Sir, – Finn McRedmond’s thoughtful article categorically condemns Kanye West’s anti-Semitic behaviour but also condemns the British government’s ban on his entry into the UK (“The British government has no business in banning Kanye West from the country,” Opinion, April 9th).
However, in banning an individual or group from entering the UK, the government will have sought advice from the police, who are responsible for keeping public order.
Consultation with the DPP will also have taken place to establish if West has committed a crime with his incendiary language, calling for extreme violence against Jews. Putting the free speech argument to one side, West is not entitled to incite hatred or violence, nor should free speech be conflated with the freedom to broadcast.
This may be a moot point, given the global phenomenon of social media, but giving West a stage at a music festival attended by thousands would certainly constitute a platform to broadcast anti-Semitism, regardless of his latest somewhat corporate apology, and therefore pose a risk, legally.
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The exploitation of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism has taken on a new art form in recent times.
If West were serious about atonement, he would put any thought of performing at festivals aside and concentrate on a path back to redemption and respectability.
He can only do this by engaging seriously with the Jewish community, committing himself and his huge resources to Holocaust education and by denouncing those in the music business who promote the demonisation of Jews for profit. – Yours, etc,
OLIVER SEARS,
Holocaust Awareness Ireland,
Dublin 2.
