The controversial IHRA working definition of antisemitism with its examples is increasingly being misused to silence and/or criminalise critics of Israeli government policies that clearly violate Palestinian human rights.
To raise awareness and encourage debate on the subject, ATUC is hosting a screening of the 2019 documentary film and a panel discussion featuring John Pullman (Director), Sarah Glynn (Scottish Jews Against Zionism), and Barney Crockett (Aberdeen Lord Provost (invited)).
In 2018, Palestinian civil society issued a call urging UK labour movement and trade unions to reject the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, recognising that the examples used in this non-legally binding definition are increasingly being used to silence and/or criminalise criticism of Israeli government policies that clearly violate Palestinian human rights. Some ATUC delegates have experienced such attempts, and ATUC are taking a motion on this important issue to this year’s STUC.
To raise
awareness and open up debate locally around this subject, ATUC is hosting a
screening of the 2019 film ‘Witch
Hunt’, followed by a panel discussion. The film’s
director Jon Pullman will be taking part, as will Sarah Glynn from Scottish
Jews for a Just Peace/ Scottish Jews Against Zionism. Lord Provost Barney
Crockett has also been invited to take part in the panel discussion, particularly
relevant given that in 2019, ACC accepted the controversial IHRA definition
plus examples.
This free public event will be held on Tuesday 25th Feb, 7-9pm in the Belmont Filmhouse, Belmont Street, Aberdeen.
WitchHunt
In 2015, while the far right was gaining ground around the
world, socialist MP Jeremy Corbyn was elected as leader of the UK Labour Party
in a landslide victory. Accusations of antisemitism within the party
immediately began to circulate. Well-known anti-racists and left-wing Jews,
such as Jackie Walker, were amongst the chief targets.
WitchHunt sets out to investigate the stories and the people
behind the headlines, examining the nature of the accusations. Is this a witch
hunt, as some claim? If so, who is behind it, and what is the political purpose
of such a campaign? Has the media failed in its duty to fairness and accuracy
in reporting on such serious allegations?
Through a series of interviews, analysis and witness testimony,
WitchHunt explores the connections between the attacks on Labour, the ongoing
tragedy of Palestine and the wider struggle against race-based oppression. It
argues that if it is to mean anything at all, the fight against racism
must be a shared one that includes all
peoples.Jon Pullman
Writer and activist Jon Pullman first began
shooting and producing films on local social justice issues in Scotland before
widening the focus more internationally.
http://jonpullman.com/Read more about the Palestinian call here:
https://aberdeentuc.blogspot.com/2019/07/atuc-endorse-call-from-palestinian.html