Galloway’s Finchley and Golders Green candidate accused over antisemitic Passover post
Mez Derak, standing at the election for the Workers Party, accused of sharing post claiming Passover celebrates when 'God Kills A Bunch Of Babies, Except The Jewish Ones'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The candidate for George Galloway’s Workers Party standing in Finchley and Golders Green has been accused of posting an openly antisemitic depiction of the Jewish festival of Passover on social media.
Mez Derak shared The Story of Passover image and article which claimed the meaning of the festival was one in which “God Kills A Bunch Of Babies, Except The Jewish Ones” and “the celebration of the mass murder of children.”
The candidate shared the image, which featured the image of a Jewish man painting blood onto the front of his home, in March 2019.
Jewish News contacted the Workers Party of Britain for comment on Wednesday but has yet to receive a reply.
Sarah Sackman, the barrister standing as the Labour candidate in Finchley and Golders Green ,where around 20 percent of the electorate are Jewish, said: “It is both disgraceful and revealing that the Workers’ Party have put a candidate with these views up for election in the constituency with Britain’s largest Jewish community
“Over the coming weeks, we will work hard to counter this hateful extremism at every opportunity.”
Mike Katz, national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement added: “Absolutely disgusting the person chosen by the Workers Party to stand in the seat with the most Jews has vile antisemitic views. But not surprising. Galloway wants to spread hate and pit communities against each other. We can’t let this hate win.”
The Passover deputation was for an article that appeared on the evangelical Christian website Patheos,in the section reserved for those holding non-religious views.
Meanwhile in the Chingford and Woodford Green seat, Galloway has moved to endorse the candidate Faiza Shaheen after she announced she was standing as an independent.
Shaheen, who was barred from standing for Labour after complaints over a divisive campaign around Gaza, has been replaced by Shama Taltler.
But in a social media post Galloway praised the decision of the Workers Party candidate who had stepped down in Chingford to “support” Shaheen.
The Workers Party have received other complaints about candidates who have claimed British politicians are “bought by Israel” and compare the Jewish state to the Nazis, and were forced to withdraw Hassan Chahine, the Putney contender, who claimed a “coven of Jews” had “seized” America.
Galloway has also faced criticism for “blatant homophobia” after saying he doesn’t think that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
