Board criticised over ‘Islamophobia’ response

A LEADING anti-Islamophobia campaigner has criticised the Board of Deputies for “inaction” over allegations of Muslim-hatred against one of its deputies, claiming that it undermines interfaith work.

Board president Marie van der Zyl last week ordered an “urgent and detailed case review” into Roslyn Pine, a deputy who expressed what have been described as “Islamophobic” and “antiArab” views.

The JC revealed Mrs Pine, the deputy for Finchley United Synagogue, shared tweets describing Arabs as “so evil”.

She also retweeted a message describing Arab migrants to Europe as “an invading army” and “battle hardened jihadists”.

It has now emerged that a fellow deputy filed a complaint in July 2015 regarding Mrs Pine’s retweet of a message calling Muslims “the vilest of animals”. The Board’s constitution committee did not reach a conclusion on the complaint.

When asked about the matter by the this week, the Board declined to comment. It is understood the complaint will form part of the review ordered by Mrs van der Zyl.

Mrs Pine was permitted to run for vice-president during last month’s Board elections, despite being the subject of numerous internal complaints.

The outcomes of the complaints were not made available to deputies voting in the election — nor was it revealed that the complaints had been made.

Fiyaz Mughal, founder of anti-Islamophobia charity Tell Mama, criticised the Board’s failure to conduct a “swift investigation with a public outcome”.

He said: “What we have here are some quite serious comments that are targeted at Muslims and Arabs and I think that would justify an investigation into her social media activity and her views.

“By taking no action, actually it’s quite damaging. It is used to legitimise criticism of interfaith work. The detractors can turn around and say they knew the Board of Deputies was bad.”

Mr Mughal, who also founded interfaith charity Faith Matters and Muslims Against Antisemitism, bemoaned the “small but determined section” of the Jewish community “who take a view that Muslims are a threat to Israel, no matter what kind of Muslim you are”.

The Board reiterated on Wednesday that Mrs van der Zyl had ordered a “full review of all cases and the disciplinary sanctions available” by the end of this week “so there can be full understanding of what has happened so far”.

A Board spokesman added: “We will consider the facts of any case on its merits and seek to resolve it as quickly as possible following investigation.”

Ella Rose, deputy for Bushey United Synagogue and national director of the Jewish Labour Movement, said the Board’s “very public battle” against antisemitism in the Labour Party meant it should tackle “all forms of hatred”.

Speaking in a personal capacity, Ms Rose added: “Our community has a really strong and proud history of tackling hatred wherever it occurs and this shouldn’t be an exception.

“The Board has obviously set incredibly high standards on anti-racism for the Labour Party, and so it’s entirely right that if there are any problems in their own house they should get them in order in the same way they have asked the Labour Party to.”

Another deputy, speaking anonymously, accused the Board of “double standards”.

Another added: “If we want others to take us seriously when we talk about antisemitism and racism, we should practise what we preach. We should deal with these issues inside our own community.”

We have serious comments targeted at Muslims’