April 2010 — Criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism, rules sheriff – Herald Scotland | News | Crime & Courts

Criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism, rules sheriff

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• Aamer Anwar: judgment “impacts on civil liberties in Scotland”

BRIAN DONNELLY

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9 Apr 2010

A sheriff has ruled that criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism after Palestinian protesters disrupted a recital of the Jerusalem String Quartet in Edinburgh.

Prosecutors had claimed that the actions of five members of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign were racially aggravated when they interrupted the performance.

They had cried out “they are Israeli army musicians … end genocide in Gaza … boycott Israel”.

However, throwing out the charges yesterday, Sheriff James Scott said human rights legislation would be worthless if people on a public march “designed to protest against a state and its army” were afraid to name the state for fear of being charged with racially aggravated behaviour.

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A sheriff has ruled that criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitism after Palestinian protesters disrupted a recital of the Jerusalem String Quartet in Edinburgh.