A Birmingham community venue is scheduled to host the launch of a group that openly supports “armed resistance” and campaigns against what it calls “Jewish supremacy”.
The event, due to take place next Sunday at the Old Print Works – a community centre complete with a cafe, co-working space and darkroom – is billed as the launch of the “Anti Zionist Movement”, a group that states publicly that it is “pro-armed resistance” and explicitly campaigns “against Jewish supremacy”. The group’s Instagram description reads “Liberation via zio eradication”.
The event is supported by the “Activist Independent Movement” group. Promotional material indicates that it will feature a lineup of speakers who have attracted controversy over their previous comments.
It includes David Miller, an academic sacked by the University of Bristol in 2021 over his anti-Zionist views; NHS doctor Rahmeh Aladwan who was suspended from practising last November for 15 months over alleged antisemitic social media posts pending an investigation; and Iran state TV journalist Latifa Abouchakra.
Miller, who last year posted on social media that he had travelled to Lebanon to attend the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, has called for the abolishment of Israel and regularly pushes conspiratorial notions of “Zionist” influence in the UK.
He challenged his sacking, with an employment tribunal finding he was unfairly dismissed.
Aladwan, meanwhile, claimed the UK is “occupied and controlled” by “Jewish supremacy”, and hailed the October 7 terrorist attacks as “glory to the Palestinian armed resistance, glory to Al-Aqsa flood”.
Aladwan’s lawyer has argued that his client’s posts “fell into the category of legitimate political speech and debate” and that she denied racist or hate speech.
Press TV’s Abouchakra has described the October 7 atrocities as a “moment of triumph” and has accused British politicians of being on the payroll of “Jewish supremacy”.
The Anti Zionist Movement event does not appear to be listed on The Old Print Works’ official website, which otherwise advertises family-friendly and community-focused activities, including arts and crafts workshops, meditation sessions and film screenings.
Heidi Bachram, who campaigns against antisemitism, questioned why a community centre is hosting the “sinister” event, characterising it as “deeply ominous”.
Writing to the venue, Bachram said: “Given the murder of Jews in Manchester, and exploding Jew-hate around the country, I would ask that you reconsider this booking.”
The Old Print Works and Birmingham City Council have been approached for comment.
