The CRIF in action
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Published on 27 April 2005

ANTI-SEMITIC MATERIAL ON SALE AT MAJOR MUSLIM MEETING

Anti-Semitic audiocassettes were on sale at a major annual meeting of French Muslims near Paris organized by the Union of French Muslim Association, UOIF, a leading member of the official umbrella body representing the French Muslims. The cassettes were sold by the Comité de Bienfaisance et de Soutien aux Palestiniens (CBSP), the Committee for Welfare and Support of the Palestinians. The CBSP was repeatedly accused of having tight links with the Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization. The cassettes were manufactured in Lebanon and their content was a blend of songs and speeches calling, among others, for the Muslim Holy War and the murder of Jews.



CRIF firmly condemned the circulation of such hate material.

CRIF demanded that UOIF would see to it that such recordings that are blatant incitement to racial hatred and violence be banned from its meetings. Moreover, CRIF calls on the French authorities to forbid the circulation of such material in France.

Following CRIF's condemnation, UOIF's President Lhaj Thami Breze said, "It is regrettable that such a thing happened, and is even more regrettable that this incident was not brought to our attention during the meeting. We could have sent a bailiff and sue (the organization selling the cassettes) (…) One cannot tolerate the sale of such cassettes, this is an incitation to racial hatred, an incitation against religions, this is unacceptable."

M. Lhaj Thami Breze added that the CBSP denied having offered such material for sale.

CRIF took notice with satisfaction of the regrets expressed by the President of the UOIF, M. Lhaj Thami Breze.

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