In this episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, FMEP President Lara Friedman speaks the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) director Giovanni Fassina and ELSC manager of communication and advocacy strategies and campaigns Alice Garcia about ELSC’s groundbreaking new report, “Suppressing Palestinian Rights Advocacy through the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism – Violating the Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in the European Union and the UK.” This report is the first case-based account of human rights violations resulting from the institutionalization and application of the controversial IHRA definition by the EU and the UK.
Recorded June 12, 2023
You can also watch this conversation on YouTube
Resources related to this podcast
European Legal Support Center (ELSC)
- Website
- The new report: “Suppressing Palestinian Rights Advocacy through the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism – Violating the Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in the European Union and the UK.
Articles & Interviews about the Report
- Carnegie/Middle East Center 6/6/23: Weaponizing the Antisemitism Accusation – In an interview, Giovanni Fassina and Alice Garcia discuss why a controversial definition is penalizing support for Palestinian rights.
- +972 Magazine 6/7/23: IHRA definition is silencing Palestine advocacy across Europe, says report
- The Intercept 6/6/23: Biden Embraces Antisemitism Definition That Has Upended Free Speech in Europe – The definition conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. A new report details how it’s been used to justify punitive action against Palestine advocates in Europe.
- Al Jazeera 6/7/23: Adoption of anti-Semitism definition curbs free speech: Report
- Middle East Eye 6/6/23: IHRA antisemitism definition ‘suppressing Palestinian advocacy in Europe’
Attack on ELSC & the Report
- Twitter thread from EU official Johannes Börmann 6/7/23 attacking ELSC and the report
Expert objections to the IHRA definition
FMEP resources on IHRA definition & related controversy
- FMEP podcast 6/5/23: Palestinian Rights, the IHRA Definition, & the Battle Around Biden’s Antisemitism Strategy
- Compendium of FMEP resources on the debate around the IHRA definition (including research, articles, podcasts, and webinars)
- FMEP 5-part series — The IHRA Definition & the Fight Against Antisemitism: A webinar series examining how a problematic definition of antisemitism is being used to quash criticism of Israel and threaten freedom of speech
- Part 1: Views on IHRA from Around the Globe [video]
- Part 2: Dismantling Antisemitism, Winning Justice: A Panel Discussion, hosted by Jewish Currents [video]
- Part 3: Occupied Thoughts podcast: Palestinian Views on Antisemitism [podcast]
- Part 4: Antisemitism, Free Speech, Social Media, and Corporate Accountability, co-sponsored with 7amleh [video]
- Part 5: Redefining antisemitism: Opportunities and Struggles for Progressive Jews [video]
- Part 6: Implications and Impact of IHRA on Palestinians, co-sponsored by Palestine Legal [video/podcast]