The trial of 5 Scottish Paleatinian Solidarity Campaign activists has been adjourned until January.
The 5 were charged following a non-violent protest during a performance by the Jesrusalem Quartet in Edinburgh in August 2008.
Unbelievably the 5 were charged with “racism” for their actions. At the trial in Edinburgh this week, the Sherriff heard evidence from the defence that criticism of Israel is not racist, and that the charge is not competent.
The trial was adjourned until January after the BBC refused to hand over their audio recording of the concert (and the activists interventions) without a court order.
See press release from SPSC below:
Racist BNP “full square behind” Israel;
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign members on trial for 'racism' Thurs + Fri 5th + 6th Nov, 9.30am, Edinburgh Sherriff Court
While the racist BNP proudly proclaims its support for Israel
(1) and its massacres in Gaza, and the UN Human Rights Council has made it clear that Israel should be prosecuted
(2) for “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity”, SPSC campaigners face trial for racism over their Aug 2008 non-violent boycott protest of Israeli state-sponsored cultural ambassadors, the Jerusalem Quartet
(3). The Israeli musicians, in the words of their admirers, believe that 'a rifle in one hand and a violin in the other is the ultimate Zionist statement.'
(4) On Thursday and Friday this week, the Sherriff will hear evidence from the prosecution witnesses, and hear arguments from the defence that criticism of Israel is not racist, and that the charge is not competent. Help us fight the move to criminalise boycott and criticism of Israel. The same British authorities who support the siege of Gaza are working to stifle Israel's critics here.
Even if you can only be there for 10 minutes to show your support, please meet outside the court at 9.30am each day, and stay for as little or as long as you can.---------------
Ruth Smeed, spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews:‘The BNP website is now one of the most Zionist on the web - it goes further than any of the mainstream parties in its support of Israel’.
Jewish Chronicle report (5):“BNP leader Nick Griffin told the entire country on Question Time that the BNP was the only party to support Israel in its war "against the terrorists" during Operation Cast Lead. “This was possibly the worst public relations blow to Israel in this country since Operation Cast Lead itself - or possibly longer. Mr Griffin has just ensured that anyone who supports Israel, or its right to defend itself, will be immediately associated with the BNP. It will take 10 years to shake off.”
“Israel might argue that it needs to take its friends where it can find them - and over the years, out of a position of isolation, it has cooperated with and even endorsed many dubious, objectionable and even racist individuals and regimes, such as apartheid South Africa.” Marion Woolfson
“Anyone who stands up for Palestinians is automatically accused of being ‘anti-Semitic’. I am Jewish and proud to be Honorary President of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, an anti-racist group that opposes Israeli apartheid.”
1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/8321910.stm 2. http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2990:17-oct-2009-israel-could-face-prosecution-for-war-crimes&catid=255&Itemid=100345 3. http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_sectionex&view=category&id=46&Itemid=200204 4. http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/980619/musician.shtml 5. http://www.thejc.com/blogpost/bnp-leader-nick-griffin-friend-israel