*ACTION ALERT* Monday Jan 3rd 2022
A London barrister has made some appalling remarks about Zionism which contravene the International Definition Of Antisemitism.
Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) made a complaint to the Bar Standards Board - which has rejected the complaint.
It's time to show the Bar Standards Board that we will not just sit quietly and let this continue.
Franck Magennis is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers in London.
In December 2020, he tweeted that “Zionism is a kind of racism. It is essentially colonial. It has manifested in an apartheid regime calling itself ‘the Jewish state’ that dominates non-Jews, and particularly Palestinians. You can’t practice anti-racism at the same time as identifying with, or supporting, Zionism.”
This deceitful demonising of the Jewish state IS antisemitic.
The British Government and the Judicial College have adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.
We all need to contact the Bar Standards Board and enlighten them. Let's also write to Garden Court Chambers and make a formal complaint about this barrister
-How to complain to the Bar Standards Board:
https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/ask-us-a-question-or-report-a-concern-landing.html
EMAIL THEM WITH THE COMPLAINT: contactus@barstandardsboard.org.uk
COMPLAIN TO GARDEN COURT CHAMBERS: info@gclaw.co.uk
This is the email we have sent to the chambers (and a similar one to the Bar Standards Board)- feel welcome to use it/tweak it/change it:
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to make a formal complaint about one of your barristers.
Franck Magennis has been using social media in order to make objectively anti-Jewish remarks. In 2020, Magennis produced tweets which lied about and maligned the Jewish state.
This contravenes the International Definition of Antisemitism which has - as you will of course know - been adopted by the British government and Judicial College.
In December 2020, Magennis tweeted that “Zionism is a kind of racism. It is essentially colonial. It has manifested in an apartheid regime calling itself ‘the Jewish state’ that dominates non-Jews, and particularly Palestinians. You can’t practice anti-racism at the same time as identifying with, or supporting, Zionism.”
This is clearly nonsense. Zionism is no different to Muslim nationalism for example - except that in Israel Jews, Christians and Muslims are all free to worship and live freely. Christians are in fact only safe and free in Israel whereas across the Middle East they are being attacked and discriminated against. In Israel, Gay people are safe which is more than can be said for most other Middle Eastern countries.
The notion that Zionism can be equated with apartheid is in itself racist - given that by any objective standard it is deceitful. Jews and non Jews in Israel attend the same schools and colleges, visit the same hospitals, and work and study together. They are subject to the same legal processes and enjoy the same opportunities. To describe this as 'apartheid' is a verifiable lie.
Moreover, Zionism is in fact the opposite of 'colonialism'. It represents the indigenous people of Judea, now Israel - i.e. the Jews - restoring our national homeland, where we have lived continuously for over 3000 years. British control of Palestine was colonialism, not Jews living in the Jewish homeland.
I note that Mr Magennis apparently has no problem with any of the Islamic nations and the way in which non Muslims are discriminated against in the majority of these states.
He clearly has a bias and this renders him, and by extension your Chambers, an unsafe option for any Jew who may be seeking a reliable barrister.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Tabatha Caplan
Action On Antisemitism
actiononantisemitism.org