Friday, March 15, 2019

NORWEGIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL RULES THAT “FUCK JEWS” CAN BE INTERPRETED AS CRITICISM OF ISRAEL. (AND IT GETS WORSE)

Last June, a Norwegian rapper named Kaveh performed at the Haugen Food Festival at St. Hanshaugen in Oslo. 
On stage, he asked if there were any of his fellow Muslims, and when the audience responded with some applause he wished them “Eid Mubarak.” 
He then asked if there were any Christians, and received some applause. Then he asked if there were any Jews and there was no response. 
After waiting a beat, he said, “Fuck Jews.” In front of all the families with children enjoying a food festival. 
He followed up with words to the effect that we are all God’s children anyway, implying that even Jews are sort of human. 
When this was reported to the police, they investigated and decided that “Fuck Jews” was not a racist statement. 
“The way it was said, it falls within the freedom of speech of artists and performing artists to make provocative and satirical statements or the like,” said the police report. 
Then, in January, State Attorney Trude Antonsen agreed with the police’s assessment. In her decision to close the case, she wrote that the statement is highly derogatory, offensive and false, but that it is not affected by the criminal code. That decision was appealed. 
Last week, Attorney General Tor Aksel Busch rejected the appeal on the grounds that “fuck Jews” can be understood as criticism of Israel. 
“It seems to be targeting Jews, but it can also be said to be targeting the state of Israel and showing dissatisfaction with its policies,” the Attorney General wrote in his decision.
GO READ THE WHOLE THING.

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