Latest news with #AFZ
The National
10-08-2025
- Business
- The National
5 communities across Scotland that are boycotting Israel
It's called Apartheid Free Zones (AFZ) Scotland – an initiative launched by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity campaign (SPSC) that is looking to sign up shops, restaurants, businesses, community organisations, and trade unions across Scotland to commit to BDS practices. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement has existed since 2005. It was initiated by a coalition of more than 170 Palestinian civil society organisations in an effort to put pressure on the Israeli economy in the mould of the anti-apartheid boycott of South Africa. READ MORE: Scottish Labour panned over £200k in 'shadowy' private healthcare-linked donations But a more concerted and coordinated effort in Scotland started on May 15, 2024 – Nakba Day, which commemorates the wholesale destruction and displacement of Palestinian society and Palestinians by Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Now, there are five communities across Scotland that have dedicated AFZ groups and many individual businesses across Scotland that have signed up too. Aberdeen AFZ (Image: Dave Black) Launched in the latter half of 2024 with the help of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), the Aberdeen group has signed up 40 businesses – ranging from restaurants and barbers to a whisky shop and a tobacconist – to its apartheid-free zone. Organisers like Dave Black emphasise its grassroots, community‑driven essence, with locals meeting in cafés to spread the message and gain more sign-ups. Govanhill AFZ (Image: Tony) Established with the help of community organisers, Govanhill's boycott group has seen 54 local businesses – cafés, corner shops, restaurants – formally commit. Many were already informally boycotting companies like Coca‑Cola. But the group aimed to make that solidarity more visible, grounded in a shared frustration at the situation in Gaza. Leith AFZ The Leith group, Zionism-Free Leith, was started by the Edinburgh branch of Industrial Workers of the World, an international labour union. It looks to sign up business across Leith, runs a number of fundraisers to support Palestinian families and runs regular events. Isle of Eigg The small, community-owned Isle of Eigg (population ~120) recently declared a full boycott of Israel through its Residents Association (IERA). The island's only shop ceased stocking Israeli-linked products, including Coca‑Cola, citing its alleged ties to settlements. Organisers have highlighted Eigg's 'history of taking action' and framed the decision as a local step toward 'collective action' that can influence broader policy and stand in solidarity with Palestinians. Glasgow West End AFZ The National understands that a new group has just started in Glasgow's West End after being inspired by Govanhill.
The National
10-08-2025
- Business
- The National
The Glasgow neighbourhood where over 50 shops are boycotting Israel
The 140-day occupation to save the Govanhill Baths from closure in 2001 is considered one of the longest in UK history. Govanhill residents were also instrumental in facing off against the Home Office during the now-famous immigration raid on Kenmure Street in 2021. And now, the community is at the centre of a growing Scottish movement to boycott Israel amid its genocide in Gaza. It's called Apartheid Free Zones (AFZ) Scotland – an initiative launched by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) that is looking to sign up shops, restaurants, businesses, community organisations, and trade unions across Scotland to commit to BDS practices. READ MORE: Australian influencers 'damage' historic Jacobite site, as investigation launches The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement has existed since 2005. It was initiated by a coalition of more than 170 Palestinian civil society organisations in an effort to put pressure on the Israeli economy in the mould of the anti-apartheid boycott of South Africa. Govanhill now has its own dedicated AFZ and has signed up 54 businesses so far, who are all now boycotting Israeli goods and services as well as international businesses that are profiting from Israel's oppression of Palestinians – from Coca-Cola to Puma and Airbnb. '[A lot of] the community were already doing it. Places like Pakistani Street Food, Bangin Burgers – there's probably a few more that had already boycotted Coca-Cola, had already boycotted Israeli products and goods,' Miriam, one of the organisers, told me as we walked up Victoria Road. Tony, another organiser, agreed. Tony and Miriam (Image: Tony) 'There's a lot of visible Palestine solidarity around the community, and we're basically trying to bring that together into a campaign for a boycott of Israeli goods across all of Govanhill,' he said. 'People know that they want to support Palestine and know that there's a long boycott lists of a whole range of products, and we're saying the most effective concrete thing you can do right now is boycott Israeli goods and other firms on the BDS list.' Tony added: [Also] informing people about the things that are going to be the most effective in a targeted boycott and giving people confidence to do it as well because if you're a shop that's just started, you say, well, I want to support, but what good can I do by myself? We then tell them that we do this as a community.' (Image: Colin Mearns) Examples of businesses in the area that have signed up include Cafe Peachy on Victoria Road. In a post on Instagram, the business said they were 'sickened, furious and heartbroken' at the ongoing humanitarian crisis worsening every day in Gaza. The popular brunch spot added that it will be donating 5% of all its takings to the local Al-Khair Foundation, a charity which provides emergency relief and developmental support in Gaza and worldwide. It also announced it will be implementing a full boycott of Israeli goods and firms on the BDS list. Zaytouna (behind) is another business that has signed up (Image: Colin Mearns) 'We know it's not a huge act, but hopefully one that means together as a united community we can move a small way closer towards having a real world positive impact on the lives of the Palestinian people,' they added. The Sunday National also spoke with Sufyan, the owner of Bangin Burgers – another business that has signed up to the Govanhill AFZ. 'It's just a good initiative. The message they're trying to have, I think it's just really positive. The more awareness you bring, the more people are aware of what's going on [in Gaza], that's how you build unity around it,' he said. 'Obviously, I don't believe that my shop boycotting has the greatest effect, but I think with that mindset, you wouldn't get anywhere. Collectively, it does have an impact. Boycotting and signing up is just me trying to do my little part against the injustice that's going on over there.'
