“I was alarmed at the prevalence of extreme antisemitism in the Channel cases I observed”.

“Such examples I saw in Channel include:

• individuals expressing the intent to kill, assault or harm Jewish people or a particular Jewish individual
• threats to burn, desecrate or blow up a Synagogue
• the conduct of hostile reconnaissance on local Synagogues
• claiming religious or political justification for the murder of Jewish people • refusing consent to be situated in a city with Jewish people
• demonstrating an obsession with Jews • adherence to extreme antisemitic conspiracies” – Sir William Shawcross, (Prevent Review, Feb 2023)

These are the striking words of Sir William Shawcross in the Prevent Review of the community counter-extremism programme.

Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAAS) was created to inform and work with British Muslim communities in raising their awareness of antisemitism and its discourse; this work also includes countering and challenging antisemitic discourse from those within parts of Muslim communities, and in particular, Islamist groups who seek to divide British Muslim and Jewish communities.

MAAS fully endorses the findings and the opinions of the Sir William Shawcross and our work has demonstrated an ongoing risk to Jewish communities from Islamist antisemitism. This risk has developed and consolidated itself on social media and in the ‘real world’ as cases of Islamist antisemitism make up about a quarter of antisemitic attacks annually reported to the Community Security Trust (CST), the national antisemitism monitoring body. This indicates a basal level of Islamist antisemitism that remain continually high.

MAAS is clear that Islamism, does not and should be the lens through which all British Muslim communities are viewed and the vast majority of Muslims are anti-Islamists and they seek to develop better relations with their neighbours, faith and non-faith communities.

We call on the Government to do more work on tackling Islamist antisemitism and corresponding groups who seek to agitate and affect the social fabric of our society.

As British Muslims, we find it unacceptable that our Jewish brothers and sisters are targeted by Islamist antisemitism. We will continue to challenge it wherever we come across it and in whichever guises it takes.

Signatories: Ghanem Nuseibeh (Chair),
Fiyaz Mughal OBE (Founder),
Haras Rafiq (Trustee),
Elizabeth Arif-Fear (Trustee),
Wasiq Wasiq (Trustee),
Rakib Ehsan (Patron),
Noor Dahri (Patron)

The post Muslims Against Antisemitism Acknowledges the Ongoing Risk from Islamist Antisemitism appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

A few weeks ago, I had the “joy” of being verbally abused online. Now, as an outspoken Muslim woman advocating for feminism, LGBT+ equality and stronger Jewish-Muslim relations, it’s nothing new.

However, what I’ve increasingly noticed is how trolls will attempt to “attack” me by using antisemitic discourse e.g. talking about my “Jewish nose” or me “being Jewish” – as though this would be a bad thing or that I’m “not really a Muslim” e.g. a liar.

Take for example the following message I received when I objected to Islamic polygamy when attempting to buy a kaftan for Eid:

“I don’t need women who does not share husband when she is after women. Sharing women with husband you must be jocking [sic] telling me 3ib [shame on you].

“Please don’t try to be smart, Islam is clean and you don’t even look 33 plus you look juwish [sic]. Don’t say you are Muslim.. Anyway I ask Allah to guide you..

“Next time tell people you like to have sex with dogs and blame Allah that made you like that.

“Like your crazy EU people do get married to anything dogs cow animals…” (Male, 40s, Algeria/UK)

Yep, biphobia, antisemitism and misogyny rolled into one. There are a lot of elements there.

And once again, I was supposed to be offended by the thought of being “Jewish”. Ridiculous.

However, this isn’t just gibberish.

What this abusive rant reveals is that not only is antisemitism present in the Muslim community (as we already know), but that we need to be aware of the intersectionality of hate.

Yes, as a woman, he was going to make sure I got knocked down for being a woman too as well as an apparent Jewish “fake (queer) Muslim”.

And this got me thinking. What are the experiences of our Jewish sisters as women in an increasingly antisemitic climate?

Well, we’d heard of the terrible abuse faced by Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rachel Riley and Luciana Berger during the election campaign. Strong, inspirational women who all faced a tirade of abuse.

A few years on, I now wanted to find out more.

Being a Jewish woman: the overlap of hate

Hate is intersectional – just as our identities are. And hate crime figures back this up.

In 2018/2019, the Home Office found that 12% of hate crimes were motivated by more than one factor. This can of course include religious identity and gender identity.

For Jewish women, misogynistic and antisemitic discourse are a sad reality – stemming from both the Far Left and increasingly the Far Right.

A recent report by Hope Not Hate (2021) explores these overlapping issues, noting how age is also a factor:

“The relationship between misogyny and racism and antisemitism is particularly concerning due to the pervasiveness of anti-feminist sentiment among young men in the UK.”

In their research of young people across the UK, they found that anti-feminist sentiment was most common amongst males. In fact, 78% of people in their research who claimed that “feminism has gone too far and makes it harder for men to succeed” were male.

At the same time, 19% of young men they surveyed parroted antisemitic negative tropes such as “Jewish people have an unhealthy control over the world’s banking system”.

This is worrying. And add to this the increase of online abuse, we need to take this seriously.

Research into online abuse of women carried out in 2017 found that 21% of respondents had experience online abuse. What’s more, 48% included misogynistic elements.

Further research into online abuse has shown that Jewish women in positions of power were 14% more likely to face abuse than their male counterparts. A further study conducted by the NGO Media Matters found that between 2015 to 2017 there was an 80% increase of posts containing both antisemitic and misogynistic abuse on the alternative platform 4Chan.

The research is there. The facts are there. And so are the lived experiences.

We need to shed light on these experiences and call the abuse out for what it is.

With that in mind, I spoke to three Jewish women about their experiences of antisemitism and misogyny. These are their stories.

—————————————————–

Nicole Lampert 

Nicole is a Jewish freelance journalist based in the UK. 

A few weeks ago, a photo of me and three other women who had vocally fought against antisemitism was posted on Twitter under the headline: “It was as a scam”. It also said: “Say hello to the GnasherJew troll group that gave you Boris Johnson”.

I know it was designed to hurt – and the popular Twitter phrase “it was a scam” about the Corbynite antisemitism claiming Jews made it up certainly does – but I just found it stupidly funny.

The sad fact is that I’ve become almost immune to antisemitic misogyny.

Left to right: Tweet targeting Nicole and colleagues, Eve Barlow speaks out against misogynistic antisemitism. 

Jewish women have always been attacked the most in the fight we have had against the far left. This is not a surprise as this group are as misogynistic as they are antisemitic.

I’ve been called a b**ch, a w***e, stupid, a witch, a baby killing apartheid-loving Zio. To counteract their hatred, I try and use what we Jews have always used: humour.

We have no choice but to laugh at them, I won’t let them win. They do this because they think it will shut us up…. They don’t know Jewish women.

Laura Marks OBE

Laura is an interfaith activist and consultant based in London specialising in Jewish-Muslim relations and interfaith social action.

She is Co-Founder of Nisa-Nashim, Founder of Mitzvah Day and Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

People say things to me as a Jewish woman that basically put me down but, they do it subtly.

An example the other week was of someone in a meeting explaining to other people there that I am Jewish and that this means that I am apparently “overprotective of my kids”.

She meant well but this is a negative stereotype and has left me struggling with what to do with such cliches.

We have endless examples at Nisa-Nashim of people talking about “powerful Jewish women”. It’s a trope and it is negative.

We are told we are “good with money” or we “look after our own” or we have “powerful networks”. Sadly, you hear it in Nisa-Nashim all the time.

Jews are good at looking after themselves/each other. They are so well connected and networked. We’ve had to be.

This stuff is deep down prejudice. It’s an interesting issue as she didn’t mean to be negative – but it was in that context as it was othering me. I keep hearing: “the Jews are so GOOD at looking after their own, and SO good getting their kids into the best universities etc.”

This “positive antisemitism” a challenge.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky

Rabbi Charley Baginsky has been involved with the Liberal Jewish movement since childhood – as both a youth leader with LJY-Netzer and an educator.

She is now the Chief Executive Officer of Liberal Judaism. She is the mother to Joshua, Eliana and Cassia.

For about as long as I can remember sexist comments, inappropriate body language and mild-mannered groping were just part of the everyday of being a woman. But there are moments when I can almost look about them nostalgically in comparison to the new levels of online abuse bestowed on women today.

Abuse against women in the public eye has never been of more concern. Not only vile, it is prolific and without question focused on women. When two minority identities (not of course that women are a minority numerically you understand) intersect the potential material for the online trolls is multiplied.

Thus, as a Rabbi who happens to be a woman (often by the way still introduced by my gender before my title – female rabbi, Charley Baginsky – can you imagine that happening to a man, “and here we have male rabbi x?!”), I regularly see the cross over between antisemitism and misogyny.

Whenever I’ve spoken on a controversial issue, I’ve received abuse. Unlike the message my male colleagues receive on social media, which are focussed on the argument itself, the comments I receive are almost always about my looks and graphic descriptions of sex.

I’ve had these tweeted to me, emailed to me and posted on forums. Almost every female rabbi and faith leader I’ve spoken to has experienced the same thing – being told they are ugly or enduring repulsive sexual comments for having the temerity to offer an opinion.

This is then combined with comments about Jewish stereotypes or the common references to the gas chambers.

In a survey by the APPG, it was demonstrated that misogyny and antisemitism can be linked and that the language used in the abuse is particularly venomous as it combines hatred of women.

There is a distinct irony that two parts of my identity that I strongly believe enhance and strengthen each other are used together for such powerful hate filled words.

—————————————————–

Standing in solidarity: What can we do?

Here at Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAAS), we see it our duty to stand up against antisemitism and support the Jewish community – including of course Jewish women.

So, how can we and you help?

Well, there’s a couple of ways you can offer support:

• Report abuse to the Community Security Trust (CST) (both online and offline)
• Send messages of solidarity to Jewish woman facing abuse
• Speak out (if safe to do so) – call out hate for what it is!
• Share this blog and help raise awareness of the issue

We stand in solidarity with our Jewish sisters – will you? 

The post Where antisemitism meets misogyny: 3 Jewish women share their stories  appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

Whilst the vast majority of British Muslims abhor the brutality and medieval nature of the Taliban, there are some who believe that the Taliban encompass a form of ‘liberation army’ that has freed Afghans from some form of colonial yoke. Not only is this laughable, it is dangerous sentiment that glosses over the acts of this murderous group that was involved in the killings of British soldiers in places like Helmand.

Anyone supporting or hinting towards support for the Taliban, will no doubt harbour some form of antisemitic sentiment or antisemitic conspiracy theories. You simply cannot support such a brutal regime which has already made clear that it will not engage with Israel, and then harbour thoughts that antisemitism is a bad thing. The two do not go together, however much some may try and undertake a form of mental gymnastics to do so. 

The sad reality is that Islamist extremist groups like the Taliban, will depressingly, inspire young men seeking some form of purpose and identity and who hold a set of grievances against the wider liberal culture of this country. It does not even have to be this deep and it could be people seeking some form of purpose and thrill, allied to the consumption of extremist antisemitic material which seeks to build up their ego through acts of violence against perceived enemies.

Such a scenario therefore does not bode well for the threat of attacks against synagogues and places of Jewish culture and life. The sad fact is that Islamist groups seem to have a fixation on Jewish communities and their threads of conspiracy theories, allied to hatred against Jews, foolishly places them as ‘victims’ and Jews as the ‘all powerful aggressors’. By any definition, it is classical antisemitism at work.

Which is why we at Muslims Against Antisemitism, believe that whilst Afghanistan may be 3,500 miles away, it is imperative that we all maintain support and vigilance for our Jewish brothers and sisters at this time. There is a heightened risk at this time and which should rouse communities to work together to stand and act in solidarity with Britain’s Jewish communities.

Which is why we say that if you come across any material that is targeted antisemitism or if you see or hear about threats against British Jewish communities, please do call 101 and report them in. You can also report incidents through to the Community Security Trust, also know as the CST. You can report here through their web-site.

Read more: We Muslims Need to Talk About Muslim Antisemitism

The post The Rise of the Taliban Inspires Islamists. In Doing So, It Raises Risks for Jewish Communities appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

We have listed just a handful of antisemitic tropes that have developed in some parts of the world with Muslim majority populations. No doubt, the Israel and Palestine conflict has exacerbated the dissemination of such tropes and hatred against Jews and this has been a major driver over the last seventy plus years in many Muslim majority countries. However, with the recent Abraham Accords, we remain hopeful that such prejudice will fall over time as Jews and Muslims mix more freely in the Middle East.

Here are some examples of language that has taken root in some Muslim communities, around how they perceive Jews.

‘Yahud’ or ‘Yahudi’: This is a term that is used in Arabic to describe people of Jewish heritage. However, it is also used pejoratively in antisemitic rhetoric in parts of Muslim majority countries. It has also been used by Islamist extremist groups seeking to cause divides between Muslims and Jews by placing the term into antisemitic tropes of ‘Jews controlling’, being ‘secretive’, exhibiting ‘supernatural powers’, or in ‘undermining Islam’;

‘Khaybar, khaybar ya yahud, jaish Muhammad Saya’ud, (Khaybar, Khaybar, O Jews, Muhammad’s army will return): This is voiced through the antisemitic prism of the historical Battle of Khaybar in 628, where Jews living near Medina in Saudi Arabia were attacked by a Muslim army on the basis that they were seeking to rebel against Muslim rule and attack Medina, the seat of Islamic administration. The statement explicitly suggests that Jews are under threat and is used in a physically threatening manner to Jewish communities. This statement has been heard in recent social demonstrations against the State of Israel, which also demonstrates how closely linked hatred to Israel is, with hatred against Jews in general.

‘Sahiuny’: This the Arabic term for Zionist and is interchangeably used by some to refer to Jews. Antisemitism is couched by individuals spouting this term as a means of promoting antisemitism, and their view may be that it is a term which provides them with some cover, since they are not explicitly mentioning Jews.

‘Blood libel’: This has been used historically by some Christian communities against Jews to expel them from European countries and when Jews were persecuted and killed. It is based on the false rumour that Jews were killing Christian children (or those of non-Muslims) and using their blood in producing unleavened bread, (flat bread – Matzah). It may have come about because of the unexplained death of Christian children in areas where Jews resided and it also plays to the toxic view that Jews killed Jesus and hence their ‘blood-thirstiness’. These tropes have historically led to the mass persecution of Jews and was also one narrative to implement the mass killing of Jews in the Holocaust.

The ‘Blood libel’ has been circulated in various forms around support for Palestinian communities by different Muslim communities. In particular, during the Intifidas or uprisings of Israeli Arabs and Palestinians between 1987 and 2004, blood libel narratives were associated with the killings of Palestinian demonstrators and those involved in the Intifada. Associations included ‘Jewish desire for blood’ and such toxic narratives, which made wipe sweeping false allegations about Jews as a whole.

It is perfectly legitimate and acceptable to support the Palestinian cause for an independent state, though layering on antisemitic narratives to support the Palestinian cause is not acceptable.

Read more: You can stand firmly against antisemitism and for Palestinian rights

The post Why We As Muslims Must Challenge Antisemitic Language Like This appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

Every year, on 27^th January, the world commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day.

Remembering the horrors of the past is essential in order to ensure to stop such tragic events from repeating themselves.

This date is particularly poignant as it marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where at least 1.1 people were murdered.

Throughout the Holocaust, Jews, Roma, members of the LGBT+ community, political prisoners, disabled individuals – the “unwanted” of the Nazi regime – were brutally and systematically killed.

Within the Jewish community, six million were murdered – simply for being Jewish.

Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where 1.1 million people were murdered.

This horror, as we say every year, is something that we must never ever forget.

And it’s because we must never forget that commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day is so important. By doing so we can remind ourselves of the dangers and injustice of antisemitism and the tragic yet all too very real reality that antisemitism did not start or end with the Holocaust.

Last year marked 75 years since the liberation of the camp (one of many). And this year sadly, we continue to see the rise in antisemitism globally – across the USA, UK, wider Europe and further afield.

Online abuse, incidents of hate crime in the street – even terrorist attacks on synagogues – are showing us that there is still so much more work that needs to be done to counter such hate.

Antisemitism in Europe today: Growing hate

Antisemitism has grown in recent years across Europe.

Back in 2018, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) conducted the largest survey worldwide on the issue of antisemitism. After concluding their research, the results were far from positive.

The study involved analysing the responses of 16,395 self-identified Jewish people (aged 16 or over) in 12 EU Member States (pre-Brexit!). This included: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (4,731 samples), as these nations are where 96% of the EU’s estimated Jewish population were living at the time.

The research found that:

• 9 out of 10 respondents believed that antisemitism had increased in their country in the last five years
• 85% consider antisemitism to be “a serious problem” – the biggest social or political problem where they live
• Antisemitism poses the biggest problem online (89%) – including on social media (compared to: within public spaces – 73%, media 71%, political life 70%)

The most common antisemitic statements used on a regular basis included:

“Israelis behave like Nazis towards Palestinians” (51%)

“Jews have too much power” (43%)

“Jews exploit Holocaust victimhood for their own purposes” (80%)

Such antisemitic slurs were found predominantly online (80%), yet also in offline media (56%) and at political events (48%).

The report finally concluded that:

• Antisemitism pervades everyday life
• Pervasive antisemitism undermines Jews’ feelings of safety and security
• Antisemitic harassment is so common that it becomes normalised
• Antisemitic discrimination in key areas of life remains invisible

In fact, the Director of FRA Michael O’Flaherty declared:

“The findings make for a sobering read. They underscore that antisemitism remains pervasive across the EU – and has, in many ways, become disturbingly normalised.”

It makes disappointing reading. What’s more, despite the results and the calls for change, we’ve continued to see the rise of antisemitic discourse and hate crime both online and offline.

The year after the report in 2019, right here in London, a rabbi was taken to hospital after being attacked during Shabbat by two teenagers who yelled “kill Jews!”. And this wasn’t the only incident.

Then in 2020, in the UK, London mayoral candidate Geeta Sidhu-Robb was suspended after she’d stated “Don’t vote for a Jew” during a previous political campaign.

And let’s not forget, with the Covid-19 pandemic itself, which has blighted our country for the last year and has now carried on into 2021, Jews became subjected to further antisemitic abuse surrounding the Coronavirus.

Referred to as a “Jewish conspiracy” (either fake or real) and “The Jew Flu”, antisemites also revelled in celebrating Jewish deaths and encouraging others to “spread the ‘Holocough’ to the Jews”.

Sadly, as we can see: antisemitic conspiracy theories, violent attacks and racist tropes continue to poison our communities and harm our Jewish brothers and sisters.

Lighting a candle: Shutting out hate

Light a candle with us this Holocaust Memorial Day.

As we near the end of January 2021 – another yet new year – we must Holocaust Memorial Day and say: “enough is enough”! And that’s why we’re calling on you to join us in lighting a candle and spreading hope and peace.

The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day this year is: Be the light in the darkness. A light in the darkness offers a ray of hope in a world of hate – a chance for change and a critical symbol of solidarity.

So this 27^th January (and beyond!), please join us in commemorating the Holocaust and committing to combatting antisemitism:

• Join us and light a candle: Share a message of solidarity with the Jewish community by tweeting a photo of your candle with the hashtags #LightTheDarkness #WeRemember and #MuslimsAgainstAntisemitism
• Learn more: Find out more about the Holocaust and educate others around you
• Stand up: Speak out when you hear/see antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories
• Join us: Get involved with MAAS and volunteer to help us in the fight against antisemitism!

Let’s all light a candle this Holocaust Memorial Day – let’s all stand up against antisemitism

Dedication

This blog is dedicated to the memory of all of those who were killed in the Holocaust. May your memories be a blessing.

Read more: With a new year comes renewed commitment to fighting antisemitism.

The post This Holocaust Memorial Day, we need to stand together against antisemitism appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

We believe that the mixing and engagement of communities is the only way to create stronger and more resilient cultural, research and economic links. This leads to less conflict in the future and there is much more that unites Muslims and Jews, than that which divides them.

We believe that greater co-operation between Muslims and Jews in the region is the only way to unlock the potential of the region and to ensure that people grow up in environments where they value difference, instead of developing barriers to it.

Which is why we hope that more countries will see dialogue as the way ahead, when conflict has brought nothing but pain to the lives of many.

Read more: Antisemitism: The trap that Muslims fall into when discussing Israel

The post Thousands of Israelis Will Visit the United Arab Emirates appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

Just when we think things couldn’t get any more shocking when it comes to antisemitism, a recent survey came out, with once again disheartening results.

Commissioned by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), the research looked into the views of millennial and Generation X adults’ (aged 18 and 35) in the USA surrounding the Holocaust.

The results revealed some disturbing realities and the need for great change when it comes to antisemitism and young people’s understanding of the Holocaust.

What realities specifically you may ask? Well, a staggering level of Holocaust denial and lack of awareness around the genocide itself.

Through the survey, researchers discovered that:

• Almost half (48%) of those asked believed that the Holocaust was a “myth”, “had been exaggerated” or “weren’t sure”
• 1 out of 8 respondents (12%) didn’t know (or thought they didn’t know) about the Holocaust

It quite frankly beggars belief that such a large percentage of the young people interviewed knew about or actively denied the biggest genocide in history.

And again, what such results show is just how important education on antisemitism and Jewish history is, as well as the need to actively campaigning against hate. For whilst this may be over the pond, here in the UK; we’re in exactly the same boat.

Holocaust denial in the UK: A sad reality

The Vernichtungslager (extermination camp) at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland.

Just last year, a poll carried out for Holocaust Memorial Day Trust revealed that 5% of adults in the UK believe that the Holocaust did not take place.

If that wasn’t enough, it was also revealed that 1 in 12 believe that the scale of the Shoah has been exaggerated.

Not so different from the USA then it seems….

Even more shocking is that just one year after the UK-based poll, we marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and commemorated as we do annually, the horrors of the Holocaust.

Such stark reminders should stand was a warning and clear message to non-Jews of just how serious antisemitism was and is, and how far hatred can lead.

However, we’re sadly seeing that for some people the Holocaust is seemingly nothing more than an ‘exaggerated myth’ (referred to as the “Holohaux”) – supposedly ‘used by Jews’ to ‘harbour sympathy for Israel’.

This, of course, is not only antisemitic and false in itself, but builds on age-old antisemitic tropes of power, money, lies and influence that have plagued Jewish communities for millennia.

Not only is this deeply hurtful and disrespectful to those who sadly died and those who thankfully survived the Holocaust and the subsequent generations, but it’s also incredibly dangerous.

Such behaviour demonises a group of people as ‘liars’, as ‘dishonest’ and ‘disingenuous’. As ‘people who can’t be trusted’ who are ‘malicious’ and essentially ‘not one of us’ (a.k.a. ‘an unwanted other’).

Yes, it’s these racist tropes that have not only hurt Jews psychologically, socially, culturally, financially and politically in day-to-day life for centuries, but also have incited hatred and violence, eventually led to the Holocaust itself.

75 years on from the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, what we crucially must remember is that when we forget the horrors of the Holocaust, we forget the suffering of an entire people.

We forget how far demonising, negative stereotyping and racist tropes can go. And we forget the need to acknowledge understand, remember and commit to #NeverAgain truly meaning never again.

In truth: when we let antisemitism fester, we lose sight of the past, the present and the future. And in particular with so much tension around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we also forget the role of Israel as a safe home for the Jewish people.

For Jewish families and communities here in the UK and worldwide, what this is all translates to is: life for Jewish people becoming harder, social cohesion diminishing and the risk of the horrors of persecution and genocide happening all over again sadly increasing too.

Let’s not be complacent. Such atrocities have taken place since the Holocaust – again and again, in Bosnia, Cambodia and Rwanda in the same very century. Already members of the British Jewish community have fled the UK to escape the increasing tide of antisemitism.  

Antisemitism in the Muslim community: Acknowledging a problem

Antisemitic tweets by a Muslim Twitter user (September 2020).

Given the results of such surveys, we must see the wider picture. It’s crucial that we do not underestimate the significance of Holocaust Denial in any context.

For whilst the results of both surveys focus on Holocaust denial itself, they’re not an anomaly. Holocaust Denial itself feeds of antisemitic tropes of power and control. And likewise, we’ve seen how these attitudes are part of a wider worrying trend.

Here in the UK – and further afield – we’re not only seeing such shocking levels of Holocaust Denial but also increasing levels of antisemitism across the board.

We’re witnessing antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories related to Covid-19 spreading across platforms such as Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram blaming Jews for the pandemic, slavery and all sorts of ills.

We’re witnessing attacks on our streets and the desecration of Jewish property. And most tragically of all, we’ve also all mourned the tragic loss of lives in Halle (Germany), Pittsburgh (USA) and at the kosher supermarket shooting in Paris in recent years as synagogues and Jewish businesses have been attacked by violent extremists.  

Enough is enough. We must tackle antisemitism head-on. And this starts with identifying the source(s).

From both ends of the political spectrum (the Far-Left and the Far-Right), we sadly all know: that has not and does not exclude the Muslim community.

Findings by the Community Security Trust and The Institute for Jewish Policy Research back in 2017 revealed that the prevalence of antisemitism was most worrying among Christians, Muslims, the Far Left and the Far Right –with Muslims particularly affected:

“…the most concern exists about Muslims and the far-left; it is considerably less pronounced about Christians and the far-right.” (2017 report)

Within the Muslim community itself, the prominent anti-Zionist journalist Mendi Hassan himself acknowledged the scale of the issue:

 “At home British Muslim attitudes are defined not just by denial but by indifference.

Few Muslims or mosques take part in the memorial day. In 2006 a Channel 4 poll found that a quarter of British Muslims didn’t know what the Holocaust was and only one in three believed it had occurred. This is scandalous. “

To be clear, this isn’t just at a grassroots level either…

In previous years, British Muslim leaders boycotted Holocaust Memorial Day believing the title of the day to be “non-inclusive” (of other atrocities) and additionally adding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the mix. With such worrying attitudes, it’s no wonder that there is so much misinformation and dis-engagement with Holocaust education and remembrance.

Now several years on, with the boycott lifted, things have improved. However, not nearly enough.

Just this week, since the recent research poll in the USA come out, I myself witnessed a series of antisemitic tweets from a Muslim man, with no sense of shame or wrongdoing. 

Combining Holocaust Denial, blood libel, and anti-Zionism in direct response to both the poll and the joyous news that a Holocaust survivor had won an Olympic gold medal (see images above), the tweeter was not even moved by the accusations of antisemitism that stood against him. No, instead his response was that of a loud and proud antisemite. 

The very fact that someone would scream such abuse towards a Holocaust survivor, in the context of raising awareness of the Holocaust and involving what is a very complex geo-political conflict in Israel-Palestine, shows just how bad the problem is and much work we’ve got to do.

Racist tropes, conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial and misinformation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are not uncommon and as Muslims: we need to change this.

Moving forward: Our commitment to fighting antisemitism

  A delegation of imams – led by Sheikh Muhammad al-Issa – with Jewish colleagues on a visit to Auschwitz concentration camp (January 2020).

It’s not easy, but here at MAAS, we’ve taken on the challenge and we’re ready to see it through.

There is a problem of antisemitism in the Muslim community and that’s exactly why MAAS was created. We’re here to call it out, to dispel myths, to educate and to build greater links between the Jewish and Muslim communities – as well as engage with policy and decision-makers. 

As Muslims, we can, we must and will fight this vile form of hatred which continues to plague our communities and wider society. From Holocaust denial, to blood libel, to racist tropes – wherever, whenever and in whatever form antisemitism takes, we’re here to fight it.

So, as the Jewish New Year looms in, to our Jewish brothers and sisters, we’d like to wish you a wonderful sweet year ahead.

We’re here loud and proud re-affirming our commitment to stand with you in the fight against antisemitism. We will never give up.

And to the antisemites in our community, we have one message: we’ll keep fighting against antisemitism. There is no place to hide. Change is slowly building, dialogue is growing and we aim to see this through.

We urge all Muslims to join us. After all: you’re either part of the problem or part of the solution…

Shanah Tovah! Happy Rosh Hashanah!

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History has shown us that a ‘perfect storm’ of conditions, including large scale unemployment, political instability, societal changes and a declining level of trust in state institutions and political structures, create the perfect environment for individuals and groups to manipulate and whip up hatred towards others. Within these conditions, in their minds, it is the ‘fault’ of minorities, or migrants or refugees, who have led to the dead-end place and sense of hopelessness that these individuals feel.

Covid has added a further layer to these dangerous conditions, and super-charged an unemployment curve that will be rising for the next year; this at a time when the impacts of Brexit are not fully clear, and when the costs of basic items continue to rise.

Depressingly, there are two communities that may well find themselves at the sharp end of individuals who seek to blame others, and having to counter political rhetoric which seeks to de-legitimise the history, feelings and experiences of both communities. Jews and Muslims may therefore find themselves, once again, at the front-line of having to counter, challenge and deconstruct narratives of hate that are sure to be woven and targeted at them, whether at a street or online level.

Now is the time for British Muslims and Jews to look ahead and to develop stronger bonds and foundations that can enhance and facilitate the local resilience of communities and provide allies who can stand together with Jews and Muslims, when these challenges arise; and they will surely arise.

Now more than ever, British Muslims and Jews need to move beyond the ‘interfaith’ and into the realm of practical support and help for one another; we need leaders bold enough to stand up in the defence of one another and willing to defend the space of mutual co-operation, trust and joint mobilisation.

There are tough times ahead, but they will be overcome quicker if we join together.

The post As the Economy Falters Post Covid, Jews & Muslims Have Joint Risks appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

Ms van der Zyl called Yaqoob’s claim that Israelis are European colonisers

“A calculated insult to the thousands who fled to Israel having survived the Holocaust and the hundreds of thousands more who arrived in Israel having been persecuted by Arab states.”

She added “no-one who refers to Jews as ‘pigs’ could possibly be considered for high office by any reputable party. Labour must withdraw her from the shortlist for West Midlands Mayor and expel her immediately.”

This was in response to a video that surfaced recently in which it has been claimed Yaqoob peddled conspiracy theories against the State of Israel and has been accused of blatant antisemitism. Yaqoob has also tweeted an article in 2013 describing in lurid antisemitic language about 10 Rothschilds bankers being arrested in Iceland. For many years’ conspiracies around the Rothschilds have been a common antisemitic trope, based on the idea of rich Jews buying political power and rigging international banking in the interests of Jews against everyone else. This has no basis in fact, but that Yaqoob promoted this on her own Twitter account raises serious questions over whether she should be anywhere near elected politics.

The issue of Yaqoob’s record on antisemitism came to the fore, when she spoke at the May 2019 Al Quds Day. This is a rally created by the Iranian regime to celebrate the Iranian revolution and run by the notoriously antisemitic Islamic Human Rights Commission in the UK. In the past this annual rally has resembled an antisemitic hate fest, where Hezbollah Flags until they were recently banned were held aloft and antisemitic comments made. Muslims Against Semitism Co-Ordinator Stephen Hoffman revealed the dubious history of Al Quds Day and its organiser here.

At the rally she questioned the legitimacy of Israel hosting the Eurovision Song Contest saying:

“For years [they] have pretended to be Europeans. The only link is they’re European colonisers.”

This is an example of antisemitism, based on presenting Jews as privileged whites who are part of the elites and use allegations of antisemitism as a tactic to shut debate down. This ignores that many Jews across the world including the UK are Mizrahi Jews, which means they come from the Middle East. There are also many Jews from the Maghreb and many black Jews. The idea that Jews are privileged white Europeans is based on a lie to promote a negative image of Jews.

Yaqoob went on to add another layer to the antisemitic tirade by referring to Israel as a pig. The pig which is not kosher has been used for years as antisemitic imagery.

Labour Against Anti-Semitism (LAAS) in response to Yaqoob stated

“It is beyond belief that she has been shortlisted as a potential candidate for the Mayor of West Midlands, a region with a proud history of tolerance and multiculturalism.”

Yaqoob is no stranger to controversy. She is already a disgraced political figure for her campaign in 2017 as the Respect Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the 2017 General Election. In this election she was pitted against the current Labour MP for Bradford West, Naz Shah.

Such was the vile nature of how Yaqoob campaigned, Shah was left feeling suicidal. and the Chief Opinion Writer for the Observer, Sonia Sodha wrote about Yaqoob’s toxic campaign in this piece.

Shah herself has spoken movingly about how she was made to feel in this Twitter thread.

A tactic Yaqoob used against Shah was to introduce sectarian politics by attempting to divide the vote along religious grounds when she made reference to Shah not wearing the hijab.

Consequently, its unsurprising surprise that Labour MP Ruth Smeeth in relation to Yaqoob joining the Party said:

“I personally think Salma Yaqoob has no place in our movement, not least because of her behaviour towards Naz Shah in 2017.”

Whilst momentum is building to expel Yaqoob from the Labour Party, it is worrying that she was even allowed to join, let alone be selected to be the next Labour Mayor for the West Midlands. Her record was a matter of public knowledge, which those in Labour in charge of choosing who should be on the short list should have been aware of.

It is important to note that Yaqoob isn’t necessarily the problem per se, but rather a symptom of the Labour Party’ lack of leadership on rising antisemitism in the party since Jeremy Corbyn became Labour Party leader in 2015. Indeed, it has become such a problem that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission is currently sifting through numerous submissions on examples of antisemitism in the Labour Party, as part of its inquiry in to antisemitism in the Labour Party.

Since Jeremy Corbyn became Labour Party leader, antisemitism has increased in the UK. Although its not solely due to the rising antisemitism in the Labour Party given the rise in far-right antisemitism, it has been a significant factor.

The Community Security Trust (CST) reported a 10% increase in antisemitic incidents in the first half of this year, totaling 892. That is the highest figure the CST has ever recorded for antisemitic incidents for the first half of the year and a 10% rise on the 810 antisemitic incidents from January to June 2018.

The highest monthly totals in the first half of 2019 were February and March, with 182 and 169 antisemitic incidents respectively. These are the joint-fourth and sixth highest monthly totals ever recorded by CST. They occurred when issues relating to Jews and antisemitism were prominent in news and politics due to the continuing controversy over antisemitism in the Labour Party.

February saw several MPs leave the Labour Party, some of whom cited antisemitism as a prominent reason for their decision.  

There was also a 46% rise in online hate against Jews compared to the first six months of 2018. High levels of online antisemitism happened during periods in which antisemitism was high on the political agenda within the Labour Party. You can see the CST report in full here.

Where Labour was once the natural home for Jews for many, it has now left many feeling homeless. In September 2018 data from polling carried out by Survation for the Jewish Chronicle showed that 85.6% of British Jews believe that there are high or very high levels of antisemitism at all levels in the Labour Party. This has risen from a similar poll for the Jewish Chronicle by Survation in 2017, where the number was 69%.

This trend of Jews feeling that antisemitism is an ongoing serious problem in the Labour Party is supported by the October 2019 poll by Survation for the Jewish Chronicle. The polling results revealed 78% of British Jews surveyed would prefer a no deal Brexit to a Jeremy Corbyn Government.

Commenting on the poll Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for Ilford North stated:

“I’m afraid this poll reflects what I hear on the doorstep in my own community, but seeing it so starkly presented is devastating – not least for significant numbers of Jews who clearly want to vote Labour but can’t because of Jeremy Corbyn

Given our very public failure to tackle antisemitism within our ranks who can blame them?”

For decades Jews were driven from their homes, massacred, portrayed as puppeteers controlling the banks, the media and global politics. Alongside these forms of antisemitism, we also see Jews being questioned if they’re Europeans, should be allowed to take part in singing competitions and referred to as pigs. We learn nothing from history if we don’t challenge this and beat it.

I firmly believe if you replace Jews with any other race there would be more outcry at what is happening in the Labour Party, but it seems too many believe that antisemitism against Jews is not as important as hate against other minorities.

If the Labour Party are serious about tackling antisemitism, it must look more closely at its leadership, which appears to be a magnet for antisemites. If, as some do, claim the leadership isn’t attracting antisemites, then it is utterly failing at tackling them. Due to this it is losing many Jewish party members and Jewish allies who abhor the grip antisemitism has over the Labour Party.

Either way, this situation is untenable and the Jewish community should not be made to feel like the Labour Party and the UK is no longer their home. Sadly, that sorry state of affairs won’t change whilst people like Salma Yaqoob are not only allowed to be members of the party, but election candidates.

Author

Wasiq is an educational and political analyst. His areas of expertise include government policy, countering hateful extremism and social cohesion.

To find out more, please visit www.wasiq.co.uk 

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 “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

IHRA Working definition of antisemitism

Since Jews lived on this earth they’ve been hated, mocked, laughed at, disliked and seen as nefarious controllers of the world just because they were Jewish. Their views, skin colour, origin, gender, economic level, gender, sexuality etc does not matter to these people, all antisemites’ see is a Jew to blame all the world’s problems, to hate, to dump all the fears of the other on.

This is why antisemitism is such as wide-ranging ideology, coming from across the political spectrum and hiding in many guises and continually metamorphosing like the three headed monster, who every time you think you have killed comes back bigger and stronger in a different guise. Jews have been blamed for capitalism and communism, greed and poverty. If something troubles you, antisemitism tells you the Jew is the eternal scapegoat.

The heart-breaking thing for me and so many Jews and non-Jewish allies fighting antisemitism is that the situation seems to be getting worse and worse. I’ve been monitoring, speaking out and attempting to root out antisemitism in the UK since 2012 and I wish I could say the situation has improved by then, but it has significantly worsened.

A report in July 2014 by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research ‘The Exceptional Case? Perceptions and experiences of antisemitism amongst Jews in the United Kingdom’ found that from 2009-2014 70% of UK Jews said antisemitism had grown. Then there were the problems those Jews faced who were observant. The report discovered that 60% of Jews who were traditionally observant sometimes avoided public display of Jewishness such as wearing a kippar.

In 2018 the Community Security Trust – which is monitors antisemitic crime incidents across the UK recorded a record 1,652 antisemitic incidents, a 16% rise on the 1,420 incidents recorded in 2017.

These are all statistics but behind them are personal stories like mine.

I was born in 1990. When I was around 5 to 6 being Jewish was great. I ate cool food at Jewish festival. I also had lots of non-Jewish friends who found it cool I was Jewish.

By the age of 7, being Jewish became a burden, as I was bullied simply for being Jewish. Its this bullying which to this day has robbed me of a lot of self-belief and I believe is a key reason why I am so susceptible to depression. The bullying continued till secondary schools and I did react in ways that did not help. I didn’t want to be Jewish, all it caused me was problems.

There were still some fantastic times, when I felt blessed being Jewish. I still remember the wide grin encompassing my whole face on my Bahmitzvah aged 13 (A ceremony when a Jewish man come of age). Reading from the Torah, I felt the presence of God and the loving embrace of my family and friends who had come to experience the joy of my Bahmitsvah.

Age 14 to 16 was tough. Alongside, all the teenage hormones which can make life nightmarish, I spent lots of time desperately trying to fit in with ‘the cool kids’ by hiding my Jewishness and if pressed making a joke of it. I went along with the antisemitic taunts masquerading as banter, which were like a dagger to my heart, but which I greeted outwardly with a nervous smile and a hollow laugh. Most of the jokes were around Jews being money grabbers, selfish and greedy. There was the ubiquitous dropping of coins and jokes about Jews getting sweaty in banks with all the money around. Sometimes it got sinister, the idea that Jews were in charge of the world – and given that why was I not rich. I tried to convince myself it was all banter.

At 16 I moved to a new school and resolved to never hide my Jewishness again. Its an important part of my identity and I will always be proud of being Jewish. Throughout university even when I saw antisemitism at Leeds University where I studied, I never again hid my identity.

At the age of 22 when I entered the world of work, I saw how antisemites would pretend they were anti-Zionist, but in their anti-Zionism frequently expressed antisemitic tropes. Terms like ZioShill, ZioNazi and Rothschild Zionist were the latest word accessory for antisemites.

The last two years have been a living hell for me when it comes to antisemitism. Every week I monitor pro-Corbyn Facebook Groups and Far-Right Facebook groups. The sewer of antisemitism which I monitor and record, is like an open sewer in these groups. Jews are all called disloyal, Zios, smear merchants, liars, part of a global Rothschild or Soros, whingers, string pullers, warmongers and much more. Indeed, what I’ve recorded goes to 100s of pages. It makes me feel as a British Jew that I am under attack and unwelcome in the country and I am not alone as one of over 300,000 Jews living in Great Britain feeling like this.

I hope I have given you a small insight in to the human impacts of antisemitism and why as fellow humans, we need the Muslim community to be #ActiveAllies in combatting antisemitism, as you should expect of the Jewish community when it comes to Islamophobia.

About Stephen Hoffman

Stephen is a young British Jew with a passion for writing and speaking out against intolerance.

From a young age, Stephen has been interested in the world and people around him. It is this which leads him to want to work to bring people together to challenge prejudice.

As a student at Leeds University, Stephen was active in the Jewish society and since graduation, he has held a number of roles including working in UK Parliament for an MP and for a variety of campaigning groups, which has involved him monitoring and campaigning against antisemitism and other forms of hate.

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