Solidarity to the organizations for boycott of Israel, in Lebanon and the whole world

Four organizations in Lebanon have been sued and are asked to pay 180,000 dollars because they dared, in June 2010, to call for a boycott of known rock group Placebo’s concert in Lebanon, because (just a few days after the massacre of 8 Turks and 1 American of Turkish origin, participants in the Freedom Flotilla) it had proceed, as if nothing had happened, in carrying out its concert in Israel. While its singer Brian Molko had allegedly made, exactly those days, statements of support of Israel. In the same time while other famous artists were cancelling their concerts in Israel.

The civil complaint was addressed by businessman Jihad Al Murr, representative of the organizing company 2U2C. The organizations sued is Al Adab magazine and more specifically its editor and director of Dar Al Adab publishing house, Samah Idriss, the Aidoun Refugee Rights Center, the Campaign to Boycott the Supporters of Israel in Lebanon, and the Global BDS Campaign in Lebanon.

Note that the concert did happen normally, with 2,000 spectators, although attendance was reduced in comparison with the 5,000 spectators in 2004, because thousands of people asked for reimbursement of already sold tickets. From the 180,000 dollars the businessman is asking, the 150,000 concern reimbursement of tickets, while the rest of it is for other expanses he had made.

As Greek Association for Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we are in solidarity with the organizations for boycotting Israel and its supporters, in Lebanon and we remind that boycott calls are protected by the fundamental right of freedom of opinion and expression (Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

The civil complaint against the organizations in Lebanon comes after the prosecutions of BDS activists in France and the police repression against activists that had blocked a shop in Australia, as well as the call from the Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister towards the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission to investigate for a possible prosecution of the activists. But also after the voting in the Israeli parliament (Knesset) of a law that makes boycott an offense, something described by Amnesty International as an attack on freedom of expression. All these prosecutions and attacks prove indeed how effective are the different boycott campaigns.

Boycott is the most suitable and non-violent way to put pressure on Israel (but also its supporters) to end occupation and apartheid. Boycott can save lives of both Palestinians and Israelis, as well as foreigners in the area, by helping to have as soon as possible a fair solution, in order to end these bloody conflict. Those who should be tried and pay for compensations are not the boycott supporters, but those guilty of human rights abuses, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Those who should receive compensations are not the businessmen loosing money because of boycott, but the victims of daily human rights abuses, and of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Solidarity to the prosecuted boycott activists worldwide

Boycott Israeli apartheid!

Greek Association for Solidarity with the Palestinian People