The Jewish Chronicle

Charity trustee called for ‘death to Zionist scum’

- BY JC REPORTER

A TRUSTEE on a youth charity funded by the Arts Council called for “death” to “Zionist scum” and compared Israeli Jews to Hitler, prompting a complaint to the watchdog.

Nasima Begum, a board member of a Manchester poets’ group called Young Identity, has also described Israel as inflicting a “Holocaust” on the Palestinia­ns.

Ms Begum, who is also a Young People’s Officer at the Bangladesh­i women’s organisati­on Ananna, boasts about being a “bad b**ch” on her Twitter profile.

In one exchange on the platform from 2012, Ms Begum is challenged by a user called “Israel Under Fire” about Hamas rockets being launched at civilian population­s in Israel from Gaza.

She replies: “Exiling a people from their own land justifies anything. It’s the Holocaust all over again except this time its innocent Palestinia­ns and ironically the perpetrato­rs are you Zionist scum.”

In 2011, she posted: “What’s sad is that the Jewish population faced genocide themselves in Hitler’s Germany but they’ve implemente­d the same on Palestine for years.”

And in a third tweet from November, 2012, she wrote about Israel: “You will always remain an illegal state. Death to you, Zionist scum.”

Ananna, where Ms Begum is

The board member of the Manchester poets’ group described Israel as inflicting a ‘Holocaust’

employed, lists “human dignity” as one of its core values, insisting on “the right of all people to be valued and respected for their own sake.”

As well as her work with Young Identity, which is part funded by the Arts Council England, she also advocates for the Manchester youth theatre group Contact.

The group’s core values include a “commitment to anti-racism”, while Young Identity offers children and young people the chance to take part in poetry and performanc­e workshops and offers profession­al mentoring.

The online campaign group against antisemiti­sm, Gnasher Jew, has forwarded the posts to the Charity Commission, arguing that Ms Begum should not be near children or in any position of responsibi­lity, given her views. The JC contacted Ms Begum, Ananna and Young Identity

 ?? ??
 ?? PHOTOS: TWITTER + YOUTUBE ?? Offensive tweets: Nasima Begum and, below, two of her posts
PHOTOS: TWITTER + YOUTUBE Offensive tweets: Nasima Begum and, below, two of her posts

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom