June 26, 2015
Media Coverage:
Melbourne, Australia… The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has strongly denounced the anti-Semitic twitter attack on Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg by Brisbane-based financial adviser James Howarth. In a series of abusive twitter posts, Mr Howarth called Mr Frydenberg a “Tinkering Jew”, “a central planning Jew” and “Slap Stick Comedy Jew”.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“Anti-Semitism has reared its ugly head again. I am shocked and disturbed by these extremely offensive and racist comments. This type of unapologetic religious bigotry has no place in Australian politics and debate. It is tremendously distressing that Mr Howarth has injected race and religion into a legitimate public discussion, and has employed hateful descriptions that play into classic anti-Semitic charges of powerful Jews controlling and wanting to centralise financial markets. The invoking of such disparaging stereotypes and the levelling of such reprehensible accusations against Jews has long been employed to justify the scapegoating and vilifying of the Jewish community. I am troubled that in today’s age we still see this kind of prejudice, and know that all good people will stand up and speak out against this repugnant attack on Mr Frydenberg. Mr Howarth has violated Australia’s core values of tolerance and inclusiveness, and I hope that he wakes up to the severity of his harmful comments and apologises.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677
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