In last week’s blog I examined the corroded state of our rule of law in Northern Ireland.
I reflected that our society is awash with symbols, slogans and songs that eulogise terrorism, which left unchecked and unenforced degrade our sense of decency and undermine good relations. Starkly, I pointed out that in Northern Ireland it feels like that it is safer to glorify terrorism than forget to top up your parking meter.
The picture of a masked man dressed as a Hamas terrorist, carrying a replica rifle in the heart of Derry during the Halloween festivities rightly shocked many people. Many but not all.
As is typical in Northern Ireland, selective outrage and selective silence followed. Political leaders should set standards and foster good relations; instead some only call out what is wrong when it fits with their underlying political beliefs or provides an opportunity to undermine their opponents. Those with malign intent in our communities feed off this ambivalence.
There is nothing noble or funny about terrorism. Hamas are a proscribed terrorist group who have carried out unspeakable crimes against the people of Israel. Any individual who thinks it is entertaining to dress up as an Hamas terrorist reveals their own inhumanity.
A subsequent picture of the man dressed as a Hamas terrorist, with the caption Trick Or Treat was even more chilling and deplorable, because it comes 30 years after the terrible massacre at Greysteel, just outside Derry. The suspect is fortunate a passing police patrol did not encounter him, as they could have mistaken him for a dissident republican on an active operation.
Great strides were made to make the Halloween festival in Derry an inclusive and family friendly event. It’s a pity that a few thoughtless idiots brought adverse publicity to one of the city’s major events.
The opportunity for a collective, united response to a blatant affront to human decency was undermined by the ambivalent political reaction. Swift and visible justice also plays a key role in setting out the acceptable boundaries in our society. Plain speaking and prompt action are needed when things like this occur.
In recent weeks in Northern Ireland several incidents have been quickly categorised by the PSNI as hate crimes, followed by a public declaration that a robust investigation would follow.
However, we are in real danger of creating a hierarchy of hate crime. The swiftness of action and robustness of language following racist and homophobic incidents is simply not matched when the alleged conduct is anti semetic.
We have a Jewish community in Northern Ireland, how would they have felt seeing a man dressed head to toe as a Hamas fighter on our streets. How supported will they feel by the political silence in some quarters? How will they feel today knowing that this man is still at large and may pop up at any time?
I posed a question on Twitter. If it was someone dressed up in Klu Klux Klan regalia popping up in Derry, would the response be different, would some of those who were silent be vocal, would the police language and action be more robust and urgent? I think it would and indeed it was when men dressed in KKK regalia in Newtownards in 2018.
Of course we are not alone in the emerging two tier approach to hate, because the national picture is alarming.
We have seen in London and in Manchester police officers taking down the posters that displayed the victims of Hamas abductions. This astonishing action was apparently taken to reduce community tensions and it sent a terrible signal to our Jewish communities across the UK.
Perceived inaction when a man was shouting “Jihad, Jihad, Jihad” sits uncomfortably beside taking action to remove posters featuring the victims of Hamas.
At home, Gerry Carroll MLA’s tweet, posted hours after the murderous attack on the Israeli people remains published. The PSNI confirmed to me today, that following an assessment the Tweet won’t be criminally investigated under either the Terrorism Act or the Communications Act.
Many political parties ignored Gerry Carroll’s tweet, but roundly condemned Edwin Poots MLA yesterday for his response to hate crime posters in South Belfast (despite Mr Poots condemning the language on the posters). Jewish people should feel as protected here as any other community, but they would be forgiven for having their doubts. The duality in political responses is palpable.
Returning to Londonderry and the pop up appearances of a man dressed as a Hamas fighter, there now needs to be a clear and robust response from politicians and the police. There is an opportunity to send a clear signal that hate, wherever it emanates and to whomever it is targeted, is unacceptable in our society and that it attracts swift consequences for perpretaors.
The danger is, because we accept so many symbols that glorify local terrorism, we turn a blind eye to the glorification of Hamas and relegate Jewish victims of hate below those who are targeted because of their colour or sexual orientation. The consequences of tolerating the few who want to glorify the terrorism of our past, poisons our present in unforeseen ways.
The pictures of masked loyalists walking with brazenness into a court of law recently unmasked problems in our rule of law. Just over a week later, the response to the pictures of a man dressed up as a Hamas terrorist revealed a further uncomfortable truth. Not all victims of hate here are equal.
In the coming weeks I’ll looking at steps that would strengthen our rule of law in Northern Ireland.
Burrows Blog 