Celtic fans at risk of prosecution for waving Palestinian flags at Parkhead tonight.

[AgentProvocateur]

Celtic are playing Hapoel Be'er Sheva from Israel tonight, and fans are waving Palestinian flags. According to the Record (not the most reliable source) the club is in danger of a big fine from UEFA as it's considered a political protest and not allowed. But the Herald mentions prosecuting individual fans, which seems ridiculous. What crime are they committing?

[Calippo]

They are committing the crime of demanding human rights for other human beings.

[AgentProvocateur]

My thoughts exactly...

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Was it a protest for Palestine or anti-Semitism against a Jewish team? Because it could be either.

[Calippo]

Israel has been demolishing Palestinian homes at an accelerated rate.

[Calippo]

Mrs TP, You cannot seriously suggest that demanding the right fir a palestinian state is now anti semitic?

[KarlosKKrinkelbeim]

why are they demanding humanrights from football players? Why is the team and its reporters held responsible for what you see as reprehensible acts of their government? Am I responsible for every act of the Brtish government which I may or may not agree with and may or may not have voted for? It's nonsense.Wave your flags outside the Israeli embassy if you must, and while you're at it, I hope you'll also take neighbouring states to task for facilitating acts of terrorism against Israeli citizens.
or is this just good old fashioned anti-Semitism at work?

[Calippo]

The EU said last week that Israel must "cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, of designating land for exclusive Israeli use and of denying Palestinian development." The statement said such a policy erodes chances of setting up a Palestinian state in a peace deal and "raises legitimate questions about Israel's long-term intentions."

(taken from NY times)

[Calippo]

karlos,

Why does Israel detain Palestinian children in prison without charge? Are they responsible for the situation? Black power was a powerful pritest sone years ago in Olympics, though it was regarded as 'a political statement' and not a question of human rights. Do you think black people should have stopped demanding human rights from the olympic athletes?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

In answer to the OP I think it is because it might potentially come under the.muxh maligned anti-social behaviour (or similar) at football act. Although designed to prevent sectarianism, I would guess that perhaps this could potentially also fall under that.

I also agree that criticising the actions of some Israelis does not equal anti Semitism

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I don't. But do they? I can see someone thinking that the way to wind up an Israeli team is to do this, even if they didn't give a shit about Palestine.

That shouldn't trump the right to peaceful protest!

[AgentProvocateur]

Itsallgoingtobefine, thank you. That was my question. I am incredulous, though, that protesting against an illegal occupation/land grab could be illegal in 21st century Scotland. Whether or not you agree with the antisocial behaviour at football act (and I don't know enough about it to have an informed opinion) I'm sure it wasn't meant to be used in such situations.

[alltouchedout]

I remember IRA/PLO one struggle flags and banners. They were offensive. Don't think simply waving a Palestine flag is in the same level, unless it's viewed as somehow threatening as it could be seen as connected to that earlier terrorist supporting one struggle thing?

[pepperpot99]

Karlos: are you aware your initials are kkk? Because it's a bit, you know, racist. I just thought you'd want it pointed out since you are so hyper sensitive to acts of overt racism.

[Calippo]

It seems that there has always been an attempt to crush peaceful protests. Human rights issues dont go away during sports. The issues dont happen in a vacuum. To not protest peacefully can also be taken as a sign of accepting the unacceptable.

[Calippo]

A group of Celtic fans have shown their support for Palestine outside Parkhead tonight ahead of the Hoops' Champion's League qualifier against Israeli club Hapoel Beer Sheva, despite warnings from Police Scotland.

The club are now set to face another UEFA rap, which will be the ninth time in five years fans have landed the Parkhead side in trouble in European football.

'Football against apartheid' was displayed across flags.

Glasgow Live reported last week of the Facebook group "Fly the flag for Palestine, for Celtic, for Justice", in which over 500 people signed up to prior to tonight's match

The group wanted Celtic supporters to use their "democratic rights to display our opposition to Israeli Apartheid, settler - colonialism and countless massacres of the Palestinian people".

(Taken from glasgow live)

[ayeokthen]

I was a bit gutted because they know it's going to mean a massive fine (AGAIN!) for the club and also potentially stand closures in European competition. That said, the fact it's illegal is utterly ridiculous, whatever happened to freedom of expression?

[Calippo]

They know it will have repercussions, yet they still peacefully protested against oppression and apartheid.

That is quite something

[Calippo]

Israeli settler and army terrorism is especially alarming against Palestinian children.

a number of the incidents raise concerns about the excessive use of force and unlawful killing, given that there are indications that the children posed no imminent or immediate threat to life that would justify the use of lethal force. For example, on 25 October, a 17-year-old girl was stopped at a checkpoint in Hebron, searched and shot at least five times. The Israeli authorities alleged that she had attempted to stab a police officer, yet an eyewitness stated that she had held her hands in the air and had posed no threat.

Taken from UN report

[Calippo]

The UN report also says that In East Jerusalem, 860 Palestinian children were arrested, including 136 between 7 and 11 years of age, under the age of criminal responsibility.

It is unbelievable and most heinous what israel is doing to these children.

[Calippo]

I cannot understand how a Palestinian child can be treated like he/she has no worth.

The best way forward is to continue making peaceful protests and to boycott Israeli goods.

[Calippo]

The more i read, the more it upsets me... Now the Israeli givernment is trying to demolish a school built for palestinian bedouin children. The settlers keep pushing for the demolition if the school.

Illegal settlers get more rights than palestinian children. Its really sick and twisted.

[pepperpot99]

It is ethnic cleansing Calippo. The Israeli settlers believe in some crazed 'divine biblical right' to steal whatever land they want and chuck out anyone who happens to live on it.

[BeJayKayven]

It's a UEFA directive, not Scottish law - no political statements at the fitba'