Actress Hires Security Amid Anti-Semitism Fears and Protest Threats
Dame Maureen Lipman has revealed she has been compelled to hire personal security due to what she describes as the government’s “inaction” on anti-Semitism. The acclaimed Jewish actress, aged 80, stated that she has secured protection following attempts by “bigots” to cancel her latest stage production in Aberdeen.
Pro-Palestine Activists Target Actress Over Israel Stance
Dame Lipman claims that supporters of the pro-Palestine movement are orchestrating a boycott of her play, titled Allegra, asserting it is a “non-political” work. The actress believes the protests are a direct response to her expressed support for Israel. Adding to her concerns, she reported that anti-Semitic caricatures of her have been circulated online. These depictions include a doctored version of her show’s poster, which has been manipulated to show her with horns and a pitchfork – an imagery she characterized as a “dopey old trope.””
Police Ruling on ‘Anti-Semitic’ Image Sparks Criticism
This situation comes to light following a recent decision by Police Scotland to classify an image of Dame Lipman as a “non-crime hate incident.” The photograph, which depicted the actress with red devil’s horns and a trident, was shared on social media by pro-Palestine activists calling for her to be removed from the play. The image drew parallels to historical anti-Semitic propaganda, where Jewish individuals were often portrayed with grotesque, Satanic characteristics.
The decision by Police Scotland has drawn criticism, particularly from Scotland’s Jewish community. The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) had promoted the doctored image and urged support for a petition to prevent the actress from performing. Police Scotland assessed the photograph and recorded it as a non-crime hate incident, indicating they believed it did not meet the threshold for criminal activity, though details were retained on file.
This ruling occurred despite the implementation of the Hate Crime Act in 2024, which introduced new offenses related to the “stirring up of hatred” and criminalized the communication of threatening or abusive material intended to incite hatred against a group.
Actress’s Concerns Over Rising Anti-Semitism
Dame Lipman’s play, Allegra, a “heart-warming comedy with music” by Peter Quilter, was scheduled to run at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen from May 26-30. The actress has previously voiced grave concerns about the state of anti-Semitism in the UK, telling LBC that it has reached levels comparable to the pogroms in Nazi Germany in 1933. This statement followed incidents where two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, London. Dame Lipman had also called for a ban on pro-Palestine marches in London.
Community Leaders React to Police Decision
Timothy Lovat, Chairman of the Jewish Council of Scotland, who reported the image to the police, expressed his confusion and dismay. “I don’t understand what a non-crime hate incident is – if it is a hate incident, then in my humble opinion it should be a crime,” he stated. Lovat further claimed there is a “reluctance from Police Scotland to charge people with these sorts of crimes,” warning that “until there is a conscious effort from all parties to put a stop to this anti-Semitic hate, then the Jewish community in Scotland will remain unsafe in their own homes.””
At the time of the assessment, a spokesperson for Police Scotland had stated, “We have received a report (regarding the Dame Maureen post) which is being assessed. Officers are also liaising with partners and continue to proactively engage with the Jewish community.” Lovat had previously described the post as “absolutely anti-Semitic and disgusting – this is the kind of thing which is leading to anti-Semitic attacks on our streets.””
A Police Scotland spokesman reiterated, “The social media content has been assessed and recorded as a non-crime hate incident.” The force declined to comment on the specific reasons why the image was not treated as a crime.
Government Response to Rising Anti-Semitism
In response to the broader issue, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government commented, “The horrific rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish hatred in Britain and across the world is intolerable, and we will not rest until Britain is a place where every Jewish person can live openly, safely and proudly.” The government highlighted its investment of a record £58 million in protective security funding for the Jewish community and stated its commitment to addressing the root causes of hatred across society.
