February 10, 2016
Media Coverage:
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has strongly criticised stationery outlet Typo for allowing anti-Semitic comments to remain on its Facebook page for more than a week. The comments were posted in response to Typo’s decision to remove globes that deleted Israel off its maps. Some of the disturbing comments were: “Your Zionist buddies and their shill bankers are the problem”, “Zionism is a cancer that is killing the world”, “No Israel does not exist and is not a country. Israel is a country built on lies and hate for everyone who is not Jewish! !!!!!!”, “Israel biggest thieves and liars in history”, “Israel is an illegally squatting Jewish caliphate in Palestine”, “Israel is the largest anti-semetic nation on the planet committing genocide against the real semites (sic)”, “There’s only so much murdering Zionists can do, before the world wakes up and revolts in protest against the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians and the raping of their land, “Jewish equivalent of ISIS is Zionism”, “Hitler was a Zionist… In fact, he was the chief economic sponsor to the state of Israel”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“Once again Jews and Israel have served as the convenient scapegoat for vilification. Typo is not getting a free pass for failing to act responsibly and for creating the perfect opportunity for the anti-Semites to spread their venom. I am shocked and dismayed by the outpouring of blatantly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel posts which this episode has prompted. The damage has already been done, and it’s extremely troubling that the Typo moderators, who were aware of the outrageous attacks, have shamefully turned a blind eye to the ugly and bigoted defamation pf Jews, Israel and Zionism that appeared on its page. By not removing the posts immediately, Typo has allowed Jew-haters to use its platform as a bully-pulpit to give voice to their hateful and racist rants without fear of repercussions. It should go without saying that no company should permit its Facebook page to become a forum for anti-Semites to promote conspiracy theories about Jewish control, post statements that attribute Nazi-like behaviour to Israel and accuse it of committing rape and genocide, and share old-age canards which demonise Jews as evil plotters who lie, cheat and manipulate others. Such staggering intolerance and prejudice directed against the Jewish community and Israel has no place in Australia and we call on Typo to forcefully condemn these remarks as unacceptable, and show more responsiveness and discretion in the future so as to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.”
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on 9272 5677
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and racism.
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