Library urged to ban Shul sues its former anti-israel Urdu novel accountant
WEST LONDON Synagogue has sued its former accountant, Anne Allen, in the High Court in an attempt to recover damages of more than £500,000, a year after charges of theft against her were dropped.
Mrs Allen was due to stand trial at the Old Bailey in 2012 but the Crown Prosecution Service withdraw the charges only days before the case was due to heard.
Originally, she had faced allegations of theft of more than £600,000 — but, according to her lawyer, the amount had been reduced to £34,000 shortly before the trial date.
Her lawyer at the time said that Mrs Allen maintained her innocence and denied stealing any money from the synagogue.
Mrs Allen was dismissed in 2010 after what West London members were told was the discovery of “financial irregularities”.
In documents filed at the High Court, West London Synagogue alleged that Mrs Allen may have breached her contract and may have participated in a “conspiracy to cause harm” to the synagogue “by unlawful means”.
The synagogue stated that i t expected to recover sums “in excess of £500,000”.
In a brief hearing last month, West London indicated that it was looking for a settlement.
Neither the synagogue’s leaders nor Mrs Allen wished to comment on the legal action.
West London expects to recover in excess of £500,000
FEARS HAVE been raised over antisemitic books being stocked by public libraries.
Concern surrounds an Urdu novel, whose cover displays a star of David at the centre of what appears to be an American flag. It features a Jewish central character called The Storm who is leader of a fictional country that appears to represent Israel, and who seeks world domination.
The book, by Pakistani writer Quaisar Salim and published by Karachi Media Graphics, was borrowed from the Willesden Green library in Brent, north-west London. Another copy is currently on loan at Tooting library in south London.
Its title is translated into English as The Genghis Khan of the 21st century. A review, printed on the back cover, states: “The author has perceived events in the Middle East as a Jewish conspiracy.
“He has also made references to the domination of the Jews in the US society and their role in the framing of the official policies of the super power.
“Israel, which happens to be the focal point of the whole story, is given the name of Judiana.”
OneUrdu-speaker,whoreadthenovel, said it was a sophisticated book with points to make about how governments and leaders treat their people.
But he added: “If somebody felt hatred towards Jews, they could use the book to say: ‘See, I’m right about the Jewish conspiracy. This author proves it’.”
Board of Deputies vice-president and defence chair Jonathan Arkush said: “It would be extremely disturbing if such a book was foundinaBritishpublic library.
“We will be urgently contacting Brent to seek the withdrawal of any such publication immediately.”
But a Brent council spokesperson defended the decision to stock the book.
He said: “Material will not be rejected just because it is considered controversial. We haven’t had any other complaints about this book.
“We follow the industry standard advice from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council by providing a range of stock covering different opinions, perspectives and ideologies in accordance with t he law. However we willhave no part in promoting literature that is a direct incitement to hatred or violence.” But Oren Segal, a director at the Anti-Defamation League,said:“This bookisabsolutely antisemitic. I t ’ s t a l k i ng about antisemitic conspiracy theories. Thesewordsandideasonapagearevery dangerous and can insight extremism.
The book was supplied to Brent by the Co-operative of Indic Library Authorities. They in turn received it from Urdu literature supplier, the Book Centre in Bradford. Ifikhar Qureshi, from the Book Centre: “We are utterly against literature which discourages racial harmony.”