A London theater said it was “sorry and saddened” after an incident in which a Jewish spectator was allegedly kicked out of the theater after refusing to stand up while a Palestinian flag was being waved, according to an association.
According to the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), an Israeli man, his partner and four other people of Jewish faith left the room during the incident, which occurred Saturday at the Soho Theater during a show by comedian Paul Currie.
According to CAA, one of the affected spectators told the organization that the audience was encouraged to stand for the Ukrainian and Palestinian flags at the end of the show.
The Israeli was then asked why he did not get up, before according to the story relayed by CAA, the actor "yelled at him" asking him to leave, while others shouted "get out" or "free Palestine ".
The theater takes the matter “very seriously”
Saying it was "sorry and saddened", the theater assured that it was taking the incident "very seriously" and was seeking to establish what had happened "in the most thorough, sensitive and rapid manner possible." possible ".
A statement from Soho Theater pic.twitter.com/W4eiZwHHUt
— Soho Theater (@sohotheatre) February 12, 2024
“What members of the Jewish public have experienced is atrocious,” denounced a CAA spokesperson, “kicking Jews out of theaters is reminiscent of the darkest days of humanity and should have no place in right in the center of London in 2024.”
According to CAA, 80% of British Jews feel that recent events in Israel's Gaza have led to growing hostility towards Jews.
For example, the London police recorded 218 anti-Semitic acts between October 1 and 18, thirteen times more than the same period last year.