectly contacting Mr Levene and posting messages about him on social media or encouraging others to do so. He was told that if he broke this order, he could go to prison.

The court heard that Mr Mole, a trainee teacher, expressed remorse for his actions. Campaign Against Antisemitism is in contact with the Teaching Regulation Agency.

Campaign Against Antisemitism contacted Chelsea to urge the football club to exclude Mr Mole from attending matches and the club confirmed that it would investigate. Chelsea has now confirmed that it has banned Mr Mole for a period of ten years.

In a statement, Chelsea said: “Following the conclusion of court proceedings in February, the club conducted our own investigation into the matter and has taken the decision to ban the individual from Chelsea FC for a period of ten years. Everybody at Chelsea is proud to be part of a diverse club. Our players, staff, fans and visitors to the club come from a wide range of backgrounds, including the Jewish community, and we want to ensure everyone feels safe, valued and included. We will not tolerate any behaviour from supporters that threatens that aim.”

The statement added: “As a club, we will continue to take action against individuals or groups who produce or disseminate social media posts that contravene these values.”

Chelsea was among nineteen Premiership clubs, along with the Premier League itself, to have adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Dan Levene said: “I’m delighted with this outcome. It sends a very strong message that abusive and antisemitic behaviour online is unacceptable. And it’s particularly poignant coming today, when football clubs are walking out from social media because of racism online. I hope this case leads to better processes at Chelsea and other clubs so that it doesn’t take so long to come to the right decision in future, but this is a good day for the fight against racism in football.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Chelsea should be applauded for banning an abusive troll for ten years. This announcement sends a powerful message that antisemitism in football and online must not be tolerated. Football clubs walking out of social media over online hate is one thing, but backing it up with strong action like this is the strongest antidote.”

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

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Canterbury Christ Church University adopts International Definition of Antisemitism

Canterbury Christ Church University has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Last year, the University acted to remove its brand from Urban Dictionary after Campaign Against Antisemitism alerted it to its advertisements featuring alongside antisemitic and offensive entries on the controversial website.

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism has consistently backed efforts by the Government to encourage widespread adoption of the Definition by local authorities, universities and public bodies. The UK was the first country in the world to adopt the International Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism, Lord Eric Pickles and others worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street.

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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Peterborough’s Labour Party and Conservative Association rocked by allegations of antisemitism just days before local elections, resulting in suspensions

Several parliamentary candidates in Peterborough, belonging to both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, have been accused of antisemitism, resulting in suspensions.

It has been reported that in response to several candidates allegedly harbouring and sharing antisemitic videos and opinions, including that Sir Keir Starmer is under “Zionist control”, the Peterborough Constituency Labour Party (CLP) has moved to suspend fourteen individuals, at least seven of whom were local councillors.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party said that the decision reflected the Party’s “determination to root out all forms of antisemitism from our party and it is testament to our commitment to zero tolerance that we will not be influenced by an election timetable.”

It was reported that some of the names of those suspended from Peterborough CLP were Councillor Ansar Ali, Richard Stargward, Cllr Angus Ellis, Colin and Linda Watson, Cllr Samantha Hemraj, Kit Hubback, and Cllr Mahboob Hemraj.

Other suspended individuals reportedly included Cllr Shabina Qayyum, Cllr Aasiayah Joseph and Cllr Mohammed Jamil, also from Peterborough CLP.

In addition, it is understood that Janet Armstrong and Jonathan Orchard were suspended from North Cambridgeshire CLP.

The Conservative Party in Peterborough has faced similar pressure to reprimand members who have also been accused of antisemitism. Cllr Muhammed Ikram was alleged to have shared an antisemitic article that propagated the idea that Israel was enacting a “Final Solution” in Gaza, adding: “Can you really support Zionism after this?”

Meanwhile, Cllr Mohammed Nadeem was said to have shared videos from a hate preacher who is banned from entering the UK.

Ishfaq Hussain, a Conservative candidate running in Dogsthorpe, is understood to have been suspended. He recently apologised for sharing antisemitic tropes on Facebook. In one Facebook post, he accused the “Saudi regime” of being “long standing puppets of America and Israel,” and went on to label them “a trilogy of zionists.” He then remarked that “Islam doesn’t breed terrorists the zionist trilogy do.” Mr Hussain also shared a video that was captioned: “The Jews in Israel are not true Jews.”

In his apology, Mr Hussain said: “I recognise Israel’s right to exist and wholeheartedly support a two-state solution. I deeply regret that my frustration at events in Israel and Palestine led me to suggest otherwise. Some of my previous language was ill-judged and offensive. It also echoed antisemitic tropes in ways I had not fully understood. However strongly we feel, we should never let our emotions get the better of us. By doing so, I allowed myself to become part of the problem. I am truly sorry.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It is encouraging to see both the Labour and Conservative Parties taking action against local councillors and members in Peterborough accused of antisemitism. In this instance, Labour has been particularly proactive in issuing suspensions in spite of looming local elections, although any investigations must be delayed until the Party introduces an independent disciplinary system later this year. Conservative action in this instance leaves considerable room for improvement. Slaps on the wrist are no substitute for zero tolerance of antisemitism.”

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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Police investigate antisemitic swastika graffiti in Watford

Police in Watford are investigating after swastikas were seen daubed on a wall in the town centre.

The two, yellow swastikas were spotted near Atria Watford and the police have informed Watford Borough Council. Police also said that they were “investigating an incident of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage on Watford High Street.”

The rabbi at Watford & District Synagogue, Rabbi Mordechai Chalk, stated: “The daubing of swastikas in the centre of town is shocking. It is a friendly and inclusive place to live with a diverse community including hundreds of Jewish residents. We are pleased the police have dealt with it so quickly and thank them for their support.”

The graffiti was reportedly being removed as of 26th April.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please report it online at herts.police.uk/report or use their online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact. You can also call their non-emergency number 101 and quote the reference 41/30499/21.

Image credit: Jewish News

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Calls for controversial London mayoral candidate to step down after his video interview with antisemitic hate preacher David Icke resurfaces

Brian Rose, a London mayoral candidate and podcaster, has been asked to step down from his run after a video interview promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theorist hosted on his website resurfaced.

A 2020 video podcast featured an interview with the antisemitic hate preacher David Icke, who explained to Mr Rose how Israel was was using the COVID-19 pandemic to “test its technology”. He then went on to detail how the Jewish state was supposedly responsible for orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, and that a group of American “ultra-Zionists” were responsible for covering up the story. 

Mr Icke also suggested that there was a hidden hand of “ultra-Zionist extremists” who run the world through a series of shadowy organisations. In addition, he referenced the Rothschild family and its supposed role in the “Illuminati”, another common antisemitic trope.

Mr Rose failed to challenge Mr Icke on any of his points during the interview.

Mr Rose also drew the ire of fellow mayoral candidate, Luisa Porritt. Ms Porritt, running as a candidate for the Liberal Democrats, criticised Mr Rose’s passivity, stating: “No candidate seeking to represent our diverse and liberal city should be giving a platform to sickening, antisemitic conspiracy theories about the tragedy of 9/11. Brian Rose is not only weird but dangerous and he should withdraw immediately.”

However, when questioned on hosting Mr Icke, Mr Rose did not believe he had acted inappropriately. He stated: “When he was on my show we didn’t discuss these things and I don’t allow anything illegal to be discussed. We weren’t discussing what you were talking about. You’re reading off titles, but I’m talking about what content was – I believe in freedom of speech, I believe in people.”

Ofcom sanctioned the television channel London Live for originally airing the video last year.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It is very worrying that Brian Rose would see fit to interview the antisemitic hate preacher David Icke, let alone not to challenge him when he peddled antisemitic tropes about Rothschilds, 9/11 conspiracies and claims about Israel using coronavirus to ‘test its technology’. London Live was censured by Ofcom for airing the interview, but the fact that it remains on Mr Rose’s website appears to show that, in Mr Rose’s judgement, Mr Icke’s views should be promoted.”

Mr Icke uses social media, his books and his stage performances to incite hatred. His preaching is so absurd that since the 1990s he has been dismissed as a crank, but because he is dismissed, there has been no major opposition to him and he has built up a following of thousands upon thousands of disciples whom he has persuaded to adamantly believe that the world is in the grip of a conspiracy run by the “Rothschild Zionists”. His repertoire includes conspiracy myths and tropes classified as antisemitic according to the International Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the British Government. Campaign Against Antisemitism has successfully persuaded some venues to pull out of hosting his events.

After years of pressure from Campaign Against Antisemitism, Mr Icke was banned from most social media platforms.

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

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Anti-vaccination protesters in London wearing yellow stars condemned

Protesters at an anti-vaccination rally held in London this past weekend were pictured wearing the yellow star that was forced upon Jews during the Holocaust.

Comedian David Baddiel took to Twitter to share a photo of a woman wearing the yellow star, accompanying it with the caption: “Take. That. Off.”

The Auschwitz Memorial replied to this photo in support of Mr Baddiel, tweeting: “Instrumentalization of the tragedy of Jews who suffered, were humiliated, marked with a yellow star, and finally isolated in ghettos and murdered during the Holocaust, in order to argue against vaccination that saves human lives is a sad symptom of moral and intellectual decline.”

This is not the first time that anti-vaccination protesters have used the yellow star during their rallies. Recently, French protesters were seen wearing them at a demonstration in Avignon, and they have also been seen elsewhere in Europe and North America.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Jews were forced to wear a yellow Star of David so that the Nazis could easily identify them and massacre them in a systematic genocide that saw six million Jewish men, women and children slaughtered simply for being Jewish.

“Comparisons between the Holocaust and COVID-19 regulations and vaccinations are grossly ignorant and utterly despicable, because to compare vaccination passports, restrictions on who can enter a football area or rules about wearing masks on public transport with the genocide of over a third of the world’s Jewish population in the Holocaust is essentially a form of Holocaust denial.”

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

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

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Success for CAA after BBC forced to amend website to confirm that Jews are an ethnic minority after airing offensive “Should Jews count as an ethnic minority?” segment

The BBC has been forced to amend its website to confirm that Jews are indeed considered an ethnic minority, after Campaign Against Antisemitism demanded an apology in response to the BBC’s airing of an offensive segment last month titled “Should Jews count as an ethnic minority?”

In addition to having launched a petition, signed by thousands, calling on the BBC to apologise for the “ridiculous” and insensitive segment, we also submitted a complaint to the Corporation. 

The segment featured four panellists and a guest, Ben Cohen, the Editor of Pink News, who is Jewish. Mr Cohen rightly observed on air that “the notion of this debate is ridiculous”.

Host Jo Coburn proposed that “many Jews have succeeded in reaching high political office and therefore don’t need to be seen as a group needing recognition in the same way as others”, but Mr Cohen observed that Jews “face antisemitism and racism very clearly” and referenced the Labour Party’s institutional antisemitism.

The debate was triggered by social media backlash against Labour’s Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner, who had tweeted that Scottish Labour’s newly-elected leader is “the first ever ethnic minority leader of a political party anywhere in the UK”.

The BBC has now confirmed to Campaign Against Antisemitism that our comments had been passed on to senior editors of the programme, and that they would publish a clarification to their website to “make clear that Jews are officially an ethnic minority.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It was outrageous for the BBC to air a segment questioning whether Jews count as an ethnic minority. The show’s only Jewish guest rightly considered the debate to be ‘ridiculous’. It is a question that the Corporation would never presume to ask of any other minority community in Britain, and it is telling that it does so in relation to the Jews. Debacles such as this one show why, according to our research, two thirds of British Jews consider that the BBC’s coverage of Jewish matters is unfavourable. Accordingly, we launched a petition, signed by thousands, calling for action, and submitted a complaint to the BBC. We are pleased that the BBC has recognised its error and clarified the position, but it must still consider the editorial failures that allowed the question to be asked in the first place.”

It is notable that the BBC initially rejected our complaint and only upheld it on appeal.

Our Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that two thirds of British Jews view unfavourably the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish interest (including antisemitism). Given segments like these, this breathtaking finding is wholly reasonable.

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors traditional media and regularly holds outlets to account. If members of the public are concerned about reports in the media, they should contact us.

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Rabbi assaulted by man yelling “Dirty Jew, I am going to kill you!” in Clapton Common

A rabbi has been assaulted by a man yelling “Dirty Jew, I am going to kill you!”

The assailant was also said to have taken the rabbi’s hat off his head and thrown it to the ground.

Following this, the suspect stripped down to his underwear and “made explicit gestures outside a synagogue”.

The incident took place in Clapton Common and a suspect was said to have been arrested by Hackney Police.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 2394 26/04/21.

A few days ago, a man yelled “Heil Hitler” as he drove past a Jewish pedestrian in Clapton Common.

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

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Ofcom dismisses CAA’s complaint about Channel 4 segment that claimed International Definition of Antisemitism “silences” criticism of Israel but excluded any Jewish perspective

Ofcom has dismissed a complaint from Campaign Against Antisemitism regarding a Channel 4 segment that criticised the International Definition of Antisemitism without offering a Jewish perspective. The media regulator said that it found “no issues warranting investigation under its rules.”

Speakers during the segment, which lasted nearly ten minutes, repeatedly stated that the Definition “silenced” debate about Israel, which is precisely the “Livingstone Formulation” that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed was used to victimise Jews in the Labour Party to such an extent that it broke equalities law. In using this antisemitic formulation, the segment breached Ofcom’s guidance on harm and offence.

Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant in the EHRC’s investigation of antisemitism in the Labour Party.

The failure to include a single representative from the mainstream Jewish community – in which there is a consensus in favour of widespread adoption of the Definition – represented a failure by Channel 4 News to show due impartiality in its programme, which is also a breach of Ofcom’s guidance.

In Ofcom’s response to us, they wrote: “In our view, the editorially-linked interview with Daniel Barenboim provided further context and helped to reflect an Israeli and Jewish perspective to the extent it was necessary given the limited content that had referred critically to the policies and actions of the Israeli Government in the earlier Akram Salhab item.”

Regarding our complaints that the Definition should not have been labelled ‘controversial’ due to its widespread adoption, and that under the Definition criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic, Ofcom replied: “In our view, the programme did not suggest that the Definition does not permit any criticism of Israel whatsoever. It also correctly highlighted that calling the existence of a state of Israel a racist endeavour would fall within the [D]efinition of antisemitism. We also considered that there has been a robust debate around the [Definition] and about the government’s efforts to convince universities to adopt it. In this context, we do not consider it would have been misleading to the audience to have described the [D]efinition as ‘controversial’.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 revealed that almost half of British Jews consider Channel 4’s coverage of matters of Jewish interest and antisemitism to be unfavourable, while almost a third add that they are unsatisfied with how Channel 4 deals with complaints relating to antisemitism.

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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CAA applauds Associated Press Stylebook for changing stylisation of ‘anti-Semitism’ to ‘antisemitism’

Campaign Against Antisemitism applauds Associated Press Stylebook’s (AP Stylebook) announcement that the organisation will now use the spelling ‘antisemitism’ instead of ‘anti-Semitism’.

In addition to this, they will also write ‘antisemitic’ rather than ‘anti-Semitic’.

Experts have long opposed the use of ‘anti-Semitism’, on the basis that there is no such thing as ‘Semitism’ that antisemites are opposed to; the term ‘antisemitism’ was in fact coined by an antisemite as a supposedly sophisticated alternative to ‘judenhass’, meaning ‘Jew hatred’.

The hyphenation of the term ‘anti-Semitism’ has also confused people into thinking that it might refer to hatred of all people who speak a group of Middle Eastern languages which are sometimes referred to as Semitic languages. Furthermore, the Nazi Party would use the term in reference to their ‘subcategories’ of humans.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance writes that the term ‘anti-Semitism’ is problematic because it “not only legitimises a form of pseudo-scientific racial classification that was thoroughly discredited by association with Nazi ideology, but also divides the term, stripping it from its meaning of opposition and hatred toward Jews.”

One Twitter user embraced AP Stylebook’s decision, writing: “Glad to see you catching up!”

Another wrote: “This is a welcome change. Small, but with significant implications. It’s a style preferred by the world’s leading scholars of Jew-hatred.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism endorses the use of the preferred terms ‘antisemitism’ and ‘antisemitic’ when referring to Jew-hate.

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“Je Suis Sarah Halimi”: CAA holds rally in solidarity with French Jews over Sarah Halimi verdict outside the French Embassy

Campaign Against Antisemitism held a rally in solidarity with French Jews yesterday in opposition to the Court of Cassation’s ruling to let Sarah Halimi’s murderer go free.

In 2017, Ms Halimi, a 65-year-old Jewish woman, was murdered by her 27-year-old Muslim neighbour, Kobili Traoré, after he tortured and hurled her from a window to her death. In December 2019, France’s lower court ruled that Mr Traoré could not be held to stand trial as he was under the influence of cannabis at the time, which was said to have affected his judgment. The lower court’s ruling was upheld by France’s Court of Cassation late last week, sparking outrage across Jewish communities.

The rally took place outside the French Embassy in Knightsbridge, with protesters holding placards bearing the words “J’accuse! Solidarity with French Jews” and “Je Suis Sarah Halimi”. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance was by registration only, with all places taken within 24 hours of our announcing the rally, with a significant waiting-list. A further 10,000 supporters demanding justice for Sarah Halimi watched the event across Campaign Against Antisemitism’s social media channels.

The rally in London was part of a global movement of rallies in Paris, Marseille and other French cities, Tel Aviv, New York City, Miami and Los Angeles.

Beginning with a moment of silence for Sarah Halimi, a variety of speakers were then introduced, including Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, Gideon Falter, actress Dame Maureen Lipman, and Founder of the Hexagon Society, Sophie Weisenfeld. Other speakers included political commentator and YouTuber Raphael Landau, and activist and Trustee for Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAAS), activist Liz Arif-Fear.

The rally criticised not only the Court’s ruling in the murder case but also the treatment of French Jews in general. Addressing this issue in her speech, Dame Maureen accused France of “putting your knee on the neck of the Jewish race. Under such blind and bigoted injustice, we too cannot breathe. Nous ne pouvons pas respirer.” Dame Maureen and Mr Falter also both observed how there has been worldwide solidarity against some forms of racism over the past year but global silence over antisemitic injustice.

Ms Arif-Fear spoke passionately, stating: “Sarah Halimi’s family deserve justice…the murderer must face justice…I, and my colleagues at MAAS, will always stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters. We believe that we’re stronger together, and we want Jews across Britain, France, wider Europe, and the world to know that you do have allies.”

Mr Falter, detailing his own first-hand experiences of antisemitism in France, revealed harrowing accounts of heightened security in Jewish neighbourhoods and synagogues being firebombed, before adding: “It’s shameful that today in the European Union, in Europe, in the world, we have a leading country, like France, where Jews are in fear.” Mr Landau echoed this sentiment in his remarks.

The speeches can be watched in full on our YouTube channel.

Lawyers for Dr Halimi’s sister have announced that they will be bringing a lawsuit under Israeli law to convict Mr Traoré, and are considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Dr Halimi’s sister, Esther Lekover, is an Israeli citizen and the lawyers stated that they intend to make use of an Israeli law that allows them to take action over the murder even though it was committed outside of Israel.

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Brunel University adopts International Definition of Antisemitism

Brunel University has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

In a statement the University said: “Brunel University London supports initiatives that seek to tackle prejudice and discrimination. It recognises the International Definition as supporting the University’s existing policies on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, reinforcing the message that antisemitism will not be tolerated and will have due regard to the Definition when considering any allegation raised. Council upholds Brunel’s commitment to freedom of speech.”

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism has consistently backed efforts by the Government to encourage widespread adoption of the Definition by local authorities, universities and public bodies. The UK was the first country in the world to adopt the International Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism, Lord Eric Pickles and others worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street.

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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University of Bath adopts International Definition of Antisemitism

The University of Bath has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

In a statement, the University said: “Our University is committed to being an inclusive community, which cherishes diversity. We seek to create a community where hate, harassment and discrimination are never tolerated. Condemning antisemitism and tackling any antisemitic incidents is very much part of this commitment.”

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism has consistently backed efforts by the Government to encourage widespread adoption of the Definition by local authorities, universities and public bodies. The UK was the first country in the world to adopt the International Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism, Lord Eric Pickles and others worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street.

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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More antisemitic graffiti found in Tottenham Hale include “Holohoax” and “Hitler was right” messages

Antisemitic graffiti promoting Holocaust denial and Nazi symbols has been found in Tottenham Hale.

Shocking antisemitic sentiments were found scrawled along Daneland Walk in Tottenham Hale promoting Holocaust denial. Written against a property billboard, one section of graffiti read: “COVIDHOAX + HOLOHOAX = JEW WORLD ORDER”

‘Holohoax’ is a word used by Holocaust-deniers to portray the extermination of six million Jews as a fraud that has been carried out by the Jewish people for financial gain, while anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

In a similar message, “COVID IS A LIE HOLOCAUST IS A LIE F*** THE JEWS” was found nearby with graffiti of a swastika beside it.

“F*** THE JEWS HITLER WAS RIGHT” was also spotted along the walk.

The handwriting used in these messages appeared to be similar to the antisemitic graffiti scrawled on a nearby Tottenham Hale billboard, on which we reported earlier. The billboard is situated on Ashley Road in Tottenham Hale, close to the large Jewish community in Stamford Hill and also near Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium. The football club has recently been the target of antisemitic abuse, including over the abortive European Super League proposal.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This series of incidents of antisemitic graffiti are abhorrent and have no place on British streets, let alone so near a Jewish community. The graffiti must be removed and the perpetrators must be found. All citizens have a right to walk our streets without being confronted with racist graffiti and incitement.”

We are grateful to a member of the public who brought these images to our attention.

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

Image credit: Talia Cohen

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Abingdon schoolboy expelled after allegedly sending antisemitic image to Jewish student

A fifteen-year-old Abingdon schoolboy has been expelled after allegedly sending an antisemitic image to a Jewish student from the same school.

The image, sent through the social media app Snapchat, was said to have depicted three people dressed as Nazis soldiers.

The teenager also allegedly created a video on Tik Tok, another social media app, in which he was said to have joked about raping a woman from a different Tik Tok video.  

The Headmaster of the prestigious Oxfordshire boarding school, Michael Windsor, said that the videos were “grossly racist and sexist”. He added: “These incidents do not just contravene our Behaviour, Rewards and Sanctions Policy but they go completely against the ethos and culture of the school based on courtesy, kindness and respect.”

The schoolboy has issued a response, stating: “I am deeply sorry and regretful of my stupid actions. I deeply regret my actions and I understand that people could get offended by them very easily but I had no intention of offending or hurting someone’s feelings. In the small amount of time I have had to think about my disgraceful actions, I can certainly confirm that not a single thing I said was intended with harm or to offend anyone. I understand now that it would and I regret posting those things, it was a lack of judgment before when posting, and I did not think about all the people that would see my profile. I am deeply sorry and I promise that this will not happen again.”

However, the boy’s parents defended their son, arguing that social media is not real life and therefore that the punishment should not be too severe, claiming that the videos were “just jokes”.

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

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“F***” the Jews” graffitied onto billboard in Tottenham Hale

“F***” the Jews” has been found graffitied onto a billboard in North London.

The billboard is situated on Ashley Road in Tottenham Hale, close to the large Jewish community in Stamford Hill and also near Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium. The football club has recently been the target of antisemitic abuse, including over the abortive European Super League proposal.

The graffiti was reported earlier this week 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 3737 20/04/21.

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

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UK moves to proscribe neo-Nazi groups Atomwaffen Division and National Socialist Order

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has called for the proscription of the neo-Nazi group, Atomwaffen Division (AWD). This would make membership of the group punishable by up to ten years in prison.

AWD is a paramilitary neo-Nazi group that trains its members in the use of firearms and reportedly seeks to ignite a race war in the United States. Last year, a member of AWD who made terror threats against American Jewish journalists and activists was sentenced to sixteen months in federal prison in Washington state.  

The Home Secretary has also called for the National Socialist Order (NSO) to be listed as an official alias of AWD. This decision comes after AWD apparently disbanded in the UK last year. However, only a few months later in July, the NSO declared itself to be the group’s successor.

Ms Patel said: “Vile and racist white supremacist groups like this exist to spread hate, sow division and advocate the use of violence to further their sick ideologies. I will do all I can to protect young and vulnerable people from being radicalised which is why I am taking action to proscribe this dangerous group.”

Last year, the Home Secretary proscribed the neo-Nazi Sonnenkrieg Division as a terrorist group. This follows the proscription of National Action in 2016, for which Campaign Against Antisemitism had called.

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

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Driver yells “Heil Hitler” at “traumatised” Jewish pedestrian at Clapton Common

A driver reportedly shouted “Heil Hitler” while driving past a Jewish pedestrian in Stamford Hill earlier this week.

The victim was left “traumatised” and Hackney police are currently investigating.

The incident took place at Clapton Common last week 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 3331 15/04/21

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

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Canvey Island Jews targeted with antisemitic abuse after announcing plans to build new synagogue

The growing community of Charedi Jews in Canvey has been targeted with antisemitic abuse after announcing plans to build a new synagogue.

Local Canvey Island leaders have raised concerns regarding the effect that the planned synagogue may have on the surrounding area, such as noise pollution and traffic, with others also worried that the synagogue’s architecture may not fit in with the other buildings on Canvey Island.

However, while most of the concerns raised were presented as genuine and civil, some Facebook users on the ‘Canvey Island action group’ used the opportunity to spew vile antisemitic vitriol.

One of the comments read: “I’ve objected. P***ed off my 13 yr old has to walk in the road, around their [Charedi Jews] f ing vans dropping 100’s of kids off”…if they allow this more will move here.”

Another wrote: “All they do is take and no give, what is happening here ?????”

Referring to the Jewish community of Stamford Hill, one user said: “Stamford Hill slung them all out, because they took over everything just like they are doing on the island. Unfortunately they don’t think about people around them, it’s their way or no way.”

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

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

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Jeremy Corbyn loses appeal in first stage of defamation case brought by Jewish activist in relation to infamous “Zionist irony” comments

Jeremy Corbyn has lost an appeal in the first stage of a defamation case brought by a Jewish activist and blogger.

On an unknown date in 2013, Mr Corbyn addressed a meeting convened by the Palestinian Return Centre. Referring to a previous speech given by Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian Authority’s representative in Britain, Mr Corbyn suggested that “the progressive Jewish element” in Britain at the time of the Balfour Declaration had been against it, and that these same Jewish progressives had been the leaders of the London trade unions and the Labour Party at the time. He continued: “It was Zionism that rose up and Zionism that drove them [Jewish progressive Trades Union and Labour Party leaders] into this sort of ludicrous position they have at the present time.”

He gave as an example of this supposedly “ludicrous position” the meeting in Parliament, at which, he said, the Palestinian envoy’s words had been “dutifully recorded by the thankfully silent Zionists who were in the audience on that occasion and then came up and berated him afterwards for what he’d said. So clearly two problems. One is that they don’t want to study history and secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don’t understand English irony either. Manuel does understand English irony and uses it very, very effectively so I think they need two lessons which we can help them with.”

A video of Mr Corbyn’s comments was shown on The Andrew Marr Show, and on 13th June 2019 it was reported that one of the activists who had been identified as being the subject of his comments to Andrew Marr, Mr Richard Millett, was seeking libel damages from Mr Corbyn on the basis of his accusation that “Zionists” had “berated” Manuel Hassassian.

Mr Corbyn’s lawyers were said to have argued on the basis that the statement was a ‘statement of opinion’. However, in the ruling, the Judge declared: “In my judgment, it is clear that Mr Corbyn was making factual allegations in the statement as to Mr Millett’s behaviour on more than one occasion.”

Mr Millet is being represented by Mark Lewis, who is also an honorary patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Three judges were reportedly present to review the appeal case, all of whom concurred in its dismissal. This is only the first stage of the defamation case, which continues.

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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SNP candidate’s comment comparing Goebbels and the Labour Party’s political strategy in Scotland “diminish the meaning and memory of the Holocaust”

It has been revealed that a candidate for the Scottish National Party (SNP) posted a comment on Facebook comparing the Labour Party’s political strategy in Scotland to that of the Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

Colm Merrick, the SNP candidate for Eastwood in Glasgow, the seat representing Scotland’s largest Jewish community, reportedly shared a post in February 2015 in connection with an article. In the post, Mr Merrick wrote: “Analysis of UK Labour in Scotland’s election strategy…becomes truly terrifying when the following potential source of its inspiration is considered: ‘If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it’.”

The quotation is attributed to Joseph Goebbels, one of Hitler’s closest henchmen and Reich Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi Party.

Mr Merrick has since apologised, saying: “I am sorry for this stupid post I made over six years ago.”

Within the last fortnight, another SNP candidate was forced to apologise after comments from 2017 emerged in which she had reportedly compared tactics by the Conservatives to Hitler and the Holocaust.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is the second time in as many weeks that past comments by current SNP candidates have emerged comparing a major political party to the Nazis. Last time it was the Conservatives and Hitler, this time it is Labour and Joseph Geobbels, the mastermind of Nazi propaganda.

“Such trivial equations of today’s politics with the darkest period in human history diminish the meaning and memory of the Holocaust. This is the opposite of the example politicians are supposed to be setting, both about Holocaust education and how to conduct public debate.”

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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Jewish gravestones in Belfast desecrated in antisemitic hate crime

Ten Jewish gravestones in Belfast City Cemetery were desecrated in an antisemitic hate crime.

The desecration is believed to have taken place last week on 15th April.

Sinn Fein councillor Steven Corr, along with other Sinn Fein members, were active participants in the clean-up crew. He posted photos of the scene on Facebook, writing: “We work continuously after attacks on all graves belonging to all denominations, all religions, adults and children and these unbelievable attacks on the headstones of dead people needs to stop. Let them Rest in Peace.”

Inspector Róisín Brown of the Police Service of Northern Ireland stated: “I am appalled at these criminal acts. City Cemetery, like any graveyard, is a place where members of the community come to pay their respects. The damage to these graves shows a total lack of respect for others and will have a significant impact on individuals and families within the Jewish Community.

“We are investigating this incident as a hate crime, but we need help from the local community in West Belfast to hold those responsible to account for their actions.

“If you saw anyone acting suspiciously in the City Cemetery yesterday evening, or if you have information that would help our investigation, I am asking you to please contact us on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference 713 16/04/21.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Vandalism of Jewish graves is a cowardly act, but all too common in Britain and abroad. We can honour the dead by ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice, and we support the efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in doing so.”

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

Image credit: Cllr Steven Corr

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Conservative candidate reportedly remorseful over “Jew Boy” social media post

A Conservative candidate in the coming local elections has reportedly expressed remorse over a social media post that included the phrase “Jew Boy”.

Darran Davies, who is standing in Hillingdon in London, is alleged to have shared an image of a man on Facebook with the words, “Wanted Jew Boy Reward $100”. Mr Davies shared the image on his personal Facebook page with the caption: “Guys have you seen this bloke.”

A friend of Mr Davies’ apparently commented that the message referred to him because he had not attended a local pub in some time.

Hillingdon Council’s Conservative group leader reportedly said: “The posting … relates to the use of an inappropriate nickname among friends. Although the comment was inappropriate and below the standards expected of a Conservative member this has been resolved by admonishing Mr Davies and reinforcing with him the standards expected of persons seeking to represent Hillingdon Conservatives. Mr Davies has shown deep regret for his lack of judgment and has apologised.”

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “We are investigating the matter.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It is difficult to see how someone who casually uses the phrase ‘Jew Boy’ in online interactions could be an appropriate election candidate for a major political party. The Conservatives will have explaining to do if this matter is simply buried. Zero tolerance means just that.”

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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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy targeted by antisemitic abuse online

Tottenham Hotspur’s chairman, Daniel Levy, has been on the receiving end of antisemitic abuse by an unnamed Twitter user.

The tweet, since removed, was said to have contained several antisemitic tropes and has been reported to the police. This comes less than 24 hours after Spurs player Heung-min Son also received racist abuse online.

Labour’s Shadow Minister and MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, condemned the vile abuse. He tweeted: “It’s a football match! This is utterly unacceptable. Racism and antisemitism has no place in the game or anywhere else. Please delete the tweet. You are no Spurs man trust me.”

Tottenham replied on the club’s official Twitter account, stating: “We have reported this antisemitic post to Twitter and the police. Disappointing that the tweet has yet to be deleted. Twitter needs to take immediate action against racists continuing to post abuse. Our internal review into a best course of action moving forward is under way.”

The Premier League and nineteen of its constituent clubs, including Tottenham, recently adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

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

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

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Jewish Voice for Labour official previously accused of denying antisemitism is invited to chair Party disciplinary panel on antisemitism

A Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) official once labelled an “antisemitism denier” chaired a Labour disciplinary panel on antisemitism last week. JVL is an antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation.

Stephen Marks chaired a panel comprising three members of Labour’s National Constitutional Committee (NCC), the Party’s highest disciplinary body, on 8th April, to review claims by the former Mayor of Haringey and current Labour councillor, Sheila Peacock, of bullying and antisemitism against Cllr Vincent Carroll.

Cllr Peacock, who is Jewish, alleged that Cllr Carroll threatened and bribed her to leave the Labour Party over a dispute regarding her postponement of a meeting. She claims that Cllr Carroll texted her to say that she would be “physically removed from office.” She says that he also offered her money to leave the Party and alleged that the monetary incentive was antisemitic as it was made because she was Jewish (an allusion to the classic antisemitic trope connecting Jews and money).

Cllr Peacock then reportedly texted Cllr Carroll, saying: “Money unlike for some is not my God,” to which Cllr Carroll reportedly responded, “Yes it is. You either move the AGM or be disciplined by the Party.”

After hearing the case, the NCC reportedly cleared Cllr Carroll of any wrongdoing, which left Cllr Peacock “distraught”.

There was reportedly some controversy amongst senior Labour officials regarding the inclusion of Mr Marks on the panel.

Mr Marks has a history of controversial behaviour. In 2017, he signed a petition in support of Jackie Walker, a former Vice-Chair of Momentum and one of those exemplifying the institutionalisation of antisemitism in the Labour Party. Ms Walker was repeatedly suspended by Labour and finally expelled in 2019. She has persistently claimed that complaints of antisemitism are part of a plot to destabilise the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and has rejected the International Definition of Antisemitism.

In 2018, Mr Marks also reportedly shared a petition in support of David Watson, who was suspended from Labour in 2016 for allegedly sharing claims on social media comparing the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad with the Nazis and accusing Israel of genocide. Mr Marks is reported to have written in respect of Mr Watson: “It is cases like this which ‘bring the party into disrepute’. Those responsible are the ones who should be suspended!”

According to the Deputy Leader of Oxford City Council, Mr Marks claimed at a meeting that “Labour’s antisemitism problem was a fabrication of Israeli propagandists and arms dealers terrified of a Corbyn government”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has lodged a complaint against Jeremy Corbyn, holding him responsible for conduct that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Labour Party, as the Leader during the period of the EHRC’s shameful findings. Given the serious detriment that this conduct has caused, we are seeking Mr Corbyn’s immediate resuspension and, if the complaint is upheld, we will be requesting 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 but has yet to introduce.

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.

In the first release of its Antisemitism in Political Parties research, Campaign Against Antisemitism showed that Labour Party candidates for Parliament in the 2019 general election accounted for 82 percent of all incidents of antisemitic discourse by parliamentary candidates.

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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Cambridge University graduate called for extermination of Jews and defended Hitler, court hears

A graduate of Cambridge University “called for the extermination of all Jewish people,” Manchester Crown Court has heard.

Oliver Bel, 24, of Salford, was also said to have been in possession of a bomb-making manual. He denies the terror charges, claiming that his interest in the book was only “academic.”

However, in 2016 Mr Bel was reportedly in contact with members of National Action, a far-right neo-Nazi terrorist organisation. National Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in December 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others. Under section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000, membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation is a criminal offence.

The court heard that Mr Bel expressed views in “preserving racial superiority.” The court was also told that Mr Bel “harboured and possibly still does harbour extreme right-wing views.”

Prosecutor Joe Allman told the court that in addition to declaring himself a National Socialist, Mr Bel “had held Jews responsible for ‘the communist revolution and pretty much every other progressive movement since then.’”

Mr Bel had also allegedly made several heinous claims, apparently calling for the extermination of the Jews as well as claiming that only 200,000 Jews died in the Holocaust, not 6 million.

Mr Bel was said to have had a track record of troubling online posts. Jurors heard that Mr Bel posted on Facebook: “I just want to go on a killing spree,” and posting just a day later, “Hate them Jews, kill them all then kill all n******.”

The court was told that it was only after Mr Bel made several antisemitic comments, which extended to defending Adolf Hitler, on the Young Free Speech society Facebook page that the Counter Terrorism Unit began to pay attention to him.

It was said that an officer from the Prevent Programme, a division of the Counter Terrorism Unit, spoke to Mr Bel in person. However, Mr Bel continued to espouse “angry and racist views online,” prosecutors said.

In a raid of Mr Bel’s house, anti-terror police found Nazi memorabilia and books about Hitler, with Mr Bel reportedly adding: “I have got more extremist material than that, I have got the Anarchist Cookbook,” which is a guide to making bombs and illegal drugs at home, written during the 1970s.

Jurors also heard that when the police were examining Mr Bel’s phone, which Mr Bel apparently attempted to hide from them, they found conversations between him and Alex Davies, founder of National Action.

In addition to controversial images, they also reportedly found an article written about Mr Bel for the anti-fascist website, Hope Not Hate. The article was said to have included Mr Bel’s online posts, in which he was said to have written: “Jews are parasites, well known for nepotism and financial corruption, with a background of communist revolution and pretty much every progressive movement from there… Extermination is the best option for them.”

The trial continues.

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

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

Image credit: Hope Not Hate

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GMB union official allegedly refers to victims of antisemitism as “rich b****** Jews” in speech at Christmas party

A former senior official from the GMB union allegedly referred to victims of antisemitism as “rich b****** Jews” in an appalling speech, sources claim.

The speech was said to have taken place at the GMB Southern Region Christmas Party in November 2019 at the Holiday Inn in Guilford, Surrey.

The former official reportedly stated that he hoped that Jeremy Corbyn would not lose the General Election due to “false” antisemitism allegations against the Labour Party. He then was said to have professed that the issue of antisemitism within the Labour Party was perpetuated by “rich b****** Jews”.

Several complaints were made regarding the official’s remarks and GMB’s acting General Secretary, Warren Kenny, is believed to have reported the matter to ACAS, a non-departmental government organisation responsible for resolving workplace disputes, for a review of the incident.

A GMB spokesperson said: “GMB takes any allegation of antisemitism – or any form of racism – incredibly seriously. We have a zero tolerance policy and any report made is investigated thoroughly by the union. As a union that includes the Union of Jewish Garment Workers we stand shoulder to shoulder with Jewish communities in tackling the scourge of antisemitism across the globe.”

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CAA calls for disciplinary action against BBC Arabic journalist who shared article calling controversial Prof. David Miller’s accusers “Israel lobbyists”

A BBC journalist has shared an article on Twitter which has defended Prof. David Miller over recent inflammatory comments that he has made.

The article shared by Nour Eddine Zorgui, titled “Who are the Israel lobbyists that want David Miller fired?” referred to Zionism as “Israel’s racist ideology”.

The article was published by The Electronic Intifada, an online news outlet which has also previously attacked Campaign Against Antisemitism.

We have written to the BBC regarding disciplinary action against the journalist.

This is not BBC Arabic’s first foray into controversy relating to Jews.

Prof. Miller, a Professor of Political Sociology, is a conspiracy theorist with a history of controversy relating to Jewish students, and the letter was prompted by his latest outburst, when he asserted that “Zionism is racism”, declared his objective “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world” and accused the Bristol University Jewish Society of being part of a worldwide Zionist conspiracy, adding that it is “fundamental to Zionism to encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”. At the same online event, Prof. Miller also observed that the Jewish Society and the Union of Jewish Students are Zionist, thereby implying that Jewish students (and the wider Jewish community) inherently “encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”.

He also portrayed the International Definition of Antisemitism as an attack on free speech and accused the Israeli Government of engaging in an “all-out attack” on the global Left as part of an “attempt by the Israelis to impose their will all over the world”. In comments reminiscent of the darkest years of the United Nations, Prof. Miller insisted that “Zionism is racism” and asked how “we defeat the ideology of Zionism in practice”, “how is Zionism ended” and about the way “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 revealed that two thirds of British Jews are deeply concerned by the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish concern, and 55% by its handling of antisemitism complaints.

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].

https://twitter.com/NourzorguiBBC/status/1377426934632681472
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Labour Party will no longer back controversial long-serving councillor forcing him to run as independent for first time in 43 years

It is understood that the Labour Party will not be backing incumbent councillor John Edwards at Sandwell.

Cllr Edwards has represented the Labour Party for 43 years. However, this year he will be running as an independent candidate. He claimed that this is due to his criticisms of Sir Keir Starmer’s “dismal performance.”

Cllr John Edwards repeatedly opposed the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by the Labour Party; defended Jeremy Corbyn’s and the Party’s records on antisemitism; defended the disgraced then-Labour MP Chris Williamson; welcomed Labour’s absurd and abortive antisemitism investigation into then-MP Ian Austin; criticised then-Deputy Leader Tom Watson for speaking out against antisemitism; supported those who tried to deselect the Jewish woman MP, Luciana Berger; and boosted Jewish Voice for Labour, an antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation, even facilitating the membership in that group of the disgraced journalist, Mira Bar-Hillel. As we have previously reported, he also implied comparisons of Israeli policy to the Nazis in breach of the Definition by saying to then-Prime Minister David Cameron that “when you leave Auschwitz David Cameron go to Gaza”.

Sandwell Council has had ongoing problems with numerous Labour councillors.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has published an Audit of Local Authorities, documenting the campaign for widespread adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by local authorities. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has not adopted the Definition, and we call on it urgently to do so and to incorporate the Definition into its codes of conduct for councillors and staff, so that the Council, as well as the Labour Party, can hold councillors to account when they promote antisemitic discourse.

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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UCU Scotland defends Prof. David Miller over accusations of antisemitism and rejects International Definition of Antisemitism

The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland has defended Prof. David Miller over recent inflammatory comments that he has made.

Prof. Miller, a Professor of Political Sociology, has a history of peddling conspiracy theories relating to Jewish students, and the UCU statement was prompted by his latest outburst, when he asserted that “Zionism is racism”, declared his objective “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world” and accused the Bristol University Jewish Society of being part of a worldwide Zionist conspiracy, adding that it is “fundamental to Zionism to encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”. At the same online event, Prof. Miller also observed that the Jewish Society and the Union of Jewish Students are Zionist, thereby implying that Jewish students (and the wider Jewish community) inherently “encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”.

He also portrayed the International Definition of Antisemitism as an attack on free speech and accused the Israeli Government of engaging in an “all-out attack” on the global Left as part of an “attempt by the Israelis to impose their will all over the world”.

In comments reminiscent of the darkest years of the United Nations, Prof. Miller insisted that “Zionism is racism” and asked how “we defeat the ideology of Zionism in practice”, “how is Zionism ended” and about the way “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world”.

In its statement, UCU Scotland showed little regard for the anxieties of the concerned students involved, dismissing them as “Zionist lobby groups”. In addition, UCU Scotland have rejected the widely accepted International Definition of Antisemitism.

UCU has a horrendous reputation in the Jewish community.

Prof. Miller is current being investigated by Bristol police over the incident.

This is not Prof. Miller’s first controversy in relation to Jews, antisemitism and Zionism. Last June, Campaign Against Antisemitism revealed that Prof. Miller was behind disgraced MP Chris Williamson’s Resistance Movement. The group aimed to give a home to the “politically homeless” politicians who had been expelled from the Labour Party for antisemitism, such as Jackie Walker, Tony Greenstein and Mark Wadsworth.

Prof. Miller has a history of spouting conspiracy theories about various Jewish community organisations and figures that has reportedly discomfited his Jewish students. In a presentation titled “Harms of the Powerful”, for example, Prof. Miller suggested that the “Zionist movement” is one of the “five pillars” of hatred of Muslims (redolent of the five pillars of Islam) and is bankrolled by “ultra Zionist funders”. He has also suggested that Jewish interfaith dialogue with Muslim groups represents an Israeli-backed “Trojan horse” initiative to “normalise Zionism in the Muslim community”.

Prof. Miller has previously accused the current leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, of taking “Zionist money”, and he has talked about what he referred to as the “witch hunt” against Labour members accused of antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the University of Bristol.

Binyomin Gilbert, Programme Manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “David Miller is a conspiracy theorist who believes that Bristol’s Jewish Society and the entire nationwide Jewish student body ‘encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism’. His teachings have been going on for years with no action taken despite deep ongoing concerns for the safety of Jewish students at Bristol University.”

Bristol University adopted the Definition in November 2019.

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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Abingdon schoolboy faces expulsion after allegedly sending antisemitic image to Jewish student

An fifteen-year-old Abingdon schoolboy is facing expulsion after allegedly sending an antisemitic image to a Jewish student from the same school.

The image, sent through the social media app Snapchat, was said to have depicted three people dressed as Nazis soldiers.

The teenager also allegedly created a video on Tik Tok, another social media app, whereby he was said to have joked about raping a woman from a different Tik Tok video.  

The Headmaster of the prestigious Oxfordshire boarding school, Michael Windsor, said that the videos were “grossly racist and sexist”. He added: “These incidents do not just contravene our Behaviour, Rewards and Sanctions Policy but they go completely against the ethos and culture of the school based on courtesy, kindness and respect.”

The schoolboy has issued a response, stating: “I am deeply sorry and regretful of my stupid actions. I deeply regret my actions and I understand that people could get offended by them very easily but I had no intention of offending or hurting someone’s feelings. In the small amount of time I have had to think about my disgraceful actions, I can certainly confirm that not a single thing I said was intended with harm or to offend anyone. I understand now that it would and I regret posting those things, it was a lack of judgement before when posting, and I did not think about all the people that would see my profile. I am deeply sorry and I promise that this will not happen again.”

However, the boy’s parents defended their son, arguing that social media is not real life and therefore that the punishment should not be too severe, claiming that the videos were “just jokes”.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It seems that the schoolboy has grasped the gravity of his actions far better than his parents who seem to think that Nazism and rape are joking matters. Unfortunately, social media is exposing young minds to the most appalling material, and in addition to firm regulation of social media companies, it is vital that schools and parents are vigilant and set a firm example. We hope that the school will apply a suitably serious penalty, even as this boy’s parents irresponsibly dismiss his conduct as ‘jokes’.”

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

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CAA calls newly-emerged comments by SNP candidate comparing Conservatives to Hitler and the Holocaust “disgraceful” and “ignorant”

A Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate in the forthcoming Scottish elections has apologised after comments from 2017 emerged in which she had reportedly compared tactics by the Conservatives to Hitler and the Holocaust.

Stephanie Callaghan, who is standing in Uddingston and Bellshill, Lanarkshire, reportedly wrote on Twitter in connection with a possible second Scottish independent referendum: “Tory propaganda provides a window into future plans — stamp on democracy. Hitler did same: set scene 4 Jewish Holocaust to lower opposition.”

At the time, Ms Callaghan was a South Lanarkshire councillor, and she was apparently responding to then-Prime Minister Theresa May’s intention to block an independence vote.

Ms Callaghan has apologised saying: “The words in this old tweet were poorly chosen and I apologise for the offence caused. I have deleted the tweet.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “There is no comparison between political tensions in the UK today and Nazi Germany’s systematic destruction of democracy and murder of six million Jewish men, women and children. Politicians must set an example by learning the lessons of the Holocaust — not diminishing the memory of those innocents who were slaughtered by using the Holocaust to score political points. To make such a comparison is disgraceful and wounding, showing incredible ignorance.”

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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Pears Foundation withdraws name from Institute for Study of Antisemitism led by controversial Prof. David Feldman

The Pears Foundation has withdrawn its name from the Institute for the Study of Antisemitism at Birkbeck. The news comes following a series of controversies involving the Institute’s Director, Prof. David Feldman, who opposes the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.

In a statement, the Pears Foundation, which established the Institute in 2010, said that “The Institute has gained an international reputation for its innovative approach to the research and teaching of antisemitism.” However, the statement went on to say that “As the Institute increasingly tackles challenging and divisive issues in the public sphere, the Foundation’s Trustees have decided that continuing to be so closely associated with the Institute is no longer in the Foundation’s best interests.”

Accordingly, from 4th May the Institute will no longer bear the Pears Foundation’s name, however the Pears Foundation will continue to support the Institute “as one of several funders”.

Prof. Feldman has come under fire over the past several years for hindering the fight against antisemitism, including most recently his opposition to the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities.

Birkbeck, University of London has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism, against the wishes of Prof. Feldman.

Prof. Feldman was not referred to in the statement and it was unclear whether the “divisive issues” referred to were the controversies involving him, which had led a number of figures to call on the Pears Foundation to intervene. Recently, Gideon Falter, the Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism said that “The Pears Institute for the Study of Antisemitism at Birkbeck should not be lending its credibility to a man who does so much to hinder the fight against antisemitism.”

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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75-year-old Jewish woman opens front door to man screaming at her that Jews should leave the UK

A 75-year-old Jewish woman opened her front door only to be confronted by a man screaming at her that Jews should leave the UK.

The incident took place on 26th March on Darenth Road 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 6798 31/03/21.

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

Image credit: Google

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On one year anniversary of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, he has yet to convince he’s serious about tackling antisemitism

With the one year anniversary of Sir Keir Starmer’s election to the leadership of the Labour Party, a review of the Party’s progress in its purported fight against antisemitism suggests that more work is needed to convince the Jewish community that he is serious.

Sir Keir’s statement on his victory one year ago and his pledge to “tear out this poison by its roots” provided a degree of reassurance, but coming from a politician who just a few months earlier had given his “100% backing” to an antisemite, actions were always going to speak louder than words.

There have certainly been some positive actions. The removal of Rebecca Long-Bailey from the Shadow Cabinet after she shared an article promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory appeared to represent a turning point. Proclamations by Labour’s General-Secretary, David Evans, to Constituency Labour Parties to avoid discussing antisemitism, some publicly-announced investigations and other indications that discipline was quietly being imposed were also welcome indications of the direction of travel. At least two local councils saw power shift from Labour due to the suspension and resignation of councillors in connection with antisemitism controversies.

Sir Keir’s response to the damning report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into Labour antisemitism was also forthright, as was his suspension of Jeremy Corbyn within hours of the publication of the report, an unacceptable reaction by Mr Corbyn and the submission of complaints against Mr Corbyn and other MPs by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Important though these actions have been, however, it is Sir Keir’s inaction that has been the dominant theme of his first year in office. His repeated refusal to engage with us, despite our being the complainant in the EHRC’s investigation into antisemitism in his Party, and Labour’s failure even to acknowledge our complaints, do not reflect a leadership wholly willing to address past failures.

Despite his pledge to suspend MPs or Party members who share platforms with those expelled over antisemitism, Sir Keir never acted against MPs Diane Abbott or Bell Ribeiro-Addy or Labour candidate and former Respect Party leader Salma Yaqoob, to name only a few prominent figures, when they did just that. Nor did he act against those who divisively and disgracefully suggested that fighting antisemitism could be to the detriment of other minorities.

Although there were reports of a large exodus of far-left members from the Party, many of these have been voluntary (albeit following suspensions pending investigation) rather than expulsions. Meanwhile, Labour’s disciplinary procedures remain mired in controversy and incoherence, with Mr Corbyn’s suspension from Labour and rapid readmission to the Party (but not, at the last minute, to the Parliamentary Party) a particularly high-profile example. Another recent example is the suspension, readmission and resuspension of Cllr Noah Tucker in Haringey, and the removal of fellow Haringey councillor Preston Tabois from Labour’s slate of candidates for the coming London Assembly elections even as he remains a Labour councillor and a member of the Party.

Reports that our complaint against Deputy Leader Angela Rayner has been dismissed without so much as an acknowledgement (contrary to the Party’s new complaints handling policy) let alone an investigation, add to concerns that the Party has not yet reformed its ways. Meanwhile, the Party’s new Complaints Handling Handbook seems to imagine that ‘Formal Warnings’ lasting eighteen months will be sufficient to eradicate antisemitism from Labour’s ranks. Its virtues notwithstanding, the document reads like a bad April Fool’s Joke.

As if as a reminder of the persistence of the problem, a new poll of Labour members, conducted in late March by YouGov, found that over two thirds believe that the problem of antisemitism in the Party has been “exaggerated” or that there is not a serious problem. Given that a separate poll by Lord Ashcroft shortly after the 2019 General Election found that nearly three quarters of Labour members believed that the issue of antisemitism in the Party was “invented or wildly exaggerated by the right-wing media and opponents of Jeremy Corbyn”, it is difficult to see how progress has been made in changing the culture of the Party over the past year.

Ultimately, the Jewish community is not convinced. Our latest Antisemitism Barometer, published at the start of the year (with polling conducted well over six months into Sir Keir’s tenure as leader), showed that British Jews feel that the Labour Party is more than twice as tolerant of antisemitism than any other political party. Remarkably, compared to the previous year’s figures (polled while Mr Corbyn was still leader of the Party), Labour performed worse, with 88 percent of respondents considering that the Party was too tolerant of antisemitism under Sir Keir compared with 86 percent the year before under Mr Corbyn. At times, this sentiment has spilled into the open.

It was always clear that addressing antisemitism in the Labour Party would be the work of many years. But even that timeframe depends on genuine willingness and concerted action. After Sir Keir’s first year, both conditions remain very much in question, with concerns growing that his efforts look increasingly like an attempt to kick the problem down the road.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “It was always clear that addressing Labour antisemitism would be the work of many years. While the Party has taken some welcome steps over the course of Sir Keir Starmer’s first year in office, the inaction speaks far louder. MPs sharing platforms with expelled members with no sanction, no acknowledgement of our complaints, incoherent disciplinary outcomes at the national and local level, and polling that shows an unchanged attitude among ordinary Labour members reinforce the view, held by almost ninety percent of British Jews, that the Labour Party is too tolerant of antisemitism. Sir Keir himself has rightly said that words are not enough. It is time to see some real action.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has lodged a complaint against Jeremy Corbyn, holding him responsible for conduct that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Labour Party, as the Leader during the period of the EHRC’s shameful findings. Given the serious detriment that this conduct has caused, we are seeking Mr Corbyn’s immediate resuspension and, if the complaint is upheld, we will be requesting 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 but has yet to introduce.

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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Sir Keir Starmer meekly threatens Jew-haters with ‘formal warnings’ lasting 18 months in antisemitism handbook that reads like a bad April Fool’s joke

The Labour Party has published its new Complaint Handling Handbook, as part of its compliance with the Action Plan devised in consultation with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) after it delivered its damning report into antisemitism in the Party.

While the handbook pertains to the complaints system as a whole, it makes specific provision for complaints relating to antisemitism and sexual harassment, which are both areas where the Party has been deemed to have fallen short in recent years to the point that, in the case of the former, it became institutionally racist.

The publication of the handbook is in principle an important step as the Party begins to address its woefully inadequate disciplinary system, and there are some positive provisions, such as the social media policy. There is also a more advanced discussion of the nature of antisemitism than previous reports by the Labour Party have presented, and there will be a requirement for anyone found to have engaged in antisemitic conduct to attend training, presumably in addition to any other appropriate sanction.

Notwithstanding these welcome developments, in other areas the handbook is also deeply disappointing.

Although anyone can submit complaints about Labour members, if the complainant is not directly affected by the matter, i.e. is a “third party”, then the Party will “be unable to provide any ongoing information due to confidentiality and data protection reasons”. In other words, the complaints process will continue to operate without transparency and with complainants left in the dark about how their complaints have progressed or whether any decisions have been reached or sanctions imposed.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted numerous complaints against MPs and other officeholders; under this regime, we are unlikely to be informed as to how the complaints are progressing at all. (Although the handbook states that complaints will at least be acknowledged and the complainants will be told if the complaints are being investigated, we have not received any such acknowledgement to our complaints, months after submitting them.)

The handbook also limits the purview of complaints to the conduct of individuals or organisational bodies during their time of membership or affiliation, and will not consider conduct prior to the period of membership. This means that if a Labour member or officeholder or organisation is found to have engaged in antisemitic conduct prior to joining the Party, there is no recourse.

In a concerning instance of little having been learned, the handbook cites the recommendation of the whitewash Chakrabarti Report that Labour members should “resist the use of Hitler, Nazi and Holocaust metaphors, distortions and comparisons in debates about Israel-Palestine in particular.” That report fell short of designating such comparisons as antisemitic, as they are under the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Most astonishingly, the handbook presents numerous anonymised examples of how complaints relating to antisemitism were dealt with. These examples, far from demonstrating the Party’s progress in addressing the problem, in fact illustrate just how broken the current disciplinary system is and make the case for the independent disciplinary system that the EHRC has mandated.

In one example, a Labour member “posted and shared several things on social media that were antisemitic; using Hitler, Nazi and Holocaust metaphors, distortions and comparisons in debates about Israel-Palestine”. In other words, they breached the International Definition of Antisemitism in at least one and possibly multiple ways. Yet the sanction was merely that the member was given a Formal Warning, which would remain on their record for eighteen months.

In another example, a Labour member had “posted several articles on social media promoting conspiracy theories suggesting that Jewish people were responsible for real and imagined wrongdoings”, as well as “articles that minimised complaints of antisemitism within the Labour Party”. But an investigation “concluded that no Labour Party rules were specifically breached but a Reminder of Conduct was issued to the member”.

Another member “posted online the details of an email they’d sent which presented emotive, personal views” including that Labour’s Jewish affiliate and its pro-Israel Parliamentary group “should be disbanded”. The member refused to retract those views and was merely given a Formal Warning. They later resigned their membership.

Yet another member “responded to a social media post in a way that served to repeat antisemitic tropes”. Nevertheless, it was concluded that no Party rules had been breached, so the member only received a Reminder of Values.

Clearly, these illustrations, which appear to be presented as examples of best practice, are not remotely reassuring. Formal Warnings are not going to eradicate antisemitism from the membership ranks of an institutionally racist Party.

Joe Glasman, Head of Political and Government Investigations at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Labour’s new complaints handbook is like a bad April Fool’s joke. The idea that a prospective member can be as antisemitic as they’d like until they join the Party is another Chakrabarti-like attempt to turn a blind eye and move on.

“The illustrations of current practice, far from inspiring confidence, show just why the system is broken: for someone to be able to breach the International Definition of Antisemitism, which Labour adopted only after a massive row, and only get a formal warning, is a betrayal of the Jewish community.

“If this is what Sir Keir Starmer was referring to when he vowed to tear antisemitism out by its roots, then we can be sure that the fight against antisemitism in the Labour Party is very far from won.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has lodged a complaint against Jeremy Corbyn, holding him responsible for conduct that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Labour Party, as the Leader during the period of the EHRC’s shameful findings. Given the serious detriment that this conduct has caused, we are seeking Mr Corbyn’s immediate resuspension and, if the complaint is upheld, we will be requesting 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 but has yet to introduce.

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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In worrying first, police officer found guilty of belonging to proscribed neo-Nazi National Action terrorist group

A police officer has been found guilty of being a member of the banned neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action following his arrest last year.

Benjamin Hannam, a 22-year-old from Edmonton in North London, was suspended from duty by the Metropolitan Police after it was alleged that he belonged or professed to belong to the proscribed group between December 2016 and January 2018 and that he falsely represented himself in his application to join the Metropolitan Police in this connection.

Mr Hannam becomes the first police officer to be convicted of far-right terrorism after being found guilty at the Old Bailey today of membership in National Action, lying on his application to join the police and possessing guides to knife-fighting and bombmaking. It is understood that the ban on reporting the case was lifted after Mr Hannam admitted possessing an indecent image of a child.

It is understood that Mr Hannam, who reportedly has autism, was “desperate to impress” an older National Action organiser who gave him free stickers, but he ended his association with the organisation before he joined the Metropolitan Police.

The Head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, which carried out the investigation, emphasised that there is no evidence that Mr Hannam abused his position at the police force to further his far-right views.

Mr Hannam had denied being a member of National Action before or after it was proscribed, and told the court that he had been attracted to fascism aged sixteen because of its artwork and propaganda and was under the impression that it was a youth network. He denied engaging in any stickering or propaganda campaigns and insisted that he only attended social events.

Mr Hannam’s sentencing is expected soon.

Other members of National Action were recently convicted and sentenced to prison for their role in the organisation.

National Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in December 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others. Under section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000, membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation is a criminal offence.

Image credit: Metropolitan Police

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Police search for vandals who sprayed antisemitic graffiti on a home in Oxford

Police are searching for vandals who sprayed antisemitic graffiti on a home in Oxford.

The pair of suspects daubed a swastika on the front door of a house on Stubbs Avenue at 22:07 on 31st January, and Thames Valley Police have now released images and confirmed that they are pursuing the matter.

The vandals returned at 22:23 on the same evening and reportedly used a pole to break a CCTV camera on the property.

In a statement, the police said: “Criminal damage of this kind will never be tolerated and we are asking anyone who recognises these men to come forward and speak to us. Anyone with information should call police on 101 with reference 43210042799.”

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

Image credit: Thames Valley Police

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Police reportedly investigating David Miller for hate crime while Bristol University’s claim that he’s on ‘sick leave’ undermined by his ongoing public activism

Police are reportedly investigating Prof. David Miller for a hate crime over recent inflammatory comments that he made about Jewish students.

Prof. Miller, a conspiracist whom Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring for years, recently added to his record of inflammatory comments about the Jewish community with the assertion that “Zionism is racism” and a declaration that his objective is “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world”. Most egregiously, he also suggested that Jewish students, by virtue of being Zionist, “encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”.

Prof. Miller’s comments and the University’s reaction have been the subject of a great deal of attention from the Jewish community as well as Parliament, including a written question by Lord Austin, an honorary patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been providing ongoing support to students at Bristol.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the investigation into “a hate crime or hate incident taking place during lectures at the University of Bristol,” adding: “We have recently been made aware of a number of incidents that may constitute a hate crime or hate incident taking place during lectures at the University of Bristol. We take issues such as these very seriously. An email was circulated to student groups last week asking people to speak to the police regarding their experiences. Our investigation is at an early stage and enquiries are ongoing to establish if any offences have been committed. Our aim is to help everyone to feel safe and supported while studying in Bristol and we are working closely with the university at this time. Anyone with information that can assist us should contact 101 and give reference 5221036233.”

Recently, the University of Bristol confirmed that it too was investigating Prof. Miller. It apparently also told students that he is on “sick leave absence”, with students being reassigned personal tutors and waiting double the time to have their work marked. However, it has now emerged that Prof. Miller has sustained his public activism and appearances. For example, he apparently spoke this week at the Third International Conference on Islamophobia, in which he was introduced by Sami Al-Arian, who was previously convicted in the United States after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy for contributing services for the benefit of the antisemitic terrorist group, Islamic Jihad. Prof. Miller was reportedly seen coughing at the online event.

A University spokesperson reportedly told The Bristol Tab: “It is not appropriate for the University to make any comment on this matter while the investigation we have already referred to in previous statements is underway.”

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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Aston Villa condemns online antisemitic reactions to its “Happy Passover” message

Aston Villa has condemned online antisemitic reactions to its Passover greeting to fans.

The Birmingham-based Premiership football club posted a “Happy Passover” greeting on its Facebook page over the weekend, only to receive almost 28,000 ‘angry’ emoji replies and numerous hateful comments. Some of the abusive messages have been removed.

In a comment on the post, the club said that it “deplores religious intolerance of any form and is an inclusive organisation who welcomes people of all faiths”.

Aston Villa recently adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

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After four years, action by CAA finally puts notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz behind bars, and facing further charges

The notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz has today been found guilty of sending by a public communications network an offensive, indecent message or material and given a custodial sentence. The prosecution followed action by Campaign Against Antisemitism, which has been pursuing justice against Ms Chabloz for over four years.

Ms Chabloz, 57, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on charges under section 127 of the Communications Act relating to two interviews that she gave to far-right online outlets. She then publicised the interviews via her account on Gab, a social network associated with the far-right, claiming that “anything that’s worth controlling will have Jews there controlling it” and accusing Jews of turning their children into “psychopathic maniacs” because they are “indoctrinated from birth” with the idea that “their grandparents were gassed.”

She also stated that Jews were persecuted in Nazi Germany because they “had been behaving in a certain fashion, as we’re seeing again today”, and that Jews who do not conform to her idea of Western values should be deported.

Declaring that the Jewish community needs to be protected and noting that Ms Chabloz committed the offence while on a suspended sentence following a separate conviction (which also arose from a landmark case brought about by Campaign Against Antisemitism), District Judge Michael Snow sentenced Ms Chabloz to eighteen weeks in prison, of which she will serve nine.

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

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

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Alison Chabloz’s repulsive opinions about Jews can be traced back to the beer halls of 1930s Germany. Despite already having been convicted of similar offences, she continued, while serving her suspended sentence, to use the internet to attempt to radicalise others and convert them to her hateful way of thinking about Jewish people.

“Today’s verdict and sentence finally give the Jewish community justice and protection from someone who has made a vocation out of denying the Holocaust and baiting Jews. It also sends a clear message to those who might be tempted to go down the same path.

“This is not the end. Ms Chabloz now faces even more serious charges on other matters that we have brought to the attention of the police. We will not rest until all antisemites like Alison Chabloz are behind bars, where they belong.”

In separate proceedings also resulting from action by Campaign Against Antisemitism, Ms Chabloz also faces charges of incitement to racial hatred.

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

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Conservative councillor in Bury has whip removed over allegedly antisemitic comments in job interview

A Conservative councillor in Bury has reportedly had the Party whip removed after making allegedly antisemitic comments in a job interview.

Cllr Robert (Bob) Caserta was found to have breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors and Other Voting Representatives four times when he appeared before a Standards Sub-Committee meetings last month.

The comments in question were apparently made during an interview to recruit a senior officer at the Council last July, when Cllr Caserta is alleged to have referred to “grot spots” in Sedgley and said that it would be difficult to communicate with residents “unless you are able to speak Hebrew”.

He was found to have “used inappropriate language that was disrespectful and wholly inappropriate” which “may affect Bury Council’s ability to recruit high calibre candidates in the future”.

The local MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, and Cllr Nicholas Jones, Leader of Bury Conservatives, issued a joint statement confirming that the whip has been removed from Cllr Caserta pending an investigation. They said: “Since being elected as MP for Bury South and Conservative Group Leader on Bury Council, we have always enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Jewish community. We consider antisemitism in all its forms abhorrent and will continue to call it out wherever it is found, including within our own Party. Cllr Caserta’s comments were at best inappropriate and deeply offensive and at worst could be construed as antisemitic, so it is right that prompt action is taken. We have acted as a matter of urgency and immediately removed the whip from Cllr Caserta pending a full investigation into this matter.”

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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Incoherent Labour disciplinary decision removes Preston Tabois as London Assembly candidate but keeps him on as councillor and member

Preston Tabois, a Labour councillor in Haringey suspended six months ago and now readmitted to the Party, has been the subject of an incoherent disciplinary decision by the Labour Party that illustrates how far it still has to go in addressing antisemitism.

Cllr Tabois, who is also an activist with the Unite union and is backed by the pro-Corbyn Momentum pressure group, was reported by Guido Fawkes to have appeared to endorse the despicable notion that Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in some masterplan to create the State of Israel, and other antisemitic conspiracy theories.

He was slated to be a Labour candidate for the London Assembly in the coming local elections. His suspension for six months, along with a fellow controversial Haringey councillor, Noah Tucker, who has also reportedly weighed in on the matter, brought that candidacy into question.

It is understood that Cllr Tabois claimed to the Party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) that he had made the inflammatory social media comments at a time when he did not know about antisemitism and would not now repeat the comments. The NEC panel suspended him for six months, apparently with a view to him being able to stand for the London Assembly once the suspension was lifted, but that decision has now been put to another NEC panel, which has voted to withdraw the Party’s endorsement of his candidacy.

In any event, while Cllr Tabois has reportedly lost his place on the Party’s electoral slate, he appears to remain a member of and councillor for the Party. Given that the much-anticipated independent disciplinary process that the Party is required to introduce has not yet been launched, it is not clear on what basis the NEC has reached this bizarre outcome.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Cllr Preston Tabois is the latest example of Labour’s unfit disciplinary regime. The panel that decided his case was working under guidelines nobody can fathom and has reached an outcome nobody can understand. This is not transparency and it is not zero tolerance. This sort of incoherent decision is why the Party so desperately needs the independent disciplinary system that the EHRC has mandated, and it is why no one can have confidence in Labour’s commitment to fighting antisemitism until that new system is implemented.” 

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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City University must ignore shameful students’ vote against adoption of International Definition of Antisemitism

Students at City University in London have voted in a campus-wide referendum in favour of a resolution calling on the University to reject the International Definition of Antisemitism.

A similar motion had been brought to a student members meeting in November 2020, where all students could vote, and it failed by an overwhelming margin, with 66% declining to support it. But the leadership of the Students’ Union insisted on taking the unusual step of calling a campus-wide referendum on the question: “Should the University reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism?”

City University has not yet adopted the International (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism.

In deciding to call the referendum, it is understood that the Students’ Union appallingly failed to consult the Jewish Society.

It has been reported that 671 students voted in favour of the motion, with 260 opposed, representing a turnout of barely five percent of the estimated 20,000 students on campus. The University and College Union (UCU), which has a horrendous reputation in the Jewish community, reportedly backed the motion.

One visiting academic reportedly told the Jewish News that the passage of the motion would create a “hostile environment” for Jewish staff and students on campus, adding: “It’s an insult not to adopt it.”

Binyomin Gilbert, Programme Manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “City University’s Students’ Union has brought shame on the University. This referendum, apparently called after the failure of a similar attempt and without consultation with the Jewish Society, represents an abandonment of Jewish students by their own union. The goal of the campaign – to encourage the University not to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism – is tantamount to reserving the right to be antisemitic, which may be why so few students turned out to endorse it. This referendum had no place on a distinguished campus, and we call on the University to ignore this shameful and intimidatory motion and adopt the Definition as so many other universities across the country have done.”

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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Teenager who called himself Hitler in online neo-Nazi group he created and promoted proscribed organisation admits terrorism offences

A teenager from Newcastle who called himself Hitler on numerous social media platforms and an online group that he created glorifying far-right violence has pleaded guilty to terrorism offences.

The sixteen-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to four counts of inviting support for the proscribed neo-Nazi terror group, National Action, as well as three counts of encouraging terrorism and four counts of stirring racial and religious hatred.

He had reportedly posted antisemitic and anti-Muslim material and created stickers with his group’s logo, which he disseminated in his local area.

North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, sitting as a youth court, sentenced him to a twelve-month intensive referral order. He will also be subject to terrorism notification requirements for ten years, mandating him to inform the authorities of his whereabouts and certain activities.

It is understood that the teenager has autism, and that this consideration impacted his sentencing.

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

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

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Google admits it “must do better” after more than 150 antisemitic comments are discovered on Google Maps site for Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp

Google has admitted that it “must do better” after more than 150 antisemitic comments were discovered on the Google Maps site for the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.

An investigation by The Guardian discovered the comments, which included posts such as “Heil Hitler”; “It’s a shame the SS was disbanded so long ago”; “Showers were a great experience, Anne Frankly I’m glad I came”; and “Good place to go if you want to lose weight fast”. Some of the comments had been on the site for years – in the case of the latter comment even close to a decade.

Many posts were anonymous, but others used pseudonyms such as prominent Holocaust survivors or Nazis.

Google allows users to post written reviews of sites around the world, including the museum at the death camp, which operated during World War II and where over one million people – mostly Jews – were murdered.

A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said that the much-anticipated online harms bill “will hold tech platforms to account for tackling and removing illegal content such as antisemitic comments. We will impose tough sanctions including huge fines if they do not act”.

A Google spokesperson reportedly said: “We are appalled by these reviews on our platform and are taking action to remove the content and prevent further abuse. We have clear policies that prohibit offensive and fake reviews and we work around the clock to monitor Maps. In this case, we know we need to do better and are working to evaluate and improve our detection systems.”

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

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Calls for Public Inquiry amid claims Secret Intelligence Service protected alleged Nazi war criminals

Calls have been issued for a public inquiry amid claims that the Secret Intelligence Service (also known as MI6) protected alleged Nazi war criminals after WWII.

The controversy has arisen after the BBC discovered that a suspected Nazi collaborator, Stanislaw Chrzanowski, may have worked for the agency.

German authorities believe that he may have murdered tens of people during the Holocaust, while British police claimed that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. 

Mr Chrzanowski was suspected by his stepson of having committed atrocities against Jews and others in the town of Slonim in Belarus, and investigated his past and built a dossier of evidence, including eyewitness accounts.

Although British police interviewed Mr Chrzanowski, no charges were brought. He always denied being a war criminal and died in 2017. His stepson died six months later, but after handing a BBC journalist his dossier, for which the BBC has reportedly since found further supporting evidence.

It is believed that MI6 may have recruited Mr Chrzanowski at a refugee camp in Berlin, and experts believe that the agency would have known about Mr Chrzanowski’s past. However, in the late 1980s and 1990s, the agency destroyed tens of thousands of files pertaining to its agents to protect them from more draconian laws that would have put them at risk of prosecution. Mr Chrzanowski’s files may have been among them.

Conservative MP Robert Halfon called the BBC’s findings “horrific and frightening” and said that he intends to call on the Parliamentary Security Committee to investigate.

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Guilty verdict for man charged with terrorism offences after stockpiling neo-Nazi memorabilia and downloading bombmaking and knife-fighting guides

A man has been found guilty of three charges of possessing information useful for terrorism after stockpiling neo-Nazi memorabilia and downloading guides to bombmaking and knife-fighting.

Nicholas Brock, 53, who reportedly has tattoos of prominent Nazis and symbols, had a flag showing an eagle and swastika on his bedroom wall and a Nazi badge in his drawer, as well as other symbolic neo-Nazi items. The material was found in a raid on his home in Maidenhead as part of an unrelated investigation in which he was never charged. Further material was found on electronic devices, as well as flyers for the National Front, a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf and books about the Ku Klux Klan.

The prosecutor told Kingston Crown Court that his room was “filled to the brim with an eclectic mix of items, amongst them, items demonstrating an interest in extreme right wing and white supremacist ideology.”

The hard drive contained images of Mr Brock posing with swastikas and other items, as well as two manuals for an AK47 assault rifle and others for US army pistol training and explosives. There was also an “al Qaeda manual”. Among the documents were three that reportedly are useful for terrorists.

According to the prosecution, he had “no legitimate reason for possessing such information. He is not, for example, an academic, or a self-defence specialist. These are not everyday items or collectable memorabilia, but publications which contain detailed advice on how to create explosive devices, on how to kill and how to maim. They may of course be of use to someone planning any kind of violent attack; and they would certainly be of use to someone planning a terrorist attack.”

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

Image Credit: Counter Terrorism Policing South East

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Cornish man charged with five offences under the Public Order Act

A Cornish man has been charged with five offences under the Public Order Act 1986 after reports from Campaign Against Antisemitism prompted an investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Graham Hart, 68, of Penponds, Camborne, has been charged with five counts of using offending words or behaviour in a programme involving threatening, abusive or insulting visual images or sounds which was included in a programme service, intending thereby to stir up racial hatred or, having regard to all the circumstances, whereby racial hatred was likely to be stirred up.

The offences fall under sections 22(1) and 27(3) of the Public Order Act 1986.

Mr Hart is bailed to appear at Truro Magistrates Court on 26th April.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Graham Hart has  been charged with five offences under the Public Order Act after our reports prompted an investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police. We are following the case with interest.”

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Controversial Dorset Eye website is dubious new recruit to new media regulator

The controversial website, Dorset Eye, has dubiously joined the relatively new media regulator, Impress.

Dorset Eye now displays the regulator’s kitemark on its website purportedly guaranteeing its “commitment to the principles of journalism”.

In 2019, the website accused the Jewish television presenter and anti-extremism activist, Rachel Riley, of working for the “Israeli state propaganda machine” and claimed that “her goons” will be responsible for “another Jo Cox moment”, a reference to the murder of the MP by a white supremacist. “Whether she is paid for her hate and propaganda is not for me to say but she is quite obviously (if only to me) a fascist and an Israeli state terrorist sympathiser,” the article went on to say.

Another article on the website described Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as “a modern day Judas” and “paid agent” of Israel. The article, which has since been removed, also warned of “another Kristallnacht”, referencing the infamous antisemitic Nazi pogrom in 1938.

Impress is officially recognised by the Government’s Press Regulation Panel and is partly funded by the family foundation of Max Mosley. Its members are required to abide by “minimum professionals standards” and must not “make prejudicial or pejorative reference to a person on the basis of that person’s…race, religion…or another characteristic that makes that person vulnerable to discrimination”.

An Impress spokesperson reportedly said: “The role of an approved press regulator is not to endorse the actions of those it regulates but to fairly and neutrally investigate and assess the newsgathering practices and content.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Questions must be asked of Impress for this decision. No serious regulator would take on Dorset Eye, a community website and resource which purports to have a warm and fuzzy image to publish antisemitic articles that clearly breach the International Definition of Antisemitism.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the 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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Warwick University blames “unauthorised access” after its verified Twitter account ‘likes’ a tweet that says “Jewish students are agents of a Foreign Power”

The official Twitter account of the University of Warwick ‘liked’ a tweet endorsing recent inflammatory comments by the academic and conspiracy theorist David Miller, with the University subsequently deleting the ‘like’ and blaming “unauthorised access” to the account.

The tweet, which was part of a thread from an account called Socialist Campaign Group Highgate, read: “We agree with Dr Simon Behrman, @Warwick_Law and @Warwickuni of @RussellGroup that David Miller @Tracking_Power is right to say that Jewish students are agents of a Foreign Power and would like to male [sic] a job offer. Name your price.”

A spokesperson for the University said: “The tweet in question was ‘liked’ following unauthorised access to the account. The unauthorised access and ‘like’ was quickly spotted by the social media team and the tweet was soon ‘unliked’, and the matter has been referred to Twitter.”

The University of Warwick has had problems with addressing antisemitism on its campus in the recent past, and was reluctant to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism, which it ultimately did under pressure on 12th October 2020.

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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Plaid Cymru’s inaction on complaints undermines worthwhile recommendations in its new internal report on antisemitism

Plaid Cymru has published its internal report on antisemitism following a review led by its Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP.

Campaign Against Antisemitism made submissions to the review – in the form of a series of cases that were intended both to inform the review and to function as complaints about the subjects. The review came in the wake of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) devastating report into antisemitism in the Labour Party. Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant in the EHRC”s investigation.

Plaid Cymru has now published its report – titled “Plaid Cymru commissioned Review into Antisemitism undertaken by Liz Saville Roberts MP” – and it makes numerous worthwhile recommendations. The Party, for example, has previously adopted an amended version of the International Definition of Antisemitism, and the report now rightly recommends that the Party adopts the full and unamended Definition. It also makes prudent recommendations to improve the Party’s disciplinary process.

However, the recommendations are only as useful as the Party’s willingness to tackle the problem of anti-Jewish racism, and the Party’s actions in the weeks since the review was announced and in the days since the report’s publication late last week, give cause for concern.

The Party has, for example, stood by at least two of the subjects of our complaint who are standing as a candidate for the Party in the Senedd election in May.

Our inquiries with the Party as to the status of these complaints has also so far not been met with a response (in contrast to the Party’s collaborative approach with us in recent months).

Joe Glasman, Head of Political Investigations at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are grateful to Liz Saville Roberts MP for her internal review into antisemitism in Plaid Cymru. We have concerns over the Party’s failure to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism in full, and it is right that the report recommends that the Party rectifies this shortcoming. We hope it will do so immediately.

“Numerous other recommendations in the report pertaining to disciplinary procedures and raising awareness of antisemitism are also very welcome.

“However, we do not yet have clarity on whether the individuals whom we have reported to the Party will be investigated, and our inquiries with the Party have so far gone unanswered, which does not bode well for an improved disciplinary process. We also regret that the Party is reportedly standing by at least two of these individuals, who are standing as Plaid Cymru candidates in May’s Senedd election. Good words and fine reports are no substitute for real action against antisemitism, and it is a shame that this report is undermined by the Party’s apparent continued confidence in problematic figures.”

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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Suspect arrested in connection with vicious attack on visibly Jewish pregnant woman

A man has been arrested in connection with the vicious assault on a visibly Jewish pregnant woman in Stamford Hill.

The victim – a twenty-year-old woman who is 28-weeks pregnant – was rushed to hospital after being stalked, suffocated and viciously punched on Manor Road in Stamford Hill at 18:30 on 19th March.

The suspect, in his late fifties, was seen in footage stalking the victim before putting a pillowcase over her head to suffocate her while repeatedly and violently punching her.

The suspect is being held in custody on suspicious of grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “At a time of heightened concern over the safety of women on our streets, this violent assault on a visibly Jewish pregnant women is a particularly grotesque demonstration of antisemitic and misogynistic hate crime. We applaud the Stamford Hill Shomrim for reporting the incident and the police for their swift action, and expect that the perpetrator of this heinous crime will be brought to justice.”

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

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Labour disciplinary process in chaos once more as Cllr Noah Tucker reportedly re-suspended within days of being controversially readmitted to Party

Labour’s disciplinary process is in chaos once again as Noah Tucker, a local councillor in Haringey, has reportedly been re-suspended just days after being controversially readmitted.

Last week, the leader of Haringey’s Labour group confirmed that Cllr Tucker had been readmitted after a six-month suspension from the Party, but there are now reports that he has been suspended again after a furore.

Cllr Tucker was exposed last year as having told Tottenham’s Constituency Labour Party to drop a “zero-tolerance” clause from an antisemitism motion that it was debating, and Cllr Tucker is reported to have suggested that Israel was somehow to blame for the racist killing of George Floyd, which is a popular antisemitic conspiracy theory. He has also defended the disgraced former Labour MP Chris Williamson.

It was also reported by On London that Cllr Tucker may have opined on a group chat that “The purging will be outsourced to people nominated by the BoD,” by which he meant suspensions of Labour members over antisemitism will be “outsourced” to the Board of Deputies of British Jews, a Jewish community charity. He reportedly also lamented the failure of the pro-Corbyn pressure group Momentum to “oppose the centrists on Brexit and antisemitism.” Other concerning pronouncements were also reported.

Cllr Tucker has denied that he is antisemitic and has claimed to have been selectively quoted as part of a malicious smear campaign against him.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Labour’s disciplinary process remains in chaos, with two controversial councillors readmitted to the Party and one of them rapidly resuspended. This is not a system in which the general public can have any confidence, and that is why our complaints against numerous MPs and officeholders must remain outstanding until the Party installs an independent disciplinary process as mandated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.”

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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Antisemitism is a “smear sword wielded at behest of the Israeli Government”, according to Roger Waters

Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd musician with a history of inflammatory comments about antisemitism, has again waded into controversy with a remark that antisemitism is “smear sword wielded at behest of the Israeli Government”.

Mr Waters made the comment during an appearance on a monthly online talk show called Let’s Talk It Over, with record producer Brian Eno adding that accusations of antisemitism on the political Left are “worthless” and intended to silence those who “question what is happening in Palestine”.

During the discussion, Mr Eno reportedly defended three prominent figures in the antisemitism debate of recent years, saying: “When you see people like Ken Loach, David Miller, Jackie Walker, when you see those people being accused of antisemitism, you cannot help but say this is all made up.”

Mr Eno added: “We know there are a lot of antisemites in the world, and we know that generally they’d don’t come from the left of the political spectrum. Why aren’t they being attacked? We are being called the enemy for some other reason than antisemitism, and of course it is transparently clear that we are being called the enemy because we question what is happening in Palestine. That is all you have to do to be called antisemitic.”

Mr Waters said: “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.”

Image credit: Harry’s Place

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Middlesex University and Students’ Union adopt International Definition of Antisemitism

Middlesex University London and its Students’ Union have adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

It was announced today by the University that “the Middlesex University Board of Governors has unanimously agreed that the institution will adopt in full the International [D]efinition of Antisemitism with immediate effect. The decision has the full support of the Students’ Union.”

In a statement, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nic Beech, said: “Middlesex is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and has a long history of promoting anti-racism. We are proud to be one of the most diverse universities in the UK and to be situated in the heart of the largest Jewish population in Europe. I am extremely grateful to local and national Jewish groups who have spent time with me and colleagues to increase our understanding of the Definition. While there have been criticisms that adopting the Definition could limit academic freedom, our view is that the Definition can be applied in a way which enables dialogue and discussion within and between faiths. Our commitment to anti-racism is equalled by our defence of academic free speech.

“Racism in all its forms is wrong. We strive to be a place where everyone is safe and free to flourish without fear of discrimination. In order to maximise the value of the [D]efinition we will need to embed it meaningfully across the University. This is not the end point but rather the beginning in how we hope to continue working with the Jewish community as well as other communities across our diverse and deep global network for the benefit of all.”

The Vice President of the University’s Students’ Union, Tahmina Choudhury, said: “Whilst this Definition is not without criticism or universal, we accept that it is the most accepted definition of antisemitism within the Jewish community. We also believe that in order to tackle an issue you need to be able to define it and we therefore support this decision. We are proud to represent students from many faith backgrounds as one of the most diverse universities in the world. We would therefore welcome the University committing to positive action to tackle all forms of faith-based prejudice.”

Binyomin Gilbert, Programme Manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We welcome the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by Middlesex University and the Students’ Union. As a popular university with Jewish students and situated at the heart of one of the largest Jewish communities in the country, Middlesex has a particular responsibility to commit to fighting antisemitism on its campus, and we are delighted that the University is living up to that responsibility by adopting the Definition.

“The campaign for widespread adoption of the Definition by universities is progressing well, but as our real-time monitoring shows, a majority of British universities have yet to adopt it, and we call on them to do so now.”

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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Urgent appeal for witnesses after pregnant Jewish woman rushed to hospital after being stalked, suffocated and viciously punched

A pregnant Jewish woman has reportedly been rushed to hospital after being stalked, suffocated and viciously punched.

The attack took place on Manor Road in Stamford Hill at 18:30 on 19th March and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

Shomrim and the police are urgently appealing for witnesses.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD8195 18/03/21.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “At a time of heightened concern over the safety of women on our streets, this violent assault on a visibly Jewish pregnant women is a particularly grotesque demonstration of antisemitic and misogynistic hate crime. We have put out an appeal for witnesses, and we urge anyone with information to contact the Stamford Hill Shomrim or the police so that this perpetrator can be brought to justice.”

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

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Serious questions for Labour Party after suspension lifted for two Haringey councillors with history of inflammatory comments

Serious questions are being raised over the Labour Party’s commitment to fighting antisemitism after two local councillors with histories of inflammatory comments have been readmitted to the Party.

Cllr Noah Tucker of Haringey was exposed last year as having told Tottenham’s Constituency Labour Party to drop a “zero-tolerance” clause from an antisemitism motion that it was debating, and Cllr Tucker is reported to have suggested that Israel was somehow to blame for the racist killing of George Floyd, which is a popular antisemitic conspiracy theory. He has also defended the disgraced former Labour MP Chris Williamson.

It was also reported by On London that Cllr Tucker may have opined on a group chat that “The purging will be outsourced to people nominated by the BoD,” by which he meant suspensions of Labour members over antisemitism will be “outsourced” to the Board of Deputies of British Jews, a Jewish community charity. He reportedly also lamented the failure of the pro-Corbyn pressure group Momentum to “oppose the centrists on Brexit and antisemitism.” Other concerning pronouncements were also reported.

Meanwhile, Cllr Preston Tabois, was reported by Guido Fawkes to have appeared to endorse the despicable notion that Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in some masterplan to create the State of Israel, and other antisemitic conspiracy theories. Cllr Tabois was also slated to be a Labour candidate for the London Assembly.

Council Leader Ejiofor Joseph reportedly confirmed, in a letter to the council’s Labour group, that the two notorious councillors had served their suspension and had been “readmitted as members of our Labour group”.

It is not believed that Haringey Council itself has taken any action against either councillor, despite having adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Both councillors have denied that they are antisemitic, with Cllr Tucker claiming to have been selectively quoted as part of a malicious smear campaign against him.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Labour’s commitment to a zero-tolerance fight against antisemitism is in real doubt after the readmission of these two councillors. One opposed the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism and is reported to have promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, and the other is claimed to have suggested that the Holocaust was a fabricated “masterplan” to justify the creation of the State of Israel. A six-month suspension with no indication of an investigation, an outcome or a sufficient sanction indicates that despite Sir Kier Starmer’s bold promises, Labour remains unchanged when it comes to anti-Jewish racism.”

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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Shenley Parish Council Zoombombed with atrocious “Burn the Jews” comment

A Shenley Parish Council meeting was interrupted with an atrocious antisemitic comment.

A participant at the Zoom meeting on 16th March commented in capital letters in the chat: “Burn the Jews”. The attendee, thought to have logged in under a pseudonym, was immediately removed from the meeting.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by nearly 80 people, including councillors, the clerk and the Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, as well as members of the public.

The Chairman of the Council, who was speaking at the time that the comment was posted, said: “We take pride in Shenley being a friendly, welcoming and inclusive community. I was shocked when the meeting was interrupted by this vile individual spouting such religious and antisemitic hatred. Ironically, this came after the meeting was opened by Reverend Daniel McCarthy who had addressed the community with a message of peace and loving kindness, urging us to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves.”

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “Police are investigating an incident of malicious communications and hate crime in Shenley. It was reported that between 7pm and 7.30pm last night (Tuesday 16th March) an antisemitic comment was made on a text chat during an online Shenley Parish Council meeting. Any report to police will be taken seriously and dealt with sensitively.”

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101, quoting crime reference number: 41/19051/21.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously reported on the phenomenon of ‘Zoom bombing’ and has urged communal institutions to take precautions to safeguard against antisemitic disruption of online events.

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University of Bristol confirms investigation into Prof. David Miller over antisemitic statements following condemnation by MPs and Jewish groups, including CAA

The University of Bristol has confirmed that it has opened an investigation into Prof. David Miller following antisemitic statements by the controversial academic.

Prof. Miller, a conspiracist whom Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring for years, recently added to his record of inflammatory comments about the Jewish community with the assertion that “Zionism is racism” and a declaration that his objective is “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world”. Most egregiously, he also suggested that Jewish students, by virtue of being Zionist, “encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”.

Prof. Miller’s comments and the University’s reaction have been the subject of a great deal of attention from the Jewish community as well as Parliament, including a written question by Lord Austin, an honorary patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been providing ongoing support to students at Bristol.

Now, the University of Bristol has confirmed that it is investigating Prof. Miller. In a statement, the University said: “We can confirm that the University has already initiated an investigation into this matter.  The investigation is being carried out in accordance with the University’s internal process and, as we have explained in a previous statement, that process is confidential.  In particular, it is not appropriate for the University to make any comment on this matter while the investigation we have referred to is underway.

“Our freedom of speech policy underlines the vital importance of the right of staff and students, as members of a free and democratic society, to speak openly without fear of censorship or limitation, provided that this right is exercised responsibly, within the law, and with respect for others who may have differing views.

“The University’s clear and consistently held position is that bullying, harassment, and discrimination are never acceptable.  We remain committed to providing a positive experience for all our students and staff, including by providing a welcoming environment for Jewish students, and to fostering good relations and an inclusive University community.”

Binyomin Gilbert, Programme Manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “David Miller is a conspiracy theorist who believes that Bristol’s Jewish Society and the entire nationwide Jewish student body ‘encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism’. His teachings have been going on for years with no action taken despite deep ongoing concerns for the safety of Jewish students at Bristol University.

“You do not need to be a member of the Jewish community to understand that this crank conspiracy theorist has no place in academia. We are pleased to see that the University has opened an investigation and await the results. In the meantime, we will continue to provide support for Jewish students on campus and take steps to ensure their wellbeing.”

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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UCL Provost has apologised for saying he would allow a Holocaust denier to give speech to students

The Provost of University College London (UCL) has reportedly apologised for claiming that he would allow a Holocaust denier to speak to students.

Dr Michael Spence was asked during an interview with Times Radio last week whether his commitment to free speech went as far as allowing a Holocaust denier to address UCL students. He replied: “We would have anybody to speak who was invited by an academic or by a student so long as the speech was lawful and there weren’t going to be public order problems that we couldn’t control or whatever.”

He went on to say that the University “would have a responsibility to make sure its Jewish and other students were looked after, that the event took place in an environment in which other views were expressed.”

However, on Friday, in an apology, Dr Spence said: “The point I was trying to make was that UCL will allow free speech for all staff, students and visiting speakers providing it is within the law. Personally, I doubt that the views of a Holocaust denier would be lawful, and I believe that they ought not to be if they are but that was not the question put to me. I fully acknowledge the huge emotional impact that Holocaust denial has on Jewish and other members of the community. I will do my utmost to ensure UCL remains the kind of place in which such a speaker would never be invited and our university tackles anti-Semitism in all its forms. I apologise if my response to a hypothetical question could be understood as suggesting otherwise.”

The apology comes just weeks after the University’s Academic Board voted to “retract and replace” the International Definition of Antisemitism. One academic has resigned in disgust at the advisory motion whilst others have penned a letter urging the University to retain the Definition, which it has already adopted.

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: UCL

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Labour activist suing Labour for employing Israeli social media manager reportedly declared his “love” for founder of genocidal antisemitic terror group

A Labour activist who is suing his Party for employing an Israeli social media manager has declared his “love” for the founder of a genocidal antisemitic terror group, the JC is reporting.

Adnan Hmidan, who is being represented by the Bindmans LLP law firm and has the backing of former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, is suing Labour for employing a Jewish-Israeli member of the Party who, according to reports, was previously in the signals branch of Israeli intelligence.

According to the law firm, “A British Palestinian member of the Labour Party has called upon the Party to provide further details about its recruitment of former officer of the Israeli Defence Force, Assaf Kaplan, to manage the Party’s digital campaigning. Bindmans LLP has written to the Party on behalf of Mr Hmidan regarding its recruitment of Mr. Kaplan to the position of Social Listening and Organising Manager in January 2021.”

Israel has military conscription applicable to most sectors of the population, so most adult citizens of Israel are veterans of its armed forces.

According to the JC, Mr Hmidan posted a picture on Facebook of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the cleric who founded the Hamas terrorist organisation, with the Arabic caption “I love this man”.

Mr Hmidan is also reported to have published a complimentary post on social media about Raed Salah, a radical sheikh who was found by the Court of Appeal to have promoted the antisemitic blood libel that Jews bake bread using the blood of non-Jewish children. Sheikh Salah is best known in the UK as an object of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s warm praise.

It is understood that Mr Hmidan works as a presenter for Alhiwar TV, an Arabic-language channel based in London, and the JC reports that he has also posted pictures of himself with other controversial figures on social media.

Of his legal case, Mr Hmidan said through his lawyers: “I am very concerned that Labour has recruited a former Israeli spy to a position that involves monitoring the social media accounts of its members including those that are British Palestinian, supportive of Palestine or opposed to the occupation of Palestine. The Party has also failed to confirm what steps, if any, have been taken to limit the risks to these members or to ensure that our data is not processed without our consent.”

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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History group drops plans to celebrate works of William Cobbett over antisemitism concerns

A history group has reportedly dropped plans to celebrate the works of a 19th-century political commentator after his books were found to contain a slew of antisemitic views, blaming the economic crisis of the time on “Jewish money”.

Hyde900, a history group based in Winchester, had planned to commemorate the writer William Cobbett (1763-1835) on the 200th anniversary of the publication of his book Rural Rides, but the group has pulled out.

The book chronicles his views on the agricultural crises of the 1820s England, which he blames on “Jewish money” in the City.

Founder Edward Fennell, said: “Within Rural Rides there were a number of gratuitous antisemitic and racist comments which seemed at odds with Cobbett’s generally ‘progressive’ opinions [and] organisers thought that they needed to be investigated further. As a result, it was decided that it could not be justified to hold an event which, as one person observed, ‘put him on a pedestal’.”

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Architect sanctioned by Architects Registration Board after repeatedly comparing neighbours to Nazis and asking if they will put their “children in charge of the gas chambers” in property dispute

An architect has reportedly been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and sanctioned after she harassed neighbours with sickening antisemitic slurs over a property dispute.

Mail Online reported that Karin Reenie Elliott asked her neighbours if they would be “putting their children in charge of the gas chambers” and wrote in a message: “We are not in 1930’s Germany, we are not Jewish, we don’t wear yellow stars and you won’t crush us.” She repeatedly told the couple, who live next to her in Norwich, that they were “building concentration camps” when they began construction on a car port for their home and knocked down part of a fence.

Other messages included Miss Elliott telling her female neighbour: “No regrets then? For Krystallnacht 1917 [sic]? We will not be your victims anymore” and that “there wouldn’t be enough comfort food in Norfolk to make up for the emotional trauma caused to any woman that had to sh** your Nazi husband”.

Miss Elliot is a seasoned architect, with more than 25 years’ experience in the field and a plethora of respectable employers names on her Linkedin CV. As well as taking umbrage with the couple building a car port, she apparently sent similar messages to another set of neighbours when they rented a hot tub for a weekend. She told them: “You cannot instigate a one family Nazi regime to occupy our land and intimidate us off our property.”

At the hearing of a disciplinary panel of the Architects Registration Board, she said that she simply wanted her neighbours to know that she did not like them and regretted using “childish bad language”, but she then went on to state: “In mitigation, I would ask the members of the panel to understand what it feels like to be attacked. It’s hard not take it personally when strangers are smashing up your home”.

The panel found her guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and imposed a £2,000 penalty order to be paid within 28 days.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Karin Reenie Elliott’s reported comments, not to mention her apparent campaign of harassment of her neighbours, are abhorrent. There is absolutely no place for grotesque references to the systematic murder of six million Jews – the darkest period in history – in a local property dispute. Ms Elliott has unquestionably brought her profession into disrepute, and the Architects Registration Board is right to recognise that and sanction her. Other professional bodies should take note.”

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Disgraced peer Shami Chakrabarti who authored whitewash report into Labour antisemitism tells pupils not to leave victims of discrimination to “stand up for themselves”

The disgraced peer, Baroness Chakrabarti, has given a speech on gender equality to the prestigious St Paul’s School in London, in which she said that pupils must not leave victims of discrimination to “stand up for themselves”.

Baroness Chakrabarti, whose infamous 2016 whitewash report into Labour antisemitism began with the words “The Labour Party is not overrun with antisemitism”, made a speech to pupils, alumni and guests via Zoom on the subject of “Gender Solidarity and Freedom” on 11th March, despite the controversy surrounding her invitation.

At the end of the session, she took questions from the audience, but she and the host did not present any of the questions submitted on Labour antisemitism or her relations with Jewish women.

The questions that were ignored included: “Your eponymous report on antisemitism in the Labour Party opened with the words: ‘The Labour Party is not overrun with antisemitism’. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, in its damning verdict, found that the Party had become institutionally antisemitic, including in the period covered by your report. How do you answer those who say that you accepted a peerage in return for whitewashing antisemitism in the Labour Party and that through that betrayal of British Jews, you prolonged and worsened a crisis that polling shows led half of British Jews to consider leaving the country?”

Questions on the topic of Labour antisemitism were ignored despite an assurance from the school’s High Master to one alumnus in advance of the talk that the matter of the event proceeding “does not mean that those listening cannot challenge her on her record in relation to the Labour Party should they wish to do so and it seems to me to be part of the Pauline tradition to enter into debate but also to question.”

Other excluded questions included: “What are your thoughts on hypocritical women – such as those that advocate for alliance with minority women but fail to do so – do for gender inequality?”

The hour-long address ended with the host inviting Baroness Chakrabarti back to speak again.

Shortly after publishing the findings of her “inquiry” into Labour antisemitism, Baroness Chakrabarti nominated for a peerage by Jeremy Corbyn.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has offered to present a session to pupils on antisemitism, which the all-boys school has accepted.

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.

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The Guardian removes irrelevant picture of Hasidic Jews accompanying article on lockdown restrictions after complaint from CAA

The Guardian has removed a picture of two Hasidic men used to accompany an article about lockdown restrictions unrelated to the Jewish community, following a complaint from Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The original picture associated Jews with a delay in the lifting of lockdown rules, despite the fact that Jews were not mentioned in the article at all.

The article – entitled “Covid lockdown a success but UK ‘not out of the woods’, says ONS [Office of National Statistics] head” – was published online on Saturday and quoted statistician Ian Diamond who praised the UK lockdown restrictions whilst warning that they should not yet be lifted. He made no reference to Jews, nor did the article and no picture caption was provided to explain why the photograph was chosen.

Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to the Global Readers’ Editor of The Guardian Group on Monday to demand the picture’s removal as well as an apology. The newspaper, as well as its sister newspaper The Observer, have regularly published cartoons by Steve Bell with antisemitic undertones and have promoted conspiracy theories against Jews including that Israel was behind the killing of George Floyd.

Following the complaint from Campaign Against Antisemitism, the picture has been removed, with a non-apology at the foot of the article reading: “This article was amended on 9 March 2021 to replace the picture with a more appropriate image.”

A Guardian spokesperson told Campaign Against Antisemitism that the picture was chosen because it contained a poster related to Covid. The spokesperson said: “We considered the image had been chosen primarily because it depicted a Covid poster in a general street scene, not because it showed Charedi Jews or intended to associate them with the article other than as members of the public”, before stating that they had regarded the report as “largely positive”.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The Guardian published an image of two visibly Jewish men in an article about lockdown restrictions not yet being lifted. The image bore no relation to the report but its inclusion insinuated that Jews were somehow to blame for the UK being ‘not out of the woods’ with regard to the necessity for lockdown rules. After we complained to the newspaper, it removed the image and replaced it with a more appropriate image, but no apology has been issued. The Guardian owes the Jewish community an apology and an explanation for how its editors could possibly have arrived at the decision to use this unrelated and insensitive picture. Incidents like this do nothing to improve the newspaper’s horrendous reputation in the Jewish community.”

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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CAA asks St Paul’s School why disgraced peer Shami Chakrabarti who authored whitewash report into Labour antisemitism will address pupils on “equality between people”

Shami Chakrabarti has been invited to speak at the prestigious St Paul’s School on the subject of “equality between people” on the occassion of International Women’s Day, despite her role whitewashing antisemitism within the Labour Party.

Following a complaint to us from an appalled alumnus, Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the High Master of the boys’ school to ask why the disgraced peer has been invited to speak tomorrow, to insist that she is challenged on her role whitewashing anti-Jewish racism in the Labour Party, and to make welfare arrangements for Jewish students and anyone else affected by her address.

The alumnus told Campaign Against Antisemitism: “My old school St Paul’s has invited Chakrabarti to speak at an event to mark International Womens’ Day on Tuesday. I and several other Jewish alumni have objected to the High Master as we don’t feel that she is suitable to be given a platform at the school, given her contribution to the continuation of antisemitism which she could have snuffed out with the position and power she had. I also don’t believe she did very much to help Margaret Hodge, Ruth Smeeth, Luciana Berger and so many other women Labour Party members who were subjected to antisemitism after the publication of her joke of a report.

“The school’s response is that they haven’t asked her to talk about antisemitism or Labour so it’s fine that she still speaks regardless of the offence it has caused and will cause Jews. They quote freedom of speech, debate, open-mindedness etc. to justify not cancelling her engagement.”

The talk can be attended by anyone who registers.

Baroness Chakrabarti launched an inquiry into antisemitism within the Labour Party during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. The report was widely condemned as a whitewash. Baroness Chakrabarti was then awarded a peerage in 2016 by Mr Corbyn, despite his previous pledge not to nominate anyone for peerages.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Baroness Chakrabarti’s whitewash report into antisemitism in Labour set back the fight against racism in the Party by years, causing untold distress to the Jewish community. It is most regrettable that St Paul’s has chosen to honour her with this platform, and we have written to the High Master to this effect. If the event does go ahead, there must be opportunity for her shameful record to be challenged and appropriate arrangements must be put in place for Jewish and other pupils who do not wish to attend or who are adversely affected. We have also offered to provide a presentation on antisemitism to pupils, which can help illuminate the extent of the damage Baroness Chakrabarti did in the months prior to receiving her peerage.”

Four years after Baroness Chakrabarti’s shameful whitewash report, 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. Current leader Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Labour Party.

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City University Students’ Union’s referendum against International Definition of Antisemitism is a shameful abandonment of Jewish students

City University’s Students’ Union has called a referendum for later this month on a motion urging the University to reject the International Definition of Antisemitism, in what amounts to a shameful abandonment of Jewish students.

A similar motion was brought to a student members meeting in November 2020, where all students could vote, and it failed by an overwhelming margin, with 66% declining to support it.

Despite the failure of essentially the same motion to pass late last year, the trustees of the Students’ Union have taken the rare step of calling a university-wide referendum in a desperate effort to pass the resolution, which is controversially phrased as to call for the University to “reject” the Definition even before it has adopted it.

Over seventy other universities in Britain have adopted the Definition so far, for which the Government, Campaign Against Antisemitism, the Union of Jewish Students and all other mainstream Jewish organisations have called. City University has not yet adopted the Definition.

In deciding to call the referendum, it is understood that the Students’ Union appallingly failed to consult the Jewish Society.

In a statement, the Jewish Society observed that “once again, Jewish students were not consulted about this motion going ahead, and we are left frustrated that the Students’ Union believes it’s okay for the topic of antisemitism to be debated in a public forum. Having a referendum on such an issue reinforces the idea that Jewish student safety has to be fought for rather than a right. The Jewish community should be allowed to define for themselves what antisemitism is, same as with any other ethnic minority. All of this makes us feel that the Students’ Union is neglecting its Jewish students and failing in its responsibility to support all students.”

Even when concerns were raised by the Jewish Society, “the Students’ Union was adamant about the referendum going ahead.” According to the Jewish Society “the Students’ Union has made clear that when discussing anti-Jewish racism, they will not prioritise Jewish student voices.”

Further questions have also arisen about the rules of the campaign and what role, if any, that the Jewish Society will be permitted to play. Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is in contact with the Jewish Society and has also been approached directly by concerned Jewish students on campus, is monitoring developments and has offered ongoing support.

Binyomin Gilbert, Programme Manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “City University’s Students’ Union has brought shame on the University. This referendum, apparently called after the failure of a similar attempt and without consultation with the Jewish Society, represents an abandonment of Jewish students by their own union. The goal of the campaign – to encourage the University not to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism – is tantamount to reserving the right to be antisemitic. This referendum has no place on a distinguished campus. If it does proceed, City students are urged to show solidarity with their Jewish peers once more and reject this intimidatory motion.”

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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Cross-party group of 100 MPs and peers berates Bristol University for inaction over David Miller and accuses him of bringing the University “into disrepute”

A cross-party group of over 100 MPs and peers have written to the University of Bristol accusing Prof. David Miller of “inciting hatred against Jewish students on your campus”.

Under the aegis of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, the letter calls on the University to act against Prof. Miller, whom it accuses of “hate speech” and of having brought the University “into disrepute”.

Prof. Miller, a Professor of Political Sociology, is a conspiracy theorist with a history of controversy relating to Jewish students, and the letter was prompted by his latest outburst, when he asserted that “Zionism is racism” and declared his objective “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world”.

In an online event, Prof. Miller complained of being criticised by the President of the Bristol University Jewish Society and accused the student group of being part of a worldwide Zionist conspiracy, adding that it is “fundamental to Zionism to encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”. Prof. Miller also observed that the Jewish Society and the Union of Jewish Students are Zionist, thereby implying that Jewish students (and the wider Jewish community) inherently “encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism”.

He also portrayed the International Definition of Antisemitism as an attack on free speech and accused the Israeli Government of engaging in an “all-out attack” on the global Left as part of an “attempt by the Israelis to impose their will all over the world”.

In comments reminiscent of the darkest years of the United Nations, Prof. Miller insisted that “Zionism is racism” and asked how “we defeat the ideology of Zionism in practice”, “how is Zionism ended” and about the way “to end Zionism as a functioning ideology of the world”.

This is not Prof. Miller’s first controversy in relation to Jews, antisemitism and Zionism. Last June, Campaign Against Antisemitism revealed that Prof. Miller was behind disgraced MP Chris Williamson’s Resistance Movement. The group aimed to give a home to the “politically homeless” politicians who had been expelled from the Labour Party for antisemitism, such as Jackie Walker, Tony Greenstein and Mark Wadsworth.

Prof. Miller has a history of spouting conspiracy theories about various Jewish community organisations and figures that has reportedly discomfited his Jewish students. In a presentation titled “Harms of the Powerful”, for example, Prof. Miller suggested that the “Zionist movement” is one of the “five pillars” of hatred of Muslims (redolent of the five pillars of Islam) and is bankrolled by “ultra Zionist funders”. He has also suggested that Jewish interfaith dialogue with Muslim groups represents an Israeli-backed “Trojan horse” initiative to “normalise Zionism in the Muslim community”.

Prof. Miller has previously accused the current leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, of taking “Zionist money”, and he has talked about what he referred to as the “witch hunt” against Labour members accused of antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the University of Bristol.

Binyomin Gilbert, Programme Manager at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “David Miller is a conspiracy theorist who believes that Bristol’s Jewish Society and the entire nationwide Jewish student body ‘encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism’. His teachings have been going on for years with no action taken despite deep ongoing concerns for the safety of Jewish students at Bristol University.

“The University’s silence on this subject is now so loud and clear that more than 100 political figures have had to publicly move in on this. You do not need to be a member of the Jewish community to understand that this crank conspiracy theorist has no place in academia. We commend all those that have shown support for Jewish students today by calling for action to be taken.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors the adoption of the International Definition of Antisemitism by universities. Bristol University adopted the Definition in November 2019.

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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Primary school and education resource provider apologise after handing seven year olds homework teaching that the Jews killed Jesus

An educational resource site and the headteacher of a primary school have apologised after seven-year-olds were handed homework teaching them that the Jews killed Jesus.

Joanne Bell, the mother of a child who was handed the sheet, posted a picture of the antisemitic homework to Twitter. It showed a drawing with a depiction of Jesus standing in front of Roman leader Pontius, whilst a hook-nosed Jew is bending down to whisper to Pontius in a conspiratorial manner.

Alongside, the text reads: “The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus to be guilty…eventually they asked him if he was the son of God. Jesus replied ‘I am’. This was enough. They said this was an insult to God. Jesus was taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. The Jewish people, who wanted Jesus to die, persuaded the people to set free a murderer called Barabbas. Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, known as ‘king of the Jews’. ‘Crucify him!’ shouted the people.”

Ms Bell wrote: “Got to love Britain, doing my child’s RE [Religious Education] home-schooling today. Why not teach the Blood Libel, hey. What harm has it ever done to portray Jews as bloodthirsty and solely responsible for the death of the believed son of G-d, Jesus. I am in shock. This for seven-year olds.”

Topmarks – the education website responsible for creating and distributing the homework – blocked Joanne when she raised the issue, but it unblocked her a day later, with the head of the company tweeting an apology.

He wrote: “Hello Joanne. Sorry for the delay, I’ve been unwell post-vaccine. We are sorry for any offense to or misrepresentation of the Jewish community, it was not our intention, and we have removed the Bible story. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. I have unblocked you.”

Another user then asked why Ms Bell had been blocked in the first place, to which Mr Spolton replied: “It was an unnecessary mistake.” When Ms Bell questioned how the material ended up on the website in the first place, Mr Spolton replied: “I was young and naive. It was written circa twenty years ago based on books found in the local library, and the dated images were downloaded clip art. I literally hadn’t reviewed the story for decades and had pretty much forgotten about it. I’m glad you contacted me with your concerns and that I’ve been able to remove it quickly.”

Ms Bell, who has done a service by drawing attention to this material, updated followers as the homework was pulled from the primary school – which Ms Bell has not named – with an apology from the “horrified” headteacher.

A spokesperson from Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The notion that the Jews killed Jesus is an antisemitic trope which dates back millennia. It has been used as a supposed justification for the persecution of Jews in the Christian world for centuries and is often cited in abuse of Jews even today. It is sickening that this material was presented to young children as factual education. The apologies from Topmarks and the school in question are welcome, as is the withdrawal of the textbook, but educational material for children, particularly in sensitive fields, must be written and vetted by reliable experts. For Topmarks to be offering materials that, by its own admission, were created by someone so ‘naive’ as to present a blood libel as fact, and not to review those materials in decades is unacceptable.”

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Second instance this week of “Zionist police state” graffiti appears in East London, this time in Tower Hamlets

Graffiti reading “Zionist police state” has appeared in East London for the second time this week, this time in Tower Hamlets.

The vandalism on Chambord Street comes just after the police said that they were investigating graffiti with the same message in Hackney.

Police reported the graffiti to Tower Hamlets Council and it has since been removed. No arrests have yet been made, and it is unclear if the two incidents are related.

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

Image credit: Jewish News

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Leaflets comparing COVID-19 vaccine to Holocaust left on car windscreens in Bournemouth

Leaflets comparing the COVID-19 vaccine to the Holocaust have reportedly been left on car windscreens in Bournemouth.

In an apparent criticism of the vaccine and lockdown rules, the leaflets read: “Millions believed in the Nazis. Do you believe in your Government?” The caption is accompanied by pictures of Bill Gates, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the controversial Jewish financier and political activist, George Soros, who is a frequent protagonist in antisemitic conspiracy theories.

The local resident who discovered the leaflets reportedly said: “To hijack the Holocaust and use the Nazis’ terrible crimes against humanity as an excuse to level criticism is repulsive to Jews and the general public at large.”

It is understood that police are investigating.

Comparisons of the lockdown rules to the Holocaust have become disturbingly commonplace in recent months.

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

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“Shocking and insulting” hate speech sprayed across a wall in Hackney calling the UK a “Zionist police state”

Graffiti slurring Britain as a “Zionist police state” has been discovered on a wall in Hackney, East London, with a Jewish witness describing it as “shocking and insulting”.

Police are investigating but no arrests have yet been made.

A police spokesman said that the force is aware of the graffiti and has “contacted the council to get it removed as a matter of urgency”.

A witness said that he was “horrified at such a crude antisemitic trope being used”.

This is not the first time that this phrase has been sighted in the area.

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

Image credit: Martin Sugarman

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Far-right group uses Telegram to share antisemitic images and Holocaust denial

A far-right group is using an unregulated social media platform to create neo-Nazi channels dedicated to share vile messages, antisemitic conspiracy theories and images glorifying Hitler. An investigation by Scottish news site The Ferret found over 2,000 messages swapped by members of Patriotic Alternative on Telegram.

One message said: “I’m Ayran, then Scottish personally. It’s really easy in my eyes to dismiss British identity aka our culture being banned by the English? Now, the Jews were behind that. They were also behind many of the historic reasons many justify Scots being Brits. The Irish famine and subsequent population transfers was a Jewish thing too.”

Another stated: “White folk need to be having more kids. The enemy have done a good job of brainwashing our professionals in particular to put career over family. Those that get the snip young like that are essentially anti-whites in my book.”

One member posted images of himself holding what appears to be an automatic weapon alongside swastika flags and photos of Adolf Hitler and commented that: “Zyklon B was a delousing agent”, in an apparent denial of the gas chambers used to murder Jews during the Holocaust.

The Ferret further reported that the group is recruiting young members by offering camping trips and paint gun sessions.

Recently it was reported that the group, headed by ex-BNP member Mark Collett, published an “alternative” home-curriculum full of “hateful” speech described by one MP as “poison”. Mr Collett is reported to have dabbled in Holocaust denial, collaborated with the infamous American antisemite David Duke, and reportedly said in a Channel 4 documentary that he “admires Hitler”.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Patriotic Alternative is a fascist organisation that targets recruits, including youth, with racist indoctrination. With police warning that the far-right poses the fastest-growing terrorist threat to Britain, it is gravely concerning that this organisation is able to use Telegram to amplify its message. These messages, which include Holocaust denial, neo-Nazi imagery and antisemitic and racist tropes have only one aim of peddling hatred and must be must be met with zero-tolerance law enforcement. It never takes long for these far-right groups to pose a threat to the public, therefore we urge police to act swiftly.”

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

Global Student Forum adopts International Definition of Antisemitism

The Global Student Forum has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

The umbrella organisation – which brings together the world’s major representative students’ federations from 118 countries – adopted the Definition after discussions with the World Union of Jewish Students and the European Union of Jewish Students.

Campaign Against Antisemitism applauds the decision, which comes at a time of rising antisemitism and demonstrates the students’ solidarity with their Jewish peers across the world.

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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CAA launches petition demanding BBC apologise for asking “should Jews count as an ethnic minority?” in response to Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner ignoring past Jewish political leaders

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a petition calling on the BBC to apologise after airing a segment on its Politics Live show titled “Should Jews count as an ethnic minority?”, a question that the BBC would never presume to ask about any other British minority community.

The segment featured four panellists and a guest, Ben Cohen, the (Jewish) Editor of Pink News, who rightly observed on air that “the notion of this debate is ridiculous”.

Host Jo Coburn suggested that “many Jews have succeeded in reaching high political office and therefore don’t need to be seen as a group needing recognition in the same way as others”, but Mr Cohen observed that Jews “face antisemitism and racism very clearly” and referenced the Labour Party’s institutional antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a petition calling on the BBC to apologise for the “ridiculous” and insensitive segment, and we have also submitted a complaint to the Corporation. The petition can be signed here.

Our Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that two thirds of British Jews view unfavourably the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish interest (including antisemitism). Given segments like these, this breathtaking finding is wholly reasonable.

The debate was stirred by the social media backlash against Labour’s Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner, who tweeted that Scottish Labour’s newly-elected leader is “the first ever ethnic minority leader of a political party anywhere in the UK”.

As Campaign Against Antisemitism pointed out, historically at least four party leaders have had Jewish roots, namely Benjamin Disraeli (Conservatives), Herbert Samuel (Liberals), Michael Howard (Conservatives) and Ed Miliband (Labour). There have been minority leaders in minor parties as well, for example the controversial Salma Yaqoob of the now-defunct Respect Party (she has since joined the Labour Party).

Despite the social media criticism — which, as many have observed, Ms Rayner never hesitates to issue herself — Ms Rayner has not clarified, deleted or apologised for her tweet.

It was recently reported that Labour had opened and promptly closed an antisemitism investigation into Ms Rayner based on a complaint from Campaign Against Antisemitism. The complaint relates to Ms Rayner’s promotion of a book entitled The Holocaust Industry, in which the author claims that the American Jewish establishment exploits the Holocaust for political and financial gain. Despite the reports, we maintain our expectation of a full and transparent investigation once the independent disciplinary system, mandated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, is in place later this year, and that therefore our complaint remains open.

During the 2019 General Election, the Labour Party released an advertisement stating that every minority is “worthy of equality”, but the advertisement failed to reference the Jewish community at all in what appeared to many viewers, in view of Labour’s problem with Jews, to be a deliberate exclusion.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It is outrageous that the BBC has aired a segment on whether Jews count as an ethnic minority. The show’s own guest rightly considered the debate to be ‘ridiculous’. It is a question that the Corporation would never presume to ask of any other minority community in Britain, and it is telling that it does so in relation to the Jews. These segments show why, according to our research, two thirds of British Jews view the BBC’s coverage of Jewish matters unfavourably.

“We have submitted a complaint to the BBC and launched a petition calling on the Corporation to apologise for airing this appalling segment.

“The pretext for the debate was a tweet by Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner that airbrushed Jewish party leaders from history, despite the fact that she herself was first elected an MP while her Party was led by a Jewish person. This sort of omission does nothing to restore Ms Rayner’s reputation, which has been sullied by accusations of antisemitism. In this connection, our complaint against her remains outstanding and we await the Party’s independent disciplinary process later this year before action should be taken.”

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“The time has come for a Reich [empire]: we must exterminate the Jews”, reads graffiti on Welsh war memorial

A war memorial has been daubed with swastikas and disturbing antisemitic hate messages.

The vile messages, which refer to the murder of Jews and gassing of soldiers, was found on the memorial in Rhyl, Wales.

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

Richard Kendrick, Rhyl’s Poppy Appeal organiser for the Royal British Legion, said: “Someone has put graffiti on two of the stones and plaques. These stones are dedicated to the men and women from Rhyl who have given their lives for us over the past 125 years. I can’t understand who would do such an awful thing.”

Mr Kendrick went on to urge anyone with information to call police before adding: “Sad day when someone would do such an awful act.”

Councillor Brian Jones said: “It is a total disrespect to the people that fought for the freedom of the country.”

Image credit: Richard Kendrick

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