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!

The post With a new year comes renewed commitments – Including fighting Holocaust denial appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.

Holohoax is essentially holocaust denial. Proponents of it would suggest that it is a debate over historical facts, whereas bad faith actors would use it as a tool against Jews, to harm and frustrate Jewish communities and erase a significant part of their history. According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) non legally binding working definition of antisemitism, holocaust denial would be considered antisemitic. Therefore, tackling the Holohoax narrative seems quite simple. Adopt the IHRA definition and use it as a basis to evict such views that are not conducive to the public good. But that is easier said than done.

In a recent report from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue (ISD)  – ‘Hosting the ‘Holohoax’: A Snapshot of Holocaust Denial Across Social Media’ – Jacob Ghul and Jacob Davey look at the role major social media platforms play in both tackling this scourge and also, providing it with a warm home. According to the executive summary, Facebook has 36 pages or groups that are either dedicated to or host Holocaust denial content. What is perhaps not so surprising is the diverse profile of such groups.

In breaking down and identifying the groups, the ISD report concludes that nine of the groups were considered to be of the ‘extreme-right’, whereas seven were anti-Zionist. Furthermore, five were pro-Palestine and one was an Islamist page. Mirroring that, there was also one Christian community that engaged in holocaust denial, as well as 13 conspiracy theorist communities which also hosted such content. Prima facie the diversity of these groups highlights that holocaust denial is perhaps less of an issue found in extreme right circles, but rather one that has managed to find itself in abodes of those that see Jews as the enemy.

Worryingly it is not just that diversity is found between the groups dedicated or hosting holocaust denial, it is that four major social media platforms are inconsistent in their approach to tackling it. Facebook, Reddit, Twitter and YouTube have all found themselves hosting the holohaux. This, the authors contend, is a blind spot that needs tackling.

Whilst Twitter – in comparison to Facebook – is better at removing such content, it is not done on the basis of the content itself, but rather images of such content. Furthermore and in regards to Facebook, with their insistence on freedom of speech, holocaust denial in the form of the holohoax, finds itself in an unchallenged arena. Strikingly, due to Facebook’s algorithm, the more you click onto such content, the more likely you will be led towards other content similar in nature.

In the case of Reddit and YouTube, both social media platforms tackle holocaust denial slightly better. Reddit has introduced what is known as ‘quarantining’. This is where content that either promotes hoaxes, or is not verifiable or falsifiable is therefore not accidentally accessed by users who have no interest in it. YouTube on the other hand have updated their hate speech policies. Since 2019, content that denies ‘well documented violent events’ such as the holocaust are banned.

It is clear that neither platforms mentioned are perfect in eradicating hate speech. Facebook is the main culprit that doesn’t see an issue with holocaust denial on the grounds of freedom of speech and freedom of belief. Yet such freedoms have a detrimental impact on an already persecuted minority of people. So, the question of free speech and belief appears to be a red herring. The question should really be, what responsibility does Facebook take for providing such hate a home to reside in?

Holocaust denial – according to the IHRA definition – is antisemitic. It is a form of hate speech against a minority of people that already suffer from discrimination and racism. That even in 2020, when the world is still learning to deal and manage a global pandemic, social media companies are allowing conspiracy theories to live rent free on their websites, should be a matter of shame. Everyone has a right to believe and say what they want, but it is for these social media companies to ensure that if such beliefs or speech promote hate, then they too are complicit and by definition, antisemitic. That is surely not what any of them would want.

The author, Wasiq, is a trustee of Muslims of Muslims Against Antisemitism

The post The strange case of the ‘Holohoax’: How social media is providing a warm home to conspiracy theories appeared first on Muslims Against Antisemitism.