Journalist backtracks over defence of Warsaw ghetto graffiti
Novara Media's Ash Sarkar admitted her comments could have been 'a lot clearer' and should have been 'more critical' at the time
A left-wing activist who defended the daubing of the Warsaw Ghetto with pro-Palestine graffiti has said she should have been “more critical” at the time.
Speaking to the Jewish Telegraph, Novara Media contributing editor Ash Sarkar clarified why she didn’t brand the daubing ‘antisemitic’ while admitting her comments could have been “a lot clearer”.
She faced anger last year for defending Ewa Jasiewicz and Yonatan Shapira, two artists who painted “Free Gaza and Palestine, liberate all ghettos” on the wall of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Sarkar wrote on Twitter at the time: “These words aren’t antisemitic. They’re anti-racist.” It lead to a barrage of criticism and accusations of antisemitism.
She claimed the coverage was “going for Ewa” and that “it was not fair, as it focused on Ewa at the expense of Israeli Yonatan Shapira. It made it seem that what had motivated the act was a deep-set hostility for Jewish people.”
Sarker said on reflection she should have “drawn a line between defending Ewa, criticising the coverage and being more critical of the action itself which I don’t think was well thought out.”
Earlier this week the BBC defended its new documentary on the rise of Nazism featuring a Sarker, following criticism from communal organisations.
The three-part series on Germany’s descent into a Nazi dictatorship, titled ‘Rise of the Nazis’, features dramatic reconstructions and archive footage.
Sarkar features in the series alongside experts such as Professor Sir Richard Evans, General Sir Mike Jackson and Baroness Helena Kennedy QC.
After anger from the Board of Deputies and Holocaust Educational Trust, as well as Sir Simon Schama and Tracy Ann Oberman; BBC spokesperson defended her appearance on the show.
“Ash Sarkar is one of a number of current public figures who feature, alongside representatives from military and legal backgrounds.
“She appears in this film in her role as a self-declared communist and lecturer in political theory and her contribution to the series is solely to illuminate the context and perspective of Ernst Thälmann, the leader of the Communist Party of Germany from 1925 to 1933, who died in a concentration camp in 1944.’”
The decision to interview her provoked backlash, with historian Schama describing the move as “horrifying” – while EastEnders actor Tracy Ann Oberman said it was “upsetting.”
Sarkar addressed criticism, tweeting: “I don’t see why my support for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank should disqualify me from talking about the Communist Party of Germany, but hey, I guess we live in strange times,” she wrote.
“I obviously reject wholeheartedly claims that of antisemitism. But if that’s something others want to say of me, no matter how upsetting, that’s their right.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
