Palestinian protesters face racism charges for 'concert outburst'

Published on Monday 2 March 2009 23:30

A GROUP of pro-Palestinian protesters accused of disrupting a flagship concert by Israeli musicians in Scotland are to face new charges alleging their behaviour was racist.

Four campaigners had been charged with breach of the peace after they allegedly interrupted a performance by the Jerusalem String Quartet at the Edinburgh Festival.

But at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, they were told these charges would be dropped and new charges alleging they committed racially aggravated conduct raised against them.

Kevin Connor, 39, of Willowbrae Crescent, Niel Forbes, 54, of Wester Hailes Road, Vanessa Fuertes, 34, of Willowbrae Road, and Sofia Macleod, 38, of Glendinning Crescent, all Edinburgh, deny committing any offence.

They are all members of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which argues for a cultural boycott of Israel.

It was claimed the four caused alarm and distress to the musicians and audience by shouting at the players while they were performing at the capital's Queen's Hall on August 29 last year. The performers had been brought to the capital to perform thanks to the festival's 2008 theme of "Artists without Borders", which also featured performers from Israel and Iran.

At the time, the protesters claimed the musicians of the Jerusalem Quartet were affiliated to the Israeli Army and said they wanted to raise awareness of the plight of Palestinians.

Campaigners had lobbied the festival to cancel the performance, but organisers and managers of the venue, which is owned by the city council, decided to go ahead with the show.

About 35 protesters also picketed the performance from the pavement outside, waving a banner and handing leaflets to concert-goers as they arrived at the venue.

Solicitor Cameron Tait, defending Connor, said the Crown had deserted the breach of the peace charge and intended to re-raise the matter as racially aggravated conduct.

Speaking outside court, Ms Macleod said: "We just think it's totally ridiculous. Our actions and campaigning are based on international human rights.

"We take the allegations seriously but there is no question whatsoever that any of our actions are racist in any way."

However, Mick Napier, chair of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, later said: "We regard the dropping of the original charges as a victory for the campaign, but we actually welcome the decision of the Crown to proceed with more serious charges.

"We will be grateful for the forum to explain that our opposition to the violent, racist state of Israel is motivated by our commitment to human rights for all.

"We hope very much that these charges will not be quietly dropped and that we will have the opportunity to meet our critics in court."