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Jewish Leader Urges Commonwealth Parley to Seek Legislation Against Community Libel

July 20, 1950
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A demand for the adoption of legislation in Britain making community libel a criminal offense was voiced here today at the meeting of Jewish organizations from British Commonwealth nations which is now taking place here.

Reuven Lieberman, chairman of the law and parliamentary committee of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who presided at today’s session suggested that the legislation be directed against anyone conducting propaganda “directed against any body of persons within the United Kingdom distinguishable as such by race, creed or color, and which is calculated to bring the same into hatred, ridicule or contempt.” Mr. Lieberman asserted that such legislation, by contributing toward the elimination of racial hatred in general, would not only protect the Jews but would also help preserve world peace.

He also reviewed the influence of German anti-Semitic propaganda in Britain before the war, and the revival of Mosleyite activities in the postwar period. He pointed out that although the Jews as a community have been attacked by anti-Semites in Britain for the past 14 years they have no legal protection as a community under the present law.

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