PSC
nationally has suspended Teesside Organiser Mehdi Husaini from membership but
it is essential that he is expelled
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| Mehdi Husaini (left) calls for zero tolerance but it doesn’t apply to racism – none of the other persons in this photo have anything to do with Husaini’s antisemitic politics. |
This is not a story of fake anti-Semitism such as the Jewish Labour Movement alleges against activists. This is not about the defence of the racist Israeli state. It is about people, one person in particular, Mehdi Husaini, who regularly posts virulently anti-Jewish material. I don’t know whether he personally hates or dislikes Jews nor do I much care. I am quite prepared to believe that he welcomes Jewish anti-Zionists but on the other hand he is prepared to post and distribute the most offensive and vicious anti-Semitic material and at the end of the day it is not his subjective intentions but what he does that matters.
We are therefore calling for PSC nationally to expel him as soon as possible and for members of Teesside PSC Facebook group and members of the local group to dissociate themselves from him as soon as possible.
From Exeter
to the Orkneys you will find on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign website over 50 local
groups with more springing up all the time.
Palestine is a popular cause. Unfortunately
there isn’t one, yet, in Teesside.
Instead there is a bogus group claiming to be one in Teesside. It is not, however recognised by PSC
nationally and it doesn’t appear on the list of groups.
This group
is headed by a certain Mehdi Husaini, a retired university academic who is also
active in the Universities and Colleges Union and a member of the Labour Party. The group has never applied for PSC
recognition, even though it insists on using the PSC name on its publicity
materials and social media. That Mehdi Husaini and some of the group around him
have difficulty in telling the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism
would likely mean that any application to achieve official recognition would be
rejected without some drastic changes in the group.
is headed by a certain Mehdi Husaini, a retired university academic who is also
active in the Universities and Colleges Union and a member of the Labour Party. The group has never applied for PSC
recognition, even though it insists on using the PSC name on its publicity
materials and social media. That Mehdi Husaini and some of the group around him
have difficulty in telling the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism
would likely mean that any application to achieve official recognition would be
rejected without some drastic changes in the group.
 |
| Husaini has previously stood as a Labour candidate for Middlesborough Council |
As is well
known, Zionist groups make accusations of ‘anti-Semitism’ against all of their
critics. In 99%+ cases these allegations are bogus, false and often
libellous. However, just as a stuck
clock is right twice a day, so Zionists occasionally get it right too. We should be aware of the following:
known, Zionist groups make accusations of ‘anti-Semitism’ against all of their
critics. In 99%+ cases these allegations are bogus, false and often
libellous. However, just as a stuck
clock is right twice a day, so Zionists occasionally get it right too. We should be aware of the following:
i.
One reason that some people can’t tell the
difference between hostility to Jews and hostility to Israel/Zionism is because
supporters of Israel repeatedly attack all
supporters of the Palestinians and opponents of Zionism as anti-Semitic. The Zionist movement has done its best to
associate the crimes of Zionism and Israel with that of all Jewish people.
One reason that some people can’t tell the
difference between hostility to Jews and hostility to Israel/Zionism is because
supporters of Israel repeatedly attack all
supporters of the Palestinians and opponents of Zionism as anti-Semitic. The Zionist movement has done its best to
associate the crimes of Zionism and Israel with that of all Jewish people.
ii.
The primary responsibility for the growth of what
is termed ‘anti-Semitism’ is that of Israel’s supporters and the Zionist movement. Many people are fooled into believing that
the self-proclaimed ‘Jewish state’ speaks on behalf of all Jews and are
therefore fooled into making ‘anti-Semitic’ comments or statements. We should be extremely tolerant and
understanding of this phenomenon and part of the job of the solidarity movement
is to educate people who are deceived by Zionism into making stupid and anti-Semitic
comments.
The primary responsibility for the growth of what
is termed ‘anti-Semitism’ is that of Israel’s supporters and the Zionist movement. Many people are fooled into believing that
the self-proclaimed ‘Jewish state’ speaks on behalf of all Jews and are
therefore fooled into making ‘anti-Semitic’ comments or statements. We should be extremely tolerant and
understanding of this phenomenon and part of the job of the solidarity movement
is to educate people who are deceived by Zionism into making stupid and anti-Semitic
comments.
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| It seems every atrocity in the world is based in Israel! |
iii.
These people are not anti-Semites. They are not hostile to Jews on a racist
basis but they have been taken in by Zionist and Establishment propaganda. However there are some people, of which Mehdi
Husaini is a good example, who refuse to learn or educate themselves. They should be cut off from the movement.
These people are not anti-Semites. They are not hostile to Jews on a racist
basis but they have been taken in by Zionist and Establishment propaganda. However there are some people, of which Mehdi
Husaini is a good example, who refuse to learn or educate themselves. They should be cut off from the movement.
iv.
However that does
not absolve us from making it clear that support for the Palestinians has
nothing to do with racism, be it anti-Jewish racism or racism in general.
However that does
not absolve us from making it clear that support for the Palestinians has
nothing to do with racism, be it anti-Jewish racism or racism in general.
v.
Anti-Semitism is of no help to the Palestinians. Historically anti-Semitism and Zionism were
seen as two sides of the same coin. The
anti-Semites wanted Jews to leave the countries of their birth and the Zionists
agreed that they didn’t belong. Without
anti-Semitism there would have been no Zionism.
Anti-Semitism is of no help to the Palestinians. Historically anti-Semitism and Zionism were
seen as two sides of the same coin. The
anti-Semites wanted Jews to leave the countries of their birth and the Zionists
agreed that they didn’t belong. Without
anti-Semitism there would have been no Zionism.
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| Mehdi Husaini refuses to accept that the Teeside PSC group is unrecognised by PSC nationally |
The Teesside
PSC group has two main social media outlets:
it has a Facebook group and a Facebook page. Husaini has repeatedly posted antisemitic
material in the group, on his personal timeline and in posters for promoting
actions.
PSC group has two main social media outlets:
it has a Facebook group and a Facebook page. Husaini has repeatedly posted antisemitic
material in the group, on his personal timeline and in posters for promoting
actions.
A couple of
weeks ago I was alerted to the fact that there was a PSC group in Teesside
which was publishing overtly anti-Semitic imagery and articles on its Facebook group and in its
promotional materials. The administrator
of the Facebook group and chair of ‘Teesside PSC’, Mehdi Husaini, kept posting
articles that were anti-Semitic. Sometimes, he apologised for his ‘mistakes’
when the nature of the content was pointed out.
Of course anyone can make a mistake once or even twice but when they
repeatedly make mistakes of the same nature then it is clear that there is a
political problem. But in many cases he
simply denied that they are anti-Semitic and accused group members of being
racist against him for expressing concern about it.
weeks ago I was alerted to the fact that there was a PSC group in Teesside
which was publishing overtly anti-Semitic imagery and articles on its Facebook group and in its
promotional materials. The administrator
of the Facebook group and chair of ‘Teesside PSC’, Mehdi Husaini, kept posting
articles that were anti-Semitic. Sometimes, he apologised for his ‘mistakes’
when the nature of the content was pointed out.
Of course anyone can make a mistake once or even twice but when they
repeatedly make mistakes of the same nature then it is clear that there is a
political problem. But in many cases he
simply denied that they are anti-Semitic and accused group members of being
racist against him for expressing concern about it.
Husaini has
long been involved in campaigning for progressive causes and has served on a
number of equality bodies, including as chair of the now-defunct Racial
Equality Council Cleveland. And the
Teesside group did organise some useful actions opposing Israel’s military
attacks on Gaza at the time of its formation in 2014. As Husaini became
increasingly active on social media, however, his willingness to endorse anti-Semitic
material has become more apparent.
long been involved in campaigning for progressive causes and has served on a
number of equality bodies, including as chair of the now-defunct Racial
Equality Council Cleveland. And the
Teesside group did organise some useful actions opposing Israel’s military
attacks on Gaza at the time of its formation in 2014. As Husaini became
increasingly active on social media, however, his willingness to endorse anti-Semitic
material has become more apparent.
 |
| Huaini reaches into the depths of the political sewer to find material for his hate filled posts |
The first
example was a poster promoting a Teesside PSC protest against Donald Trump’s
decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which was held in
Middlesbrough on 16 December 2017. Of
course that’s a worthy cause and the group was right to feel outrage at Trump’s
actions, but was it really necessary for the event poster to include an image which
portrays a Hasidic Jew rubbing his hands with glee over a globe and the slogan
“Zionism, the cancer of the
earth”?
example was a poster promoting a Teesside PSC protest against Donald Trump’s
decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which was held in
Middlesbrough on 16 December 2017. Of
course that’s a worthy cause and the group was right to feel outrage at Trump’s
actions, but was it really necessary for the event poster to include an image which
portrays a Hasidic Jew rubbing his hands with glee over a globe and the slogan
“Zionism, the cancer of the
earth”?
But that
turned out to be nowhere near the worst of it as, looking through the Teesside
PSC Facebook group, I saw that Husaini had repeatedly used it to promote some
truly vile anti-Semitic propaganda.
turned out to be nowhere near the worst of it as, looking through the Teesside
PSC Facebook group, I saw that Husaini had repeatedly used it to promote some
truly vile anti-Semitic propaganda.
In
January 2016, he shared an ‘Ancient Swastika’ video titled ‘Lord Rothschild and the Illuminati New World Order’, which starts
off going on about the Rothschilds, cites the forged Protocols of the Elders of
Zion (4:48) and then shows a sermon by Pastor Ray Hagins in which he claims
that Adolf Hitler has been defamed as a mass murderer when he was merely trying
to”cleanse the world” of Jewish “liars and deceivers“. The second half of the film is a eulogy
to the Fuhrer, showing him in sympathetic scenes such as being kind to
children. The original video can be viewed here.
January 2016, he shared an ‘Ancient Swastika’ video titled ‘Lord Rothschild and the Illuminati New World Order’, which starts
off going on about the Rothschilds, cites the forged Protocols of the Elders of
Zion (4:48) and then shows a sermon by Pastor Ray Hagins in which he claims
that Adolf Hitler has been defamed as a mass murderer when he was merely trying
to”cleanse the world” of Jewish “liars and deceivers“. The second half of the film is a eulogy
to the Fuhrer, showing him in sympathetic scenes such as being kind to
children. The original video can be viewed here.
In July
2017, he posted an article from a white supremacist website,
TheRealistReport.com, titled ‘Jews caught operating White sex slavery ring in
Israel’, which argues that white men “need to deal with the Jewish
problem, sooner rather than later”. Full link Jews
caught operating White sex slavery ring in Israel
2017, he posted an article from a white supremacist website,
TheRealistReport.com, titled ‘Jews caught operating White sex slavery ring in
Israel’, which argues that white men “need to deal with the Jewish
problem, sooner rather than later”. Full link Jews
caught operating White sex slavery ring in Israel
In
December 2017, members of the Facebook group were treated to a delightful film
called ‘The Israeli Lobby – a danger
to the world’, which commences with former Malaysian PM Mahathir
Mohamad’s notorious antisemitic lecture claiming that Jews invented socialism,
communism, human rights and democracy as part of their plot to achieve world
domination.
December 2017, members of the Facebook group were treated to a delightful film
called ‘The Israeli Lobby – a danger
to the world’, which commences with former Malaysian PM Mahathir
Mohamad’s notorious antisemitic lecture claiming that Jews invented socialism,
communism, human rights and democracy as part of their plot to achieve world
domination.
A
particular favourite of Husaini’s is the ‘Real Jew News’ website of far-right
ranter Brother Nathanael Kapner, who publishes articles and videos warning how “Jewry is destroying Christianity throughout
the world”. Here’s one example from that.
particular favourite of Husaini’s is the ‘Real Jew News’ website of far-right
ranter Brother Nathanael Kapner, who publishes articles and videos warning how “Jewry is destroying Christianity throughout
the world”. Here’s one example from that.
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| Mehdi Husaini posts anti-Semitic and racist stuff like this regularly whilst denying that there is a problem – he also refused to stand down as Administrator of the Facebook Group and blocked me and others instead |
As you can
see from the screenprints, Husaini has faced some challenge to his social media
output and a number of people joined in the fray, including myself, criticising
his actions and trying to explain the difference between Jews and Zionists,
Judaism and Zionism, etc. Sadly, these
interventions were in vain as Husaini responded that his posts couldn’t be
anti-Semitic because X, Y or Z member of the group had ‘liked’ them and
accusing his critics of being racist against him.
see from the screenprints, Husaini has faced some challenge to his social media
output and a number of people joined in the fray, including myself, criticising
his actions and trying to explain the difference between Jews and Zionists,
Judaism and Zionism, etc. Sadly, these
interventions were in vain as Husaini responded that his posts couldn’t be
anti-Semitic because X, Y or Z member of the group had ‘liked’ them and
accusing his critics of being racist against him.
In another
incident, Husaini claimed a video showed IDF troops attacking Palestinian
demonstrators, but it was actually film of Moroccan police using violence
against protesters in Morocco.
incident, Husaini claimed a video showed IDF troops attacking Palestinian
demonstrators, but it was actually film of Moroccan police using violence
against protesters in Morocco.
He offered
this pitiful defence to challenges from myself, Steve Cooke, Barbara Campbell
and other activists recently:
this pitiful defence to challenges from myself, Steve Cooke, Barbara Campbell
and other activists recently:
“Defence
to challenges from myself, Steve Cooke, Barbara Campbell an’t
need to defend myself [against] those who do politics sitting on chairs. Never
seen participating in demos which were organised. You do not know what hate
means. I have suffered from it being a black and a Muslim. I have always fought
throughout my life against racism, Xenophobia, Fascism, Zionism. Please stop
the tirade against me being black. If you don’t like then tough. Don’t
be a judge of everything I do Mr Cooke & Mr Greenstein & Ms Campbell
& leave.r
to challenges from myself, Steve Cooke, Barbara Campbell an’t
need to defend myself [against] those who do politics sitting on chairs. Never
seen participating in demos which were organised. You do not know what hate
means. I have suffered from it being a black and a Muslim. I have always fought
throughout my life against racism, Xenophobia, Fascism, Zionism. Please stop
the tirade against me being black. If you don’t like then tough. Don’t
be a judge of everything I do Mr Cooke & Mr Greenstein & Ms Campbell
& leave.r
 |
| Husaini’s pathetic response to accusations of antisemitism – ‘I’m black’! |
Sadly, despite
the Facebook group having over 400 members, very few other than those named have
been willing to challenge Husaini’s antics and those who do tend to be thrown
out of, and banned from, the group – as indeed has now happened to the
activists named above.
the Facebook group having over 400 members, very few other than those named have
been willing to challenge Husaini’s antics and those who do tend to be thrown
out of, and banned from, the group – as indeed has now happened to the
activists named above.
When Steve
Cooke, the Teesside-based comrade who tipped me off about these goings-on,
contacted key group member Nader Alhussain to express concerns about the
anti-Semitic poster for the 16 December protest, expecting that he would be
able to talk some sense into the group’s leader, Alhussain reacted by blocking him
on Facebook rather than raising the issue with Husaini.
Cooke, the Teesside-based comrade who tipped me off about these goings-on,
contacted key group member Nader Alhussain to express concerns about the
anti-Semitic poster for the 16 December protest, expecting that he would be
able to talk some sense into the group’s leader, Alhussain reacted by blocking him
on Facebook rather than raising the issue with Husaini.
Other
members have said they shared our concerns about the anti-Semitic politics of
Husaini, but they have been reluctant to take a strong stand against Husaini,
at least not in public. A number have
also reported that they no longer take part in the Teesside group’s activities
because of its vile rhetoric, which they feel undermines the credibility of the
Palestinian liberation cause.
members have said they shared our concerns about the anti-Semitic politics of
Husaini, but they have been reluctant to take a strong stand against Husaini,
at least not in public. A number have
also reported that they no longer take part in the Teesside group’s activities
because of its vile rhetoric, which they feel undermines the credibility of the
Palestinian liberation cause.
But there
has been an encouraging development in the last few days. Comrade Cooke reported his concerns to the
PSC national office and they have taken steps to address them. Just before this blog went to press, PSC
national secretary Ben Soffa wrote to Steve and myself as follows:
has been an encouraging development in the last few days. Comrade Cooke reported his concerns to the
PSC national office and they have taken steps to address them. Just before this blog went to press, PSC
national secretary Ben Soffa wrote to Steve and myself as follows:
“PSC’s Executive
Committee agreed that an interim suspension was appropriate in this case, which
will remain in place whilst the investigation into Mr Husaini’s compliance with
our constitution takes place. This will now take place over the coming weeks before
going back to the Executive for decision at its next meeting. This will be its
first meeting after our AGM next Saturday, so the date can’t be confirmed until
new members are consulted, but provisionally, I’d expect this to be on the 10th
of February.
Committee agreed that an interim suspension was appropriate in this case, which
will remain in place whilst the investigation into Mr Husaini’s compliance with
our constitution takes place. This will now take place over the coming weeks before
going back to the Executive for decision at its next meeting. This will be its
first meeting after our AGM next Saturday, so the date can’t be confirmed until
new members are consulted, but provisionally, I’d expect this to be on the 10th
of February.
“We
are dealing with the status of the Teeside group as a separate matter, as
whilst clearly Mehdi Husaini is a significant part of that group, we would wish
to address those leading it more generally.”
are dealing with the status of the Teeside group as a separate matter, as
whilst clearly Mehdi Husaini is a significant part of that group, we would wish
to address those leading it more generally.”
Husaini has gathered around him a number of people
who are either sympathetic to him or unwilling to challenge him. These include Len Junier, who is a former
Labour councillor who has now left the Labour Party. He won’t say anything against Mehdi.
who are either sympathetic to him or unwilling to challenge him. These include Len Junier, who is a former
Labour councillor who has now left the Labour Party. He won’t say anything against Mehdi.
Another
member is one Jolanda Fitzgerald, who is a Green Party member, She was the
Green Party’s PPC at the last election.
Her politics seem to have moved towards conspiracy theories.
member is one Jolanda Fitzgerald, who is a Green Party member, She was the
Green Party’s PPC at the last election.
Her politics seem to have moved towards conspiracy theories.
Mehdi
Husaini has a long track record. He was
chair of Cleveland’s Racial Equality Council for many years. However, the organisation collapsed in the
late 1990s after it was taken to an employment tribunal for racial
discrimination and lost the case. See Widlinski v Racial Equality Council of Cleveland
and others [1996] IT/38275/96
Husaini has a long track record. He was
chair of Cleveland’s Racial Equality Council for many years. However, the organisation collapsed in the
late 1990s after it was taken to an employment tribunal for racial
discrimination and lost the case. See Widlinski v Racial Equality Council of Cleveland
and others [1996] IT/38275/96
Here is a video made of a
demonstration on 26 July 2014 against Israel’s Operation Protective Edge attack
on Gaza when over 2,200 Palestinians including 551 children were murdered. https://youtu.be/jf4qrr9mgPc – including speech by Mehdi Husaini from 17:05.
demonstration on 26 July 2014 against Israel’s Operation Protective Edge attack
on Gaza when over 2,200 Palestinians including 551 children were murdered. https://youtu.be/jf4qrr9mgPc – including speech by Mehdi Husaini from 17:05.
Tony Greenstein
Posted in Blog
