BMA votes against use of discredited ‘IHRA’ antisemitism definition

The British Medical Association (BMA) conference has voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion against the NHS’s use of the so-called ‘IHRA definition’ of antisemitism (IHRA). The motion also called for the BMA — the medical doctors’ union — to provide urgent support and training to doctors targeted by the Israel lobby which, shamefully, includes the General Medical Council (GMC).

The IHRA is widely used to suppress free speech on Israel and has been rejected by legal experts and even by the man who wrote it. It continues, unsurprisingly, to be pushed by Israel lobby groups and Israel-allied politicians.

The full motion reads:

That this meeting expresses grave concern about the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in the NHS without proper consultation or risk assessment, and calls upon the BMA to:-

i) immediately investigate the impact of IHRA definition adoption on NHS staff, particularly regarding the chilling effect on legitimate political speech and professional expression of ethical concerns about Israel’s actions in Palestine;

ii) demand that NHS England and all NHS organisations conduct comprehensive risk assessments before implementing any speech-related policies, ensuring compliance with Article 10 ECHR (freedom of expression) and Section 6 Human Rights Act 1998 (public authorities must act compatibly with Convention rights);

iii) provide urgent guidance and support to members who face disciplinary action or professional detriment for expressing legitimate political views or ethical concerns about international conflicts, including Palestine/Israel;

iv) lobby the government and NHS England to revoke the mandatory adoption of the IHRA definition across the NHS until proper safeguards, consultation processes, and clarity on implementation are established;

v) advocate for the protection of free speech in healthcare settings, ensuring that NHS staff can engage in legitimate political discourse and express ethical concerns without fear of professional reprisal;

vi) work with other healthcare unions and professional bodies to challenge any attempts to use the IHRA definition to suppress legitimate debate about human rights violations, war crimes, or colonial practices in international conflicts.

BMA — ‘Shock decision’

The vote has rattled the UK Israel lobby — like the hard-right Jewish Chronicle, which described it as a “shock decision” and claimed the IHRA’s purpose is to “protect Jewish healthcare workers and patients”.

In reality, the UK government and Israel lobby have used it to target a string of medics, nurses and others who have dared to speak out against Israel’s genocide, or even to show solidarity with its victims. With the collusion of the GMC, notorious pro-apartheid legal-bullying group UK Lawyers for Israel has tried — and so far failed — eleven times to remove British-Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu Sitta’s medical licence, despite humiliating defeats.

Tory-made peer and Israel fanatic John Mann is waging war on expressions of support for the Palestinian people against genocide. Even before Mann’s ‘review’, the NHS was weaponising antisemitism to silence dissent. Mann has previously smeared both the Canary and Skwawkbox, failing embarassingly in both cases.

It’s far past time for UK governments and institutions to stop dancing to the demands of entitled friends of genocide.

Featured image via MiddleEastEye