UK
Meet the London plumber who will not unblock your toilet if you are a Zionist
The London plumbing firm left a potential customer ‘shocked and upset’
July 2, 2024 10:45
The London plumbing firm left a potential customer ‘shocked and upset’
July 2, 2024 10:45A Jewish woman in London was left “shocked and upset” when a plumber rejected her request for a repair because she did not support the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
AWG Plumbing and Heating, which is based in Mayfair and should not be confused with AGW Heating, Plumbing and Electrical, based in Hendon, claims online that every member of the company undergoes “rigorous training to ensure they meet the highest standards in gas and plumbing services”.
But when the woman contacted the firm, a staff member who gave his name as Adam replied by text: “I won’t be able to provide you any services as we’re trying to VET all of our customers in the present climate and it appears that you opposed the BDS movement and give cover to the state of Israel as you a part [sic] of the law makers in this country.
"So for this reason, we can no longer offer our services and would therefore no longer like to be contacted."
The BDS campaign, which is modelled after the movement against South African apartheid, was launched in 2005 to end Israel’s occupation of the Palestinians.
It calls for individuals and businesses to cut ties with the Jewish state and divest from its economy.
After she was denied service because she did not support the campaign, the Jewish customer said: “I was extremely shocked and upset. I couldn’t believe it had happened to me in this country.”
When contacted by the JC, Adam said AWG does not refuse to serve people because they support Israel, but do if they support Zionism or genocide.
While he would not investigate the views of “Joe Bloggs,” he claimed, he does research customers with a public profile to examine their position on Israel.
“We worry that antisemitism and anti-Zionism are being conflated and worry we’d be criminalised for our views,” Adam said of AWG’s staff.
"We have a personal relationship with all our clients, that’s one of the great things about interacting with different people.”
Lobby group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) have since reported AWG to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
They say the company is in breach of section 29 of the Equality Act 2020, which prohibits firms from discriminating against potential customers on the basis of protected characteristics that include religion and philosophical belief.
"AWG discriminated against the customer on the grounds that she supported the State of Israel and opposed BDS. In other words, because she is a Zionist,” UKLFI director Caroline Turner wrote.
"In addition, since a higher number of Jews than of other religious groups are Zionists, AWG was also indirectly discriminating against people of the Jewish religion.
“Therefore AWG is demonstrating discrimination against Jews and Zionists.”