August 21, 2015
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has denounced the decision by the organisers of the Oslo Human Rights, Human Wrongs festival to ban the film The Other Dreamers, by Israeli director Roy Zafrani which deals with the subject of disabled children in Israel. According to festival founder, Ketil Magnussen,the film was rejected because, “We support the academic and cultural boycott of Israel, so unless the films are about the illegal occupation, or deal with the occupation or the blockade of Gaza, or otherwise about the discrimination of Palestinians, we can’t show them.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“Shame on the Oslo Human Rights, Human Wrongs festival. It is a disgrace that any creative forum would glorify bigotry and racism. This obscene and vicious decision once again exposes the moral bankruptcy of the sinister BDS movement which is hell bent on delegitimizing, excluding and demonising anyone who is Jewish or anyone who is connected or shows any measure of support or affection for Israel. Those who believes in artistic freedom would be sickened by this act and by the reality that Jews, wherever they are from, are singled out, vilified and blacklisted. Such hateful and hypocritical behaviour cannot stand and should be soundly condemned. We call on the Norwegian government to demand the festival jettison its anti-Israel boycott and political intimidation of Israeli artists immediately or risk losing the financial support it receives. It is our hope that ultimately, the Oslo Human Rights, Human Wrongs festival realises how abhorrent and wrong their stance is and follows the example of the reggae festival in Spain by issuing an apology and reinviting Zafrani to screen his film.”
For more information, please contact Dr. Dvir Abramovich on, 9272-5677