Jewish leader in Belfast ‘scared' of rise in anti-Semitism following outpouring of support for Kneecap
A Jewish leader in Belfast has expressed fears about rising anti-Semitism following an outpouring of support for Kneecap after footage emerged allegedly showing a band member expressing support for Hamas and Hezbollah.
Michael Black (76) branded the Irish rap group's alleged comments at two separate gigs in November 2023 and 2024 as 'abhorrent' and dismissed the group's apology as 'pathetic".
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dawn French sparks backlash after filming peculiar video about October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel
Dawn French has sparked a ferocious backlash after describing the October 7 attacks unleashed by Hamas terrorists on Israel as 'a bad thing' during a bizarre social media rant. The Vicar of Dibley star, 67, posted to X discussing her thoughts on the 'nuanced' situation in Israel and Gaza. Adopting a baby-like voice, French appeared to belittle supporters of Israel's actions amid the ongoing war against Hamas. During the 40-second video, the actress can be heard saying: 'Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no,' inferring that Israel should cease its military campaign. The British comedian then adopted more infantile tones as she gave an impression of those with opposing views to her own. 'Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to we want that we have history… Those people aren't really even people, are they?' she can be heard saying in a whining manner. At the end of each statement French returns to her natural voice and emphatically says 'No'. Critics have seized upon the video, which has racked up 4.7million views since it was first posted on Thursday, and accused French of 'mocking' the events of October 7. Actress and playwright Tracy-Ann Oberman, who is Jewish, said she was 'saddened' by the post. 'This mocking voice 'bad thing' of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears to be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack involving rape, sexual violence, burning alive child, mutilation and the taking of civilian hostages. 'Why would Dawn seem to deny that which has affected so many of us personally in the most painful way possible. 'I can mourn the horrors of the war in Gaza whilst also remembering the horrors of what started it. 'Is this how most of our industry feels now – Oct 7 was a 'little thing'? NO!' Former MP and author Louise Mensch accused French of having a 'chuckle and chunter'. She said: 'A 'bad thing'? Rapes, murders, torture, strangled a couple of infants, etc etc, so let's have a good chuckle and chunter, shall we Dawn? 'But the saddest thing about this post is not its casual cruelty, but that you think you're a progressive. You're not.' Former MP and author Louise Mensch accused French of having a 'chuckle and chunter' Meanwhile comedy screenwriter and activist Lee Kern said French had 'sneeringly mocked' the October 7 massacre. He wrote: 'I imagine you think you are moral and righteous and taking a stand against pain and suffering. 'But not only do you remain intellectually incurious about who the architect of all this suffering is, (Hamas), not only do you fail to say NO to them in front of your audience and condemn them for their retention of the hostages, use of human shields, fighting from hospitals, schools and civilian proactively broadcast - with misplaced pride - a wicked glee in your mockery and dismissal of Jewish suffering, pain and death...' French later responded to Oberman's post to emphasise she did not 'support the atrocities of Oct 7th.' She wrote: 'I do not say 'a little thing'. In NO WAY do I support the atrocities of Oct 7th. Of course not. Appalling. Horrific. 'But starving innocent children is not the answer. NO is the answer to ALL of it Tracy.' Israel has been waging a military campaign in Gaza since Hamas' brutal massacre on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were murdered and 251 taken hostage. At least 20 of the remaining 56 hostages still held by Hamas are thought to be alive. According to official Hamas figures, at least 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. The Israeli military issued an evacuation order on Friday for residents of parts of Gaza City ahead of an attack that 'will strike all areas from which rockets are launched'. Israel has recently stepped up its campaign in Gaza in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas amid growing international calls for a negotiated ceasefire.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Crass' cops slammed for playing ‘snog, marry, kill' with mugshots of local call girls and felons
Read on to find out how playing the popular game could land you in trouble COP QUIZ FURY 'Crass' cops slammed for playing 'snog, marry, kill' with mugshots of local call girls and felons Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LAYING 'snog, marry, avoid' with colleagues at work could be sexual harassment, a tribunal has ruled. The 'crass' and 'inappropriate' game may breach the Equality Act, an Employment judge said. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up The risqué quiz involves naming three people and then asking a person to pick which one you would like to kiss, which one you would get married to and which one you would steer clear of altogether. In the BBC hit comedy Gavin and Stacey, Pam, Mick, Gavin and Smithy played a version of it featuring celebrities during a car ride from Essex to Wales. However, the tribunal found it may break workplace laws. The ruling came in the case of a police officer who sued Derbyshire Police after a female colleague involved him in the game — using mugshots of sex workers. The officer candidly admitted to the tribunal that she had 'jokingly' played the game with co-workers and included PC Shafarat Mohammed in their discussion. PC Mohammed claimed that during the discussion in May or June 2022 he was only shown images of black women and was asked what he liked about one of them. He said he was 'embarrassed' and 'offended' by the questioning and felt it was inappropriate. The tribunal judge said: 'We agree that the questions were inappropriate.' However, the tribunal found there was no racial or religious element to it as the sex workers were of varying ethnicities. PC Mohammed lost his case for racial and religious discrimination and harassment. Two top cops accused of mocking a colleague's Irish accent in 'grossly offensive' leaving video
BreakingNews.ie
6 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
BBC Bargain Hunt expert jailed over art sales to ‘Hezbollah financier'
A BBC Bargain Hunt art expert who failed to report a series of high-value art sales to a man suspected of financing militant group Hezbollah has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, sold artwork worth around £140,000 (€166,191) to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for the Lebanese organisation. Advertisement Ojiri, of Brent, north London, previously pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. He is believed to be the first person to be charged with the specific offence. One of the invoices Oghenochuko Ojiri sent to Nazem Ahmad (Metropolitan Police/PA) The art dealer, who has also appeared on the BBC's Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector on or before dates between October 2020 and December 2021. US prosecutors say Mr Ahmad was a 'major Hezbollah financial donor' who used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund the group. He is accused of evading terrorism sanctions by using front companies to acquire more than 160 million dollars (£120 million) in artwork and diamond services. Advertisement Oghenochuko Ojiri has been jailed (Metropolitan Police/PA) Following the introduction of new money laundering regulations in January 2020 that brought the art market under HMRC supervision, Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules. The court previously heard the total value of the artwork sold was around £140,000. The defendant was, at the relevant time, the owner and operator of Ramp Gallery – latterly Ojiri Gallery, Lyndon Harris, prosecuting, said. Mr Ahmad is understood to be based in Beirut, the court heard. Advertisement Mr Harris said: 'The defendant engaged in discussions with and sales over a 14-month period with Nazem Ahmad and his associates, selling art to the value of £140,000 over that period.' The court previously heard the total value of the artwork sold was around £140,000 (Met Police/PA) The defendant knew Mr Ahmad had been sanctioned in the US, a previous hearing was told. Ahmad's phone number was saved on Ojiri's phone as 'Moss', the court heard. '(It) appears to have been a name deliberately chosen to disguise Mr Ahmad as being one of his contacts,' the prosecutor said. Advertisement He added that Ojiri was warned by others about his conduct 'but proceeded to engage in dealings with Ahmad in any event'. Gavin Irwin, defending, said Ojiri was arrested while filming a BBC TV programme. He said: 'He has lost the work he loves. He was arrested while filming a BBC television programme. 'He has already lost, of course, his good name, he was until recently a man of good character.' Advertisement He said the defendant had been 'naive' in relation to his participation in Ahmad's art market, but that he was 'preyed on by more sophisticated others'. Mr Irwin also said the defendant has lost his business, accepted that he had done wrong and wanted to 'apologise for undermining trust in the industry' and also to 'apologise for the distress that he has caused principally to those who know him, who love him, but also those who have supported him throughout his career'. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sentenced Ojiri to two years and six months in prison at the Old Bailey on Friday, with a further year to be spent on licence. She told Ojiri he had been involved in a commercial relationship 'for prestige and profit', and that he had been 'seeking the kudos of dealing with an eminent name in the dealing world'. She added: 'You knew about Ahmad's suspected involvement in financing terrorism and the way the art market can be exploited by someone like him.' Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said that until these events he was 'someone to be admired' and added 'this is the nadir – there is one direction your life can go and I am confident that you will not be in front of the courts again.' The judge said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'The prosecution, using specific Terrorism Act legislation is the first of its kind, and should act as a warning to all art dealers that we can, and will, prosecute those who knowingly do business with people identified as funders of terrorist groups. 'Oghenochuko Ojiri wilfully obscured the fact he knew he was selling artwork to Nazem Ahmad, someone who has been sanctioned by the UK and US Treasury and described as a funder of the proscribed terrorist group Hizballah. 'Financial investigation is a crucial part of the counter terrorism effort. A team of specialist investigators, analysts and researchers in the NTFIU work all year round to prevent money from reaching the hands of terrorists or being used to fund terrorist attacks.' Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'It is clear that Oghenochuko Ojiri was aware of new money laundering regulations in the art world and that he had knowledge of Nazem Ahmad's background. 'Ojiri engaged in activity designed to conceal the identity of the true purchaser by changing the details on invoices and storing Mr Ahmad's name under a different alias in his mobile phone. 'His motivation appears to be financial along with a broader desire to boost his gallery's reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector.' Ojiri has appeared on a number of BBC shows including Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip as a freelance presenter and is understood not to have worked on BBC programmes since 2023. He described himself as 'absolutely obsessed' with collecting contemporary art in a BBC Q&A. He has previously worked as an auctioneer and is known for championing African and European contemporary art. Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political and militant group based in Lebanon, backed by Iran and known for its armed resistance against Israel. In the UK, the entire organisation – both its military and political wings – has been banned as a terrorist group since 2019.
