Winchester City Council adopts international antisemitism definition
The council has become the latest authority to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
At a full council meeting, councillors agreed to the definition to send a clear message that antisemitism, hate crime and racism will not be tolerated.
Winchester City Council leader, Cllr Caroline Horrill, said:
“I am delighted that this definition has been adopted. This makes clear that hatred of any kind, including antisemitism, and discrimination against people for their beliefs has no place in our community.”
The IHRA definition sets out antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”.
The definition was officially adopted by the Government in December 2016, and later the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and by the leadership of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and Plaid Cymru parties. It has also been adopted by a large number of councils across the country.