This year’s theme is “Islamophobia and Silencing Criticism of Israel”.
Speakers include Sofiah MacLeod (Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign), Omar Afzal (Muslim Council of Scotland), Sarah Glynn (Scottish Jews Against Zionism), Arzu Merali (Islamic Human Rights Commission), Sai Englert (researcher, SOAS), Mohammed Dean (Friends of Al Aqsa – Edinburgh), David Jamieson (CommonSpace journalist) and Wael Shawish (Scottish Palestinian Society, formerly the Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland).
Misleading allegations of anti-semitism are being used to suppress criticism of Israel. This tactic has been institutionalised through the adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-semitism by the UK and Scottish governments. At the same time, real and deadly anti-semitism is being promoted by far-right movements alongside Islamophobia.