Calderdale Council in call to stand up to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia

A recommendation that they do this will go to a full meeting of Calderdale Council, and would form part of the council’s efforts to combat hate crime, said Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden) as Cabinet met at Halifax Town Hall.

“It is desperately important that we recognise the hurt and distress caused in our communities and this report tackles things head on,” she said.

“I think it is important these things are considered together because it is by working together we can resolve the situation regarding hate crime.

“We need to do as much as we can to stop it.”

Emotional debate between Bradford councillors over controversial antisemitism motion

Council votes on Islamophobia definition to show 'no form of hate is tolerated' in District

Coun Faisal Shoukat (Lab, Park) said it would send out a very strong message from the council, and faith groups needed protection as well as secular groups.

But Coun Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) wanted assurances free speech would not be at risk.

“I have no problem with it as it stands but would seek assurances we will not be subjected to a chilling shutting down of legitimate criticism of the state of Israel,” she said.

She told Cabinet she had visited Palestine and had founded Halifax Friends of Palestine in 2005, adding that she believed non-violent direct action including free speech should be an option open to people.

Coun Press said if you looked at the definitions there was nothing that suggested that and council leader Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) said examples in the definition were very clear about those rights, that legitimate criticism could be made about any state.

Coun Shoukat said you could not give rise to the position where, for example,  of  Isis were representative of all Muslim people or actions of the state of Israel were representative of the majority of Jewish people.