Lord Mann demands meeting with government’s new free speech chief to ‘assess risk to IHRA’

The government’s independent adviser on antisemitism has demanded a meeting with Rishi Sunak’s new free speech commissioner to discuss concerns over his view on the IHRA definition of anti-Jewish racism.

Lord John Mann confirmed to Jewish News he was requesting talks with Cambridge philosophy professor Arif Ahmed, after he was confirmed last week as England’s first director for free speech and academic freedom.

Ahmed had previously been an outspoken critic of the IHRA definition, writing in February 2021, that it “obstructs perfectly legitimate defence of Palestinian rights.”

At a Cambridge Union debate earlier his year Ahmed again registered his opposition to the definition on alleged free speech grounds.

Lord Mann told Jewish News he wanted to met with Ahmed “to assess whether he is a risk to IHRA”.

Former Labour MP Mann added:”His previous idea that IHRA restricts free speech was ill informed and reached without any empirical research nor any talking to Jewish students.

“In particular he has no answer to the intimidation of silence, where students choose not to say what they think because of the hostility that will occur.”

A report published last month by the Lord Mann led parliamentary task force on antisemitism into higher education had revealed Jewish students at UK institutions are “concealing their identity” on campus due to fears of discrimination.

Lord Mann told Jewish News on Monday:”I look forward to Professor Ahmed endorsing in full my report and recommendations on universities and antisemitism and him meeting with Jewish students as a matter of priority.

“I am very happy to debate him in public on this issue to clarify matters, and would welcome an early opportunity to do this.”

Two years ago Ahmed had condemned former education secretary Gavin Williamson’s attempts to make all universities sign up to the definition, Ahmed, said IHRA “chills free speech on a matter of the first importance.”

He added:”I hope the Secretary of State reconsiders the need for it; but these new free speech duties ought to rule it out in any case.”

In an op-ed in last week’s Times, confirming his appointment, Ahmed appeared to address both supporters and critics of IHRA.

He wrote:”The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition is an important tool for understanding how antisemitism manifests itself in the 21st century. Adopting it sends a strong signal to students and staff facing antisemitism. ”

But Ahmed then added:”But it must not restrict legitimate political speech and protest. I will act impartially.”

The prime minister’s decision to appoint a previous critic of IHRA in the newly created free speech role is said to have “shocked and surprised” other communal figures.

The Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council had been among the communal bodies to take the Jeremy Corbyn led Labour Party to task over its attempt to reject the IHRA definition’s examples relating to problematic discourse around Israel.