This is a guest post by Abdullah Noorudeen from Coolness of Hind.
The ongoing genocidal Israeli war on Gaza continues to expose the complicity of Western governments, evident in their censuring of pro-Palestinian expression.
Employees are made to suffer for merely calling out the killing of innocent civilians. Social media platforms censor pro-Palestinian accounts. Universities are targeting pro-Palestine activist groups. In Europe, Governments have banned pro-Palestine marches, and there has been a sharp increase in the cases of state repression related to Palestine.
In the UK, the sphere of schooling is also surfacing concerns of pro-Israeli repression through the sceptre of PREVENT (Britain’s counter-extremism strategy), with children paying a price for expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
Barclay Primary: Punishing an 8-Year-Old
An example of this type of censorship is a case that came to mainstream media prominence back in December, 2023. It was reported that a British school, Barclay Primary School in Leyton, London, had punished an eight-year-old boy for refusing to remove a badge of the Palestine flag from his coat (see here, here). Further coverage followed in The Times towards the end of January, 2024 (here).
According to the father, the boy had chosen to don the flag as a form of grieving for his family and friends his age who were killed by Israel. Staff at the primary school forbade him from playing outside or eating lunch with his year group, ordered him to wear a “ridiculously oversized coat” that saw him mocked by his peers, and informed him he would not be welcome on school grounds wearing his own coat. The school also threatened the boy’s parents with a PREVENT referral.
The school used political impartiality as a defence and called on parents to avoid “overt demonstrations of political belief.” But this excuse suggests quite the opposite; it is pro-Israeli in that it aligns with the broader, pro-Israeli political zeitgeist that has attacked pro-Palestine activism.
The school’s response to the war in Ukraine reinforces this perception.
Instead of stern letters enforcing an apolitical schooling ethos and intimidating children and parents with PREVENT referrals, the school sent emotive letters to parents demonstrating concern for the victims in Ukraine, highlighting the pastoral activities for pupils. Barclay Primary even encouraged the children to raise funds for Ukraine.
Disconcertingly, the local Barclay community is highlighting further cases occurring at the school, with one child as young as six being intimidated by staff for merely having a Palestinian flag pinned to her coat.
Of course, the school’s response follows the Islamophobic pattern since the 2014 Trojan Horse hoax. It diverts attention from its glaring hypocrisy, authoritarian behaviour, alleged mistreatment of children, and scathing criticism from parents and even former staff members (accessible here) by pointing to unsubstantiated claims of “intimidation” and “threats” against the school.
But there is more to this story than mere misdirecting claims of intimidation. The school’s hypocritical anti-Palestine intolerance needs to be understood in the context of its pro-Israeli connections.
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Lion Academy Trust and Justin James
The first pro-Israeli connection can be seen through Justin James, the CEO of Lion Academy Trust—which runs Barclay Primary School—and the Executive Principal of Barclay Primary.
James has been partaking in and promoting Saudi Arabia’s 2023 Education Summit.
(Link)
His Lion Academy trust is, in fact, an “associate partner” of the event.
In an interview as part of the Saudi Summit, James states:
“At the Lion Academy Trust, we focus on setting a culture that is ambitious, respectful and community focussed.”
Given the treatment of Muslim children, the parents in the Barclay community would presumably differ strongly.
Pertinently, the Summit is aimed at “transforming” education in the Kingdom, which means, according to Israeli propaganda outlets, a reduction of Islamic learning. James’s presence at this Summit seems appropriate; in 2015, his school banned Muslim children from fasting during Ramadan.
The Education Summit is part of Mohammed bin Salman’s economic reform project known as Vision 2030. Integral to this project is the effective normalisation of economic relations with the genocidal state of Israel (as documented here). Indeed, the project has been endorsed by the anti-Muslim neocon organisation, Henry Jackson Society. In 2022, reports confirmed that Israeli technology company IntuView provided its services to Saudi Arabia to help the Kingdom define elements of its Vision 2030 by scanning the data of Saudi citizens.
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Furthermore, Google is a “Gold Partner” of the Summit. Google has a history of pushing neocon-framed counter-extremism projects for several years, having its projects managed and influenced by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), the (now defunct) Quilliam Foundation, and the Quilliam-linked Gen Next Foundation—all of which are connected to the Islamophobia industry. ISD is a project of the late George Weidenfeld, a well-connected political networker and former political advisor for the first President of Israel, Chaim Weizmann. He was also President of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Britain-Israel. He believed that “even the so-called moderate Muslims have this goal in mind to Islamise Europe…when it comes to the entirety of Islam…they must make it finally clear where they stand in relation to our civilisation” (source).
Pertinently, Google’s executives signed a $1.22 billion contract to provide cloud technology and advanced artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities to the Israeli government and military, known as Project Nimbus (see more here). The tech giant is currently listed as a BDS target.
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Barbara Hotz, an Israel-Loving Jewish School, and Its Israeli-War-Crime-Supporting Principal
Another possible explanation for Barclay School’s anti-Palestine double standard may be Barbara Hotz, a trustee of Lion Academy Trust.
Hotz has been the director of Rosh Pinah Jewish School Trust, a voluntary aided school, since 2009. Its charitable object is to provide education and learning and facilitate religious activities. However, the school’s 2022 annual report controversially states that the school “imbues” a “love for Israel”:
This “love” for a state engaged in a plausible genocide is shockingly exemplified by the Jewish school’s former principal.
Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet has been an honorary principal since 1999. It is unclear when he resigned, as one source from 2016 reports his resignation, whilst another from 2020 suggests he remains at the school (see also here). Assuming the former date, we can presume that Hotz and Schochet were together at Rosh Pinah for at least five years.
Schochet is United Synagogue’s most “senior Rabbi” and has served Mill Hill Synagogue for over 30 years. Soon after October 7th, PM Rishi Sunak sent a letter to the synagogue claiming that “the people who support Hamas are responsible”—a distinctly wider net of blame that has enabled the collapse of the principle of distinction and a high Palestinian death toll. Sunak also expressed support and solidarity.
Schochet shared this letter on ‘X’, formerly Twitter:
Was the PM aware that the synagogue’s Rabbi has anti-Islam views and supports genocidal Israelis and their criminal actions?
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In the following post, Schochet demonises Islam by conflating it with a widely denounced terror group:
(Link)
He has called South Africa “rabid antisemitic hypocrites” for invoking the Genocide Convention against Israel.
(Link)
The International Court of Justice has found the case of genocide to be plausible.
Disturbingly, Schochet has vocalised support for the Zionist army and its genocidal war crimes in Gaza.
In the following post, Schochet shares a supportive post depicting a destroyed Palestinian house in Khan Yunis, Gaza, which has been converted into a synagogue by IOF soldiers. The house is strewn with Hebrew writing and the star of David.
(Link)
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In another post, Schochet ecstatically shares footage of a soldier with an American accent in Israel speaking to IDF soldiers, stating:
“I will burn their city to the ground. I will find every rat hole that they hide in, and I will drop enough explosives… It’s hunting season in Gaza.”
(Link)
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Schochet has even promoted Ezra Yachin, a 95-year-old Israeli reservist and terrorist who has said:
“Erase the memory of them [Palestinians]. Erase them, their families, mothers, and children. These animals can no longer live… Every Jew with a weapon should go out and kill them.”
If a Muslim head teacher was promoting ISIS footage, he or she would be condemned, charged for glorifying terrorism, and barred from coming anywhere near children.
The Rabbi continues to serve a synagogue and has shaped a primary school for 17 years—both registered charities, mind you—without facing any repercussions whatsoever.
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Concluding Remarks
These shocking posts raise worrying questions about the type of “love for Israel” Rosh Pinah Jewish Primary School has been indoctrinating children with. Under Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, was the school going beyond “a religious character” to become a breeding ground for genocidal Jewish nationalism?
Safeguarding concerns should be addressed to Ofsted here and the Charity Commission here.
But the focus here is Barclay Primary and its treatment of young children for merely expressing their solidarity for some 12,000 dead Palestinian children.
From this perspective, the state of the Zionist Jewish school brings into question the impartiality of Barbara Hotz, a trustee of Lion Academy managing the Barclay Primary.
If Hotz has no problem directing a primary school expressly promoting Israeli partisanship, with a Rabbi who now lauds Israeli genocidal terrorists, statements, and possible war crimes, then it is quite reasonable to question the guidance she is giving to Barclay Primary. Is she prioritising Barclay Primary or the “love of Israel”?
Similarly, James Justin and his Trust’s advocacy of the Israel-normalising Vision 2030 project casts doubt over the school’s neutrality.
Considering these factors, it is difficult to view the school’s treatment of young children symbolically expressing grief for Palestinian children as anything but advancing a pro-Israeli agenda.
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Every parent should remove their child from this school and demand an apology from them. Speak up, schools are inherently bullies mostly, it is rare to find a good decent impartial school. I cannot believe any Muslim parent knowing about this, would still happily send their child to this Islamophobic ‘school’.
This sort of stuff is affecting my school as well; someone from my school brought a Palestinian flag to school and was given an hour detention, as it was deemed to political.
Schools are the best propaganda machines the West has come up with.
someone like you is clearly much worse I mean if you’re the kind of people sites like these are attracting then we may be doing more harm then good here but again it’s like Maliki Clique said: most Muslims aren’t even worth talking to
he ain’t a scholar to follow he’s a revert you’re that Hussein guy who was originally known as Bilal let me fix the quote of maliki “most Shias Aren’t worth talking to.
my name is Ali bud and no watch his video Maliki Clique specifically said “most Muslims aren’t even worth talking to” and you’re proving him right and also he’s a Sheikh himself and has been studying for over 30 years you discredit his words because you don’t like them and you only follow “scholars” or anyone really who agrees with your delusions, you aren’t fooling anyone Habibi I know people like you very well
He’s a sheikh yes but not a scholar as for the “scholars who agree with our delusions”‘isn’t that what you do with your ayatollahs?
You’re really making me laugh with your mental derangement. I honestly don’t know who you’re confusing me with nor do I follow Maliki Clique or have any positive or negative feedback on him. But I am anti rafidi if that’s the only thing you have right on me.
Still think Iran is run by “majoos” or have you flipped and you think it’s run by Jews again? Or maybe you’ve made up your mind and chosen only one myth to spread yeah?
It is run by majos and what he said was right the best propaganda machine the west has Made was the school system
Lol up apparently you’re still on drugs lol nah forget the public school system whatever crap they’ve been feeding you is way better propaganda then anything the West has come up with
You guys are Majos many of your rituals are from the majos
I think Iran is run by rawafid who are greater enemies than jews.All you had to do was ask nicely. But I’m still not whoever you think I am and I don’t know anything about Maliki Clique.
Jalal al-Din al Suyuti in his book al-Durr al-Manthoor Fi al-Tafsir al- Ma’athoor, narrates that:
Taqqyia in the Sunni context is only done when someone’s life is in danger Shias and your ilk on the other hand do it to hide the disgusting evil reality of your religion you are doing that right now.
LOOL that’s what taqiyyah is in ever context and what fo you mean by “you ilk” this is just a complete fallacy if you think people just straight up lie all the time but no you’re incorrect as always like you were about taqiyyah
The arrogance and stupidity from you is funny you think you’re knowledgeable but you ain’t keep pretending to be smart dummy
Believers should not take disbelievers as guardians instead of the believers—and whoever does so will have nothing to hope for from Allah—unless it is a precaution against their tyranny. And Allah warns you about Himself. And to Allah is the final return. Wow a Quranic basis for Taqiyyah how interesting
Meanwhile your big daddy Iran and Assad and Hezbollah needed help from Russia to defeat the Syrian resistance
But this is a complete myth 😂 ask any Shia like I have and they’ll tell you that taqiyyah is impermissible if it means spreading falsehood or if it costs the life of another, it’s just to save your own life or to prevent persecution, this is in every one of their rulings, what you’re describing is an extreme which nobody practices you just want to believe it because you don’t actually want your worldview to be shattered which it definitely will be lol
Because you are lying right now you’re lying about your evil beliefs
I explained what taqqya is the taqqyia yoj Shia and your ilk do is lying about your beliefs anti majos and Sunnah discourse and Hassan shemrani have exposed your evil beliefs but because you’re too arrogant to admit that your world view was shattered you can’t admit you’re wrong so now you ah e to resort to more lying and slandering
I ain’t worried about my world view being shattered you already admitted that your batil beliefs was shattered by Hassan shemrani when you tried to smear him as a racist that just confirms you got demolished by him lol
and I can give you endless citations from both our tradition and the Shia proving my point you just generalize people and this leads to basically the same thing the Zionists are doing in Palestine, you’re basically a Western racist with a Muslim flavouring
And all those would be fabricated or would actually side with me lol and it’s even more funny you can’t address my arguments so now you have to use the racist card lmao
Lol what “evil reality” please explain
Worshiping 13 demi gods self flagellation excessive meaning and crying celebrating Kufr holidays like nurwuz fire walking and hatred and cursing of the sahaba
May Allah bless all those fighting the Zionists both militarily and intellectually
The British commited g*n*c*d* against their fellow western european Christians during WW2 for the sake of J*ws, and also created the Z***ist State, so this sort of stuff comes as no surprise.
Replace Islam and Muslims with J*daism and J*ws on that Chaim Weizmann quote, and you get the truth, lol
“even the so-called moderate J*ws have this goal in mind to J*daise Europe…when it comes to the entirety of J*daism…they must make it finally clear where they stand in relation to our civilisation”
Also, the z***ist state, the c*mm*n*st USSR, and the j*w controlled USA, Britain were merely acting according to what J*daism believe in when they caused massive w*rs, g*n*c*d*s, etc from the 1910s to 1940s, and the g*n*c*dal w*rs against Muslims from 2001 to today. Even *S*S was following J*daism, not Islam, when it comes to its way of doing w*rfare.
So, to fix Schochet’s quote “#*S*S merely acts on what #J*daism believes”
Daniel is taking the right approach on being harsh to the J*ws,
they were and are harsh on us and lie against us, while starting all of these conflicts and g*n*c*des even based on lies against us, while we protected them, let them practice their religion, gave them refuge from oppressors like the Spanish Inquisition, and let them live in our lands as citizens with their due rights.