To think this so called art exhibition in Margate is nothing short of a hate crime

Yes of course it was reported. Some unknown police officer decided that there was no case to answer. Not to worry though Zoe something is not letting it drop. Maremia

Maremia 17.59-

Yes- see post 14.45 "Police Findings: Kent Police confirmed that officers attended the exhibition to view the material, but ruled that the work did not meet the legal threshold for a criminal hate crime or a non-crime hate incident (NCHI). The force stated that because the content was "political in nature," "focused on a nation state," and part of "artistic expression," it was protected by free speech laws".

The Isle of Thanet newspaper printed an article titled "Police complaint lodged with accusation of 'antisemitic' art show at Margate Gallery" a week ago. It quotes Zoe Strimpel following her visit to Matthew Collings "Drawings Against Genocide- Let it Bring Hope, Let it Be a Tale" exhibition. She was shocked by the use of Nazi imagery and Star of David pasted around figures.

The article quotes other commentators, who said the "art depicted what was currently happening in Gaza" One said "Why go to an exhibition called "Drawings Against Homicide" What were you expecting. Polite bombs and polite blown up kids?' Another added "Some of these are just a rendition of actual photographs taken by Israeli soldiers".

The exhibition was curated by the organisation Thanet4Palestine, a grass roots political organisation and community action group. Their spokesperson made the following statement: 'In September 2025, the UN Human Rights Council's Independent International Committee of Inquiry concluded in a report that Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza...Collings work is both a reflection on and a resistance of the unfolding genocide that we have witnessed live streamed on our phones in the last two and half years".

Some people see this as disgusting art and he should be prosecuted and others see it as a political statement, curated by a political organisation against genocide, in the context that the UN stated Israel committed a war crime and the ICC issued a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest. Clearly it is provocative art.

Rosie51

Well said TerriBull the apologists and deniers never cease.
Anti Zionism is a very convenient hook to hang antisemitic views on. Just like the transwomen issue has given space for lots of men who hate women to vent their spleens while portraying themselves as 'kind' people.

I agree, there’s always a ‘but’ as well.

Thanet4Palestine , hmmm, not antisemitic at all I bet 😉

Wonder if that group would appreciate so called art depicting what Palestinian hamas and supporters did in and around the kibbutzim and the Nova music festival?

I think art exhibitions can often try and be provocative in order to create an interest and influx to view. It's shame it has been in such poor taste and has upset so many many people

Netanyahu is anti Palestine and the Palestinians at the receiving end of Netanyhau's genocide are anti Netanyahu. Israelis are anti Hammas as are most of the world. Thanet4Palestine is anti genocide in the same way so many posters have confirmed they are against genocide on Gransnet when they have expressed their views about Netanyahu. Does that make Thanet4Palestine and those Gransnetters by defitnin therefore anti semitic? I don't think it does but others may differ. We all are able to express our differing political views in light of UK free speech laws.

The question is whether free speech laws in relation to political expression of being against genocide and against Zionism applies to art as well as the spoken word. Currently UK law allows for free speech whether spoken word or drawings- the police interpreted this art as political expression in the eyes of the law.

I'm not defending the police view merely stating fact. It's clearly uncomfortable and provocative art- as you might expect in an exhibition so entitled.

I think there's a huge problem when people conflate Judaism/Jews with the actions of the Israeli government led by Netanyahu or Palestinians with the terrorist actions of Hamas. Surely we can condemn the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza without being anti semitic (plenty of Jews do) and we can support the rights of Palestinians without supporting Hamas (plenty of Palestinians don't support Hamas)?

Fortunately hardly anyone will go to this gallery and see them.

Oreo Unfortunately they will now after all the hype.

foxie48 19.08- I agree with you.

I visited the Imperial war museum last year in a London and a large part of one floor was devoted to WW2 and depicted German genocide against the Jews- showing art and photographs depicting horrendous acts. That exhibition is not viewed as a hate crime against the Germans in uk law. Neither did that evidence the museum, artists, photographers or attendees were anti German- that is an unnecessary conflation.

foxie48

I think there's a huge problem when people conflate Judaism/Jews with the actions of the Israeli government led by Netanyahu or Palestinians with the terrorist actions of Hamas. Surely we can condemn the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza without being anti semitic (plenty of Jews do) and we can support the rights of Palestinians without supporting Hamas (plenty of Palestinians don't support Hamas)?

Surely we can condemn the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza without being anti semitic (plenty of Jews do) and we can support the rights of Palestinians without supporting Hamas (plenty of Palestinians don't support Hamas)?

Yes, we can and do, foxie48.

However this "artist" has openly supported Hamas and these pictures do not portray Netanyahu, they are stereotypical, depicting Jews and showing the Star of David, the symbol of Jewish people.

Now he has been given the green light by police, he will be able continue with his anti-semitic campaign.

1930s Britain repeats itself nearly 100 years on.
Have we learnt nothing?

Thanks for the info GNs.
So, at the moment, the Police are not acting.

commentators who viewed the exhibition, including the police viewed the art as against genocide and against Zionism. You conflate his art as support for Hamas and an anti semitic campaign. You are entitled to your view as he is to his view in the eyes of the law.

The police have acted/ investigated and concluded no evidence of a law being broken Maremia.

Thank you LemonJam.

Magenta8

Oreo Unfortunately they will now after all the hype.

It’s a long way to go to see rubbish.

The police would have acted if a group of people had complained and were noisy outside the gallery saying it was a disgrace.
Jewish people here in the UK tend to not want to draw attention to themselves.
Wonder why that is🤔

All this is just giving publicity to it - thats the big mistake the Telegraph made making it such a big thing - do you think they really care however?

No, it was a story that would stir up controversy/sell papers.

I don’t know if it’s accurate but the owner of the Joseph Wales Studios seems to be a Russian female artist …..

I don't want the papers not to report this

It was an item ( a true one) in the news, why wouldn’t they report it?
Newspapers are a business they’re there to sell them.

MartavTaurus

I read this a day or so ago. It's grotesque.

We went to a town in Southern Germany, may have been Austria, and there was a fountain with a bogeyman type Jewish figure eating babies and spitting them. Horrific.

It's all designed to incite hatred of innocent Jewish people. Makes me feel sick.

So which was it, Germany or Austria? What was the name of the town, please?

Well unfortunatly, with the rise of the Far Right Nationalists in S Germany, it is credible.