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Antisemite Gilad Atzmon banned from performing with rock band The Blockheads at Islington venue
The council said the Jazz musician had been banned following a complaint
December 18, 2018 16:58
The council said the Jazz musician had been banned following a complaint
December 18, 2018 16:58Gilad Atzmon, the notorious antisemite, has been banned from performing with rock band The Blockheads on Friday night after a complaint to the local council.
Islington Council said the jazz musician, who is known for challenging Holocaust denial legislation, had been banned following a complaint from a member of the Jewish community.
He was due to perform at the council-owned Islington Assembly Hall.
In a statement, a Islington Council said the concert would go ahead with Mr Atzmon. It said it had revisited its decision to ban him from performing after a threat of legal action but reaffirmed the decision last week.
Mr Atzmon appealed and the council rejected his appeal on Monday.
The council's statement said: “Under the 2010 Equality Act, the Council must, in exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to foster good relations between different races and religions within the borough.
“The council took account of the fact that Mr Atzmon’s presence at the hall, and knowledge of his presence among residents of the borough, might harm such relationships, as well as the council’s duty to tackle prejudice and promote understanding within the borough.”
Stephen Silverman, director of investigations and enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Gilad Atzmon is a notorious antisemite who makes extensive and frequent use of social media to broadcast his hateful views about Jews to the public.
"Antisemites must be made to suffer the consequences of their racism.
“In banning Mr Atzmon from playing in its borough, Islington Council has taken a commendable stance that upholds the principle of zero tolerance for antisemitism, and shown admirable solidarity with the Jewish community.”
Earlier this year, Mr Atzmon was forced to deliver an apology in the High Court to CAA chairman Gideon Falter, whom he accused of profiting from fabricating antisemitic incidents.
The CAA said Mr Atzmon's attack on the CAA was in response to its efforts to have the jazz saxophonist banned from music venues.
Mr Atzmon recently had to plead for donations, saying the libel case had left him with a "hole in my pocket" of "around £40,000".
A Board of Deputies spokesperson said: “We welcome this decision by Islington Council. We have been in contact with the council about Gilad Atzmon’s history and we believe this to be the right call.”
Mark Gallaher, a member of The Blockheads, said he was “outraged” at Islington Council's decision.
Mr Gallaher told the Jewish News: “Everyone may not agree with Gilad but, in this country, he is supposed to have the right to air his opinions freely and encourage open discussion on matters that are important to him.”
