Ehrenreich guilty of hate speech

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) yesterday found Western Cape Cosatu chairperson Tony Ehrenreich guilty of prohibited hate speech, directing him to apologise in writing to the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and affirm his commitment to constitutional values.

This follows Ehrenreich’s call on Facebook four years ago for “revenge attacks against the SAJBD and other Zionist supporters” in retaliation for the deaths of Palestinian civilians. “The time has come to say very clearly that if a woman or child is killed in Gaza, then the SA Jewish Board of Deputies who are complicit, will feel the wrath of the people of SA with the age-old biblical teaching of an eye for an eye,” read the Ehrenreich post.

The SAHRC found Ehrenreich to have harassed and violated the SAJBD’s right “both to dignity and to equality”.

In its 26-page ruling, the commission said even if a clear distinction was made between the SAJBD and South African Jews, Ehrenreich’s statement would still have constituted a violation of the SAJBD’s rights.

The language of Ehrenreich’s Facebook post, said the SAHRC, called for war against members of the targeted group by saying “they should be murdered by their fellow South Africans in retaliation for acts taking place in another country”.

This was “deeply psychologically and emotionally hurtful in terms of Section 10(a) of the Promotion of Equality and Prohibition of Unfair Discrimination Act”, and further constituted incitement to cause harm, which was prohibited under the Bill of Rights.

SAJBD national chairperson Shaun Zagnoev said the ruling provided “a useful addition to existing case law that helped to clarify where the boundaries lay between freedom of expression and constitutionally prohibited hate speech”.

“The SAJBD welcomes the SAHRC ruling. It sends an unequivocal message that there is no justification for propagating hatred and making threats against fellow South Africans, irrespective of one’s political views, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he said.

Asked for comment, Ehrenreich was yesterday unrepentant and disregarded the SAHRC ruling. “I stand by my support for the community of Gaza against Zionist aggression. The SAJBD must stop their support of the Israeli army aggression. I would carefully consider the findings of the SAHRC and hope to engage with the SAJBD to help them understand the error of their ways,” he said.

I would carefully consider the findings ... and hope to engage with the SAJBD to help them understand the error of their ways.

Tony Ehrenreich, Cosatu Western Cape chairperson