Islington Council spent £136,000 to defend a ban on jazz musician Gilad Atzmon, who’s been accused of anti-Semitism.
A Freedom of Information request on Whatdotheyknow.com revealed the money was spent by the council on preparing an emergency legal defence and responding to complaints made on the musicians’s behalf.
Mr Atzmon, 55, was scheduled to perform at the council-owned Islington Assembly Hall. He was set to play with Ian Dury’s former band, The Blockheads, in December, until ticket-holders complained to the council that Mr Atzmon espoused hostile views that made them feel unwelcome.
Mr Atzmon, a saxophonist, has made controversial comments about Israel and the Jewish community. He drew comparisons between the Israeli state and Nazi Germany along with criticising “Jewish identity politics”.
The council ban on Mr Atzmon performing was met with anger by the musician, who hired solicitors and threatened legal action against what he called “unlawful behaviour”.
Islington Council has claimed that its outlay was compounded by Mr Atzmon encouraging others to send off complaints and freedom of information requests to which the council is legally obliged to respond.
In a statement, Islington Council said: “Mr Atzmon’s views are widely considered to be anti-Semitic. Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to foster good relations between different races and religions within the borough.
“We fully support Islington Council’s decision” – Community Security Trust
“The council’s decision and subsequent appeal decision were challenged by solicitors representing Mr Atzmon. They also threatened to bring an urgent application to court for judicial review. Mr Atzmon also encouraged others to write to complain to the council and to ask questions under the Freedom of Information Act.”
“The council was required to deal with all of these and needed to take the legal steps necessary to prepare and defend itself. At the last minute, however, Mr Atzmon decided not to apply for urgent judicial review.”
Mr Atzmon said: “I see the council crying constantly about funding, but then they spend hundreds of thousands on stopping someone from playing music.
“It’s beyond pathetic. It is an extremely corrupt council. England [and the Labour Party] are toxic at the moment.
“It’s partly because of the anti-Corbyn campaign within the party, who brand him as anti-Semitic.”
Suspended Labour MP Chris Williamson was forced to apologise in December of last year for defending Mr Atzmon on Twitter.
Mr Atzmon also claimed the legal dispute has not yet been resolved, meaning the council is likely to fork out another “three to four hundred thousand pounds”.
Speaking about the accusations levelled at him, Mr Atzmon said: “I’m not an anti-Semite. I was playing with Jews in the band. I am critical of Jewish identity politics, but I am also critical of all identity politics, because I think we fall into this trap, which separates us when we should be looking for ways to unite us.”
Community Security Trust, a charity offering protection to British Jews, said: “Councils should not make their buildings, staff and resources available for those who are widely regarded as racists. We fully support Islington Council’s decision.”
Photo: Gilad Atzmon and Joseph Navratil by LeZèbre (Wikimedia Commons)
