During a rally in Edinburgh, a Police Scotland officer advised a Jewish bystander to conceal his Star of David to avoid "triggering" the protesters, described as "peaceful" by the officer. Critics on social media have condemned this advice, arguing that the police's role is to enforce the law and protect all members of the public, including Jews proudly declaring their faith. Some commentators have likened the advice to the imposition of "Dhimmi status," historically associated with the concealment of Jewish identity in Arab lands, and have criticized the police for appeasing Islamists and Antisemites. The Jewish man refused to hide his Star of David, further highlighting the tensions between the need for public safety and the rights to religious freedom and expression.
A Scottish police officer manages to disrespect the rights, dignity, and maturity of everyone — Jews, Palestinians, and others — engaging in vital, civil public discourse on his beat. https://t.co/BoK9iAhEIA
Scottish cop asks Jewish man to hide his Star of David in case the Palestine mob attacks him. He refuses. https://t.co/bEpdxKymcr
Appeasement. Our police officers aren't there to form a protection ring for pro-Palestine protestors. They're there to enforce the law and protect the public – that includes Jews proudly declaring their faith. https://t.co/tN9wn1hASt
Here is a @PoliceScotland officer asking a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David & identity, to avoid “triggering” the “peaceful” mob. Jewish people shouldn’t need to make adjustments due to emotionally unstable cranks. This is a cowardly approach. https://t.co/fHoGyGlGla
So police in the UK are now giving advice to Jews in the street to HIDE their Star of David because Islamists and Antisemites might see it and get angry. This is the start of Dhimmi status. It's the way Jews had to hide their identity in Arab lands. Now in the UK.
At a rally in Edinburgh, a @PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters. The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to… https://t.co/kI8As7KNCm