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

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

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?

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.

Oreo Unfortunately they will now after all the hype.

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

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)?

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 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

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?

Thanet4Palestine , hmmm, not antisemitic at all I bet 😉

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.

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.

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".

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

Has this exhibition been reported to the Police?

AGAA4- I agree with you again- the police do not make laws- they only can enforce them. They arrest and charge and gather evidence. Then refer to Crown Prosecution Service/CPS.

I often go into police custody suites supporting and advising those in custody. The police can only arrest, charge and gather evidence "within the letter of the law". If the police feel they do have sufficient evidence they then refer to CPS. It is the CPS who decides whether there is a realistic prospect (over 51% chance of success) of prosecution and only the CPS that makes the decision to prosecute.

I find that so many people believe the police make the laws. They just carry them out however they personally feel about a particular law.
I know police officers can get frustrated by some laws that may seem wrong to them. Those police people who dealt with this may have been as sickened by that so called art as many of us are.
Some officers are Jewish.

silverlining48

I don’t think most sensible people dislike Jews in general, why would they, but they do dislike what the Israeli government has been/is doing.
I don’t think that people supporting Gaza and the West Bank support Hamas. Again why would they.
I do believe that Israel has now lost its post ww2 ‘protection’ from criticism. That means for the first time the Jewish state can and is being openly criticised when previously no one felt comfortable doing so.
This has made things uncomfortable for Jews, over the world sensitive to this criticism seeing it as personal attacks, when generally, that is not the case.

Really good points.

I criticise Israel. I believe the UK Jewish Council would define me as antisemitic because of that statement. I also criticise the USA, Russia, used to criticise South Africa.

However I'd never dislike or treat differently an individual or group because they were Jewish, & I acknowledge the evil of the Holocaust that has obviously echoed down the generations because it was such horror.

I do think there are people in the UK who are antisemitic and they have come out of the closet as the protection from criticism of Israel has waned. I deplore this.

AGAA4 16.40: LemonJam So far nobody has suggested a law wording change- so be it.- "'I did earlier!"

Do you mean this post of yours AGAA4?- "It would be fair to say that those who have drawn up the guidelines for what a hate crime is are at fault here. The police only act within those parameters. This sort of "art" should be stopped because anyone can put an innocent interpretation on a a vile piece of work. It is time that the laws on hate crime include anything which can be interpreted as discriminatory whatever the artist says. It's a good way of getting away with antisemitism as it stand now".

I actually agree with you that the police can only enforce the law as it is currently worded.

GrannyGravy 16.42- thats ok, it's completely up to you whether you wish to suggest how the law can be changed. The police can only enforce the law as on statute.

Rosie51 16.27- I am not one of the posters defending Collins art and neither have I seen the wording of his tweet you mention so can't specifically comment on that either. However are you aware whether anyone who read the tweet at the time report it to the police if they believe he was inciting racial hatred of the Jews? If so what was the outcome?

Lemonamdjam unfortunately it is not free speech for all in the UK in 2026.

LemonJam

I've just read you 15.45 post GrannyGravy : 'Lemonandjam I would like the law to protect all citizens of U.K. from those who hate them and hide behind art work. As it appears that at the moment it doesn’t protect Jews, as Judaism has become the same as Zionism for some.

How would you actually word that revised law then so that it includes artists who make art against Zionism, ie making art expressing their political view against Zionism? If artists are not allowed to express their political views would it also be against the law for posters to express their political views on Gransnet for example?

I appreciate 'Zionism' has become the same as Judaism for some but is that is that how the law sees it? Ie Zionism is defined as a political view- and at the moment we have free speech laws in the UK for expression of political views.

I am not a lawmaker, I put my X in the box on election days.

I expect those elected to ensure that the law is enforced equally for all U.K. citizens.

It’s not rocket science Lemonandjam

LemonJam

So far nobody has suggested a law wording change- so be it.

I did earlier!

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.