Aberdeen City Council unanimously adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism
Board and JLC thank officials for backing the international definition, joining 170 local authorities in doing so
Aberdeen City Council has unanimously passed a motion to adopt the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism.
Jewish leaders welcomed the local authority’s decision to back the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of Jew-hate on Monday.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Barney Crockett, said in his motion to the full council meeting, that he is “proud of its efforts to tackle discrimination in all its forms.”
He said “we resolve to join with the UK and Scottish Governments and the major political parties in the UK in signing up” to IHRA. He added that the local authority “underlines its condemnation of all forms of racism in all its manifestations and adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism as the working model for challenging and confronting incidents of this form of racism.”
Speaking to Jewish News, The Lord Provost said he’s “very pleased we’ve underscored our support for the local Jewish community.”
Adding that Aberdeen has had a Jewish presence for 125-years and boasts one of the most northerly shuls in the world, he “hopes that any Jewish person is supported and protected, and encouraged to come and visit.”
With one elected official overseas, the motion was backed by all 44 representatives at the full council meeting.
The Jewish Leadership Council’s Scotland manager, Danielle Bett, said: “We want to thank Aberdeen city councillors”, adding that “they join a growing number of Scottish councils who have passed the definition, committing to tackling anti-Jewish racism and sending a message of solidarity to the local Jewish community.”
A Board of Deputies spokesperson also thanked them, adding it “is truly appreciated by the UK’s Jewish community.”
The council follows 170 local authorities across the UK in adopting IHRA, including all London councils, in addition to the Church in Wales and Church of England.
The definition is non-legally binding, and is guided by 11 examples to illustrate how antisemitism manifests.
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