Council adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism

Bridgend County Borough Council has become the latest local authority to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

At a Cabinet Equalities Committee meeting held on Monday 19 November, councillors agreed to the following definition which has also been adopted by Welsh Government, dozens of other UK councils and the four police forces across Wales…

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
- the IHRA working definition of antisemitism

We want to do absolutely everything we can to make it clear that hatred of any kind, including antisemitism or discrimination against people for their beliefs, has no place in our communities. The IHRA definition helps all organisations to understand and recognise contemporary antisemitism, whether it is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms or actions.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, the council's Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations