Almost one thousand antisemitic incidents in Britain in 2009 according to new report

Nine hundred and twenty four antisemitic incidents were recorded in Britain in 2009 by the Community Security Trust (CST).

This is the highest total since its records began in 1984. Many incidents were recorded during and after the conflict between Israeli and Hamas forces in Gaza.

One hundred and twenty four of the incidents involved violence, and forty four involved "direct threats to people or property."

Some of the most violent incidents include a man being rammed with a car after leaving a synagogue in a mobility vehicle and an attempted arson attack on the home of a rabbi.

Antisemitic attacks have also occured at schools and universities.

In one school, a 12-year-old pupil was attacked by a group of 20 fellow schoolchildren, who pulled her hair and shouted: "Death to the Jews, kill all Jews."

Synagogues have been daubed with graffiti and even covered with bacon, which the Jewish faith regards as an unclear meat.

Recently, Facebook has removed a group, alleged to have over 500 members, boasting of antisemitic attacks on Jews in Ilford, North-East London.

Response to the Community Security Trust report:

Some commentators on a Guardian column by CST worker Mark Gardner have been highly critical of the report. alronfl, for example, comments: "Not a mention of zionism in the entire article. A disingenuous obfuscation. The vast majority are antizionist, not antisemitic - and there is a huge difference."

The report says: "The distinction between antisemitic and anti-Israel activity is often subtle and is subject to much heated debate and disagreement.

"Clearly, it is incorrect to define all anti-Israel activity as antisemitic in content or motivation, yet it is also clear that much contemporary antisemitism is expressed within the framework of, or is motivated by, extreme feelings over the Israel/Palestine issue."

Gordon Brown has told the Jewish Chronicle that: "Whether online, on campus or on the streets, there is absolutely no place for racism or discrimination of any sort and the CST has my wholehearted support."

John Mann MP, chair of the Parliamentary Committee against Antisemitism, said: "This report makes for disturbing reading. While incident figures continue to climb, we must do all we can to ensure such hatred is met with our determination to stop it. This underlines the need for all the recommendations of our All-Party Inquiry report to be implemented without delay."

Brett from Harry's Place makes an excellent comment on the use of Israel's actions in Gaza as an excuse for antisemitism:

"Even so, the question remains why British Jews - of all religious or ethnic minorities - alone are targeted in connection with foreign events. People do not rampage through Soho’s China Town smashing the windows of Chinese shops whenever there’s some incident in Tibet. There are some fantastic Persian restaurants in West London, surrounded by shops and bakeries of an Iranian flavour. I doubt any of them felt they had to board up their windows during the recent unrest in Iran.

But Jews, particularly those who appear ‘visibly’ Jewish, have to go on the alert if violence erupts over 3,500 km away."

Community Safety Trust Antisemitic Incidents Report 2009 (PDF)

London demonstration in solidarity with the Iranian people on Thursday 11th February

Oppose the oppression of the Iranian people, including the recent executions of Arash Rahmanipour and Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, by demonstrating outside the Iranian embassy in Londonthis Thursday.

The protest will take place from 4pm to 8pm at 16 Prince's Gate,SW7 1PT.

Nearest tubes are Knightsbridge and South Kensington. Use Transport for London's Journey Planner to find the best way there.

Iran Solidarity says:

"Every year on 11 February the Islamic Republic of Iran celebrates its ‘Islamic Revolution's Victory Day’ in memory of the events in 1979. This year however, instead of the usual state-sponsored demonstrations, millions of Iranians are coming out onto the street to protest for their human rights and their freedom!

You can help the people in Iran right here and right now in their struggle to free themselves from an oppressive dictatorship. Show up and show your solidarity right here in London!"

The 29 January protest attracted a large crowd and sent a powerful message, let's hope the 11 February demo will be an even greater sign to the Iranian regime!

Gay rights supporter arrested in Malawi

Police in Blantyre,South Malawi have arrested twenty-one year old Peter Sawali for putting up posters saying "gay rights are human rights" .

Sawali is charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, according to the BBC.

Police spokesperson Dave Chingwalu commented: "We are still investigating because we believe there is a chain of people who were working with Sawali...We cannot rule out international sponsors because of the quality and the quantity of the posters. They might even have been produced outside."

Today also marks the next hearing of Malawi gay couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who have been awaiting trial on charges of homosexuality.

The Malawi Gay Rights Movement (Magrim) plans to hold demonstrations against their continued detention.

Appeal launched for Iranian journalists Behrang Tonekaboni and Kayvan Farzin

Amnesty International has launched an appeal for Behrang Tonekaboni and Kayvan Farzin, two music journalists who were detained in Iran last month.

The pair were arrested at the offices of Farhang va Ahang, the music magazine they work for, on January 5.

Behrang Tonekaboni's mother Lily Farhadpour, a journalist and member of Iranian NGO Mothers for Peace, was arrested on 20 January.

Behrang called his family following his detention, but was not allowed to say where he was being held.

He has asthma and a heart condition, so needs regular medication.

Amnesty International is urging people to write to the Iranian authorities, urging them to reveal why the three prisoners are being held and where they are.

Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, commented:

"We’re seriously concerned for the safety of Behrang, Kayyan, Lily and countless others. The crackdown on dissent and free speech since Iran’s disputed election has been brutal and we’ve received many reports of torture.

"All three should be protected from torture and allowed access to their families, lawyers and the medical assistance that they need.

"And if they are being held solely for the peaceful expression of their views, they should be released immediately. The Iranian authorities have no right to lock people up just for speaking their minds."

In related news, the BBC reports that sixteen people are on trial over anti-government protests in December, five of which face the death penalty.

Journalist Ngwe Soe Lin jailed by Burma for working for foreign media

Ngwe Soe Lin, a Burmese journalist who worked for the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma, has been sentenced to thirteen years in prison for violating immigration laws and the Electronics Act, according to the BBC.

The Electronics Act bans Burmese citizens from using the Internet to send information that is critical of the ruling junta to foreign audiences.

Ngwe Soe Linn was arrested in June 2009 and has been held in Insein prison, where he was sentenced last week, after a two month interrogation.

Burma is an extremly repressive country, with state censorship of the media and a ban on most foreign journalists. The Burma Media Campaign claims that fourteen journalists were imprisoned in 2009.

Bob Dietz, the Committee to Protect Journalists’s Asia program coordinator, commented: "The harsh sentencing of Ngwe Soe Lin is part of a continued crackdown by Burma’s junta following the large anti-government protests in September 2007.

"Adding his name to the list of at least nine other journalists being held behind bars in Burma is an indicator of how brutal the government’s attitude toward silencing the press has become over the years"

The Democratic Voice of Burma is initating a campaign for the release of all its journalists who have been jailed.

Fellow DVB journalist Hla Hla Win was jailed for twenty years in 2009 after providing video for the organisation.

More information at the DVB site.

The crazy world of Greater Manchester justice

It is my view that the sentence a criminal gets should reflect the damage he has caused to the human rights of a victim as well as the risk he poses to the general public.

I would question how Bolton Crown Court, which sentences art forger Shaun Greenhalgh to four years and eight months yet sentences rapist Ajmal Afridi to just six years (while another present,Mustafa Arshad, who filmed the rape only recieved eight months), fits into this view.

I do not justify art fraud, but I wonder if Mr Greenhalgh could have been punished in the community while a dangerous criminal could have been placed in his cell.

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Uzbek photographer Umida Akhmedova accused of defamation

One of the most unusual accusations of defamation I have heard comes from the Uzbeistan authorities.

They have charged photographer Umida Akhmedova with this crime, which in Uzbekistan carries a maximum penalty of three years' remedial work or six months'detention, after investigating her 2007 book Men and Women fron Dawn to Dusk, produced with support by the Swiss Embassy in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital.

The authorities claimed that: "Looking at the pictures, a foreigner who had not seen Uzbekistan comes to the conclusion that this is a country where people live in the Middle Ages. The author intentionally focuses on life’s hardships", according to the independent regional news site Ferghana.

Ms Akhemdova is currently awaiting trial, and is banned from leaving the country. She has been accused of insulting the "traditions of the Uzbek people, which is viewed as defamation, scornful, and disrespectful attitude towards national traditions."

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova commented: "We call on the authorities in Tashkent to drop the absurd charges against Umida Akhmedova at once.It is unthinkable that a documentarian should go to prison because the state interprets her work as insulting."

"I am not scared of being prosecuted but hope they will spare the people I have documented and worked with." Akhemedova told the CPJ.

It has been suggested by some Uzbek bloggers that the defamation claim may only be a smokescreen, according to Global Voices:

Many believe that the main reason for prosecution of photographer Umida Akhmedova is her active civil position. Albatrossdoc writes (russian) that Umida Akhmedova and her husband Oleg Karpov (director of Tashkent Film Museum) were way too active for Uzbekistan - making films, photos and showing social topical movies in the Film Museum.

Albatrossdoc guesses that there could be people, who didn’t like it. The Museum has been closed for the last three months and no official explanation was given.

Sign the petition supporting Umida Akhmedova.

Via Mick Hartley.