Nouse.co.uk » Controversy Hits J-Soc

Controversy Hits J-Soc

March 10, 2003
Philip Gowenlock

The Jewish Society (J-Soc) find themselves facing accusations of unfair conduct following their intervention in campaign against the new Racial Equality Officers.

In an e-mail intended for society members, Chair Hugo Bieber urged his members to boycott Ellena Valizadeh and Kalli Tariq Hameedâ€™s candidacy arguing "they are not the people to represent us on campus, their interests appear to lie 100% in the opposite direction from oursâ€¦its in all of our interests to vote RON."

The e-mail appears prompted by responses given by the pair at hustings, when they were asked specific questions about their position on Palestinian rights. Tariq Hameed claimed, "this issue arose when numerous questions were being used to attack us politically." It was the pairâ€™s responses that convinced the J-Soc Chair that "they cannot adequately represent the views of Jewish members (of the university)."

Bieber considers Tariq Hameed unsuitable to represent J-Soc members due to her involvement with YorkSAW. Tariq Hameed hit out at his comments stating that "these allegations (of anti-semitic sympathies) are unfounded. Equating support for Palestinians with anti-Semitism is like equating opposition to Apartheid with anti-white racism." Recently, Anna Liddle, a Jewish student with Palestinian roots, attended a J-Soc event at which she was questioned over her involvement with YorkSAW because she was wearing a â€˜Stop the Warâ€™ badge. She commented, "They were implying that you couldnâ€™t be Jewish and support freedom for Palestine."

She describes sitting there "quietly, in shock" as society members accused the candidates for Racial Equality Officer of anti-Semitism. Liddle subsequently e-mailed J-Soc defending the pair, "they are most definitely not anti-Semitic and would be happy to help you if you came across any prejudice or racial conflict".

Present Racial Equality Officer Jacob Mukherjee was saddened by the incidents, "there are an enormous number of Jewish people who are against the illegal occupation of Palestine. Itâ€™s a shame J-Soc cannot adequately represent this diversity of opinion."

Officer-elect, Ellena Valizadeh however remains optimistic for the future, "Iâ€™m sorry the J-Soc committee feels this way but Iâ€™m sure in office we will prove them wrong." Adding that, "We want to work with J-Soc and all other societies representing ethnic minorities to celebrate diversity and promote cultural awareness.â€™