Preacher launches legal challenge against UK government over IHRA antisemitism definition

Preacher launches legal challenge against UK government over IHRA antisemitism definition Submitted by Areeb Ullah on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 14:42 Bea Foster tells MEE she was left 'heartbroken' after being forced out of anti-racism charity over Facebook post in which she called Israel an 'apartheid state' Methodist preacher Bea Foster helped to found the anti-racism charity she was forced to leave (Supplied) Off An elderly Methodist preacher is set to launch the first legal challenge to the UK government's use of a contested definition of antisemitism after ministers used it to force a charity to remove her as a trustee over a Facebook post in which she described Israel as an apartheid state. Bea Foster, a 76-year-old community worker from Burnley, Lancashire, will argue that the government unlawfully penalised her for expressing political views on Israel and Palestine , breaching her rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and protection from discrimination. Speaking exclusively to Middle East Eye, Foster said her motivation to pursue the case stemmed from the misuse of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism by public and private institutions to shut down criticism of Israeli government policies. "The IHRA definition is proved to be used to undermine our ability to hold Israel accountable for its actions against the Palestinian people," Foster told MEE. "Criticising the Israeli government is not saying you are antisemitic." Founded in 2016, the IHRA definition of antisemitism includes a set of illustrative examples that help identify how antisemitism can manifest in practice. Governments and public bodies around the world, including the UK Government, have adopted or endorsed the definition as a practical tool for recognising and addressing antisemitism. Critics of the definition, however, have accused the definition of equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Foster's case centres on Building Bridges Burnley (BBB), an interfaith anti-racist organisation she helped found more than 20 years ago, which was awarded the King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) in November 2024. The KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK and is considered the equivalent of an MBE for charities and community organisations. Awarded by the king, it recognises exceptional voluntary work and celebrates groups that have made a significant contribution to their communities. But just months after receiving the honour, BBB was told by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that it risked losing the award unless Foster and another trustee stepped down, following allegations of antisemitism. 'It could set a positive precedent to show that the IHRA [definition of antisemitism] in and of itself is not fit for purpose' – Ryvka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign The European Legal Support Centre are leading on the case with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign supporting Foster in her case against the use of the IHRA definition. Ryvka Barnard, deputy director at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said the government's "discriminatory action against Bea Foster is a clear example of how the IHRA definition is used to try to punish people who stand up for Palestinian rights. "Opposing the use of the IHRA definition is essential to protecting our fundamental human rights and to ensuring that solidarity with the Palestinian people cannot be silenced," Barnard told MEE. "If Bea wins her case, it could set a positive precedent to show that the IHRA [definition of antisemitism] in and of itself is not fit for purpose and should not be used again.” The legal challenge will argue that the DCMS acted unlawfully by using the IHRA definition of antisemitism to penalise Foster for protected political expression. The claim will be filed against Lisa Nandy, the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, under the Human Rights Act 1998. Facebook post, government investigation The case stems from an article published by the Jewish Chronicle newspaper in February 2025 alleging links between BBB and antisemitism which referenced Foster's involvement in protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and a social media post in 2023 which read: "APARTHEID – IT WASN'T OKAY IN SOUTH AFRICA. IT WASN'T OKAY IN NAZI GERMANY. WHY IS IT OKAY IN PALESTINE?" Following the article, the DCMS asked the Lancashire Lieutenancy, which represents the king in Lancashire and was responsible for awarding the KAV in the county, to investigate BBB. UK doctors reject IHRA definition and back protections for staff speaking on Palestine Read More » Foster says she was never informed of the investigation and was not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations against her. The DCMS subsequently informed BBB that it risked losing the KAVS unless Foster and another trustee resigned. Foster stepped down reluctantly, saying she wanted to protect the charity and the volunteers who had dedicated years to its work. In her resignation letter, she rejected the allegations of antisemitism and said she had resigned to prevent the award being withdrawn. In March 2025, the DCMS recommended that Foster be barred from any involvement with BBB for three years. The decision was approved on 10 March. However, following legal correspondence sent on Foster's behalf in September 2025, the DCMS confirmed that it considered the post antisemitic by reference to one of the illustrative examples attached to the IHRA definition, specifically the example concerning comparisons between Israeli policy and Nazi Germany. Foster's legal team argues that the post was political speech protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and that criticism of Israeli government policies, including describing Israel's treatment of Palestinians as apartheid, is not inherently antisemitic. DCMS and BBB did not respond to a Middle East Eye request for comment by the time of publication. 'The work is part of me' Foster is a local Methodist preacher, a long-standing Palestine solidarity activist and has repeatedly travelled to Palestine, including most recently with a Christian group supporting Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. She is also a long-standing member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Foster described the impact of being removed from the organisation she helped build. "I'm not trying to make a drama out of it, but I was heartbroken. Absolutely heartbroken. Twenty years of my life," she told MEE. "The work is part of me. It's in my DNA. It's about justice, equality, dignity and treating people fairly." Why I violated the IHRA definition of antisemitism Read More » The elderly minister said her views on Palestine developed after she first travelled to the region following her retirement. She said she initially went on what she expected would be a religious pilgrimage, hoping to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. "While I was there, I realised the scale of the injustice and oppression the Palestinian people were living under," she said. "Ever since then, I've kept returning." Foster said the Facebook post reflected what she had witnessed during those visits. "When I shared that post about apartheid, it reflected what I have seen with my own eyes at every level of Palestinian society," she said. "Their lives are restricted in every way. They face injustice at every level. I shared it because, to me, it was the truth as I had witnessed it." She said she regretted losing her role at BBB but did not regret speaking out. "I regret losing Building Bridges very much. It was a huge part of my life and I miss it deeply. "But I don't regret standing up for the Palestinian people, because whatever has happened to me is nothing compared to what they have to live through every day." 'I want to clear my name' Foster now hopes the case will see her reputation restored and challenge what she sees as an injustice. "There are two main things," she said. "Firstly, I want to clear my name. Living with the label of antisemitism has been incredibly difficult. I know it isn't true, but knowing that's what people may think of me is very hard." 'I don't regret standing up for the Palestinian people' – Bea Foster She said she also hopes the case contributes to wider discussions about justice and peace in Israel and Palestine. "When I've spoken to Palestinians, Jews, Bedouins and people of no faith, what they all want is to live in peace," she said. "Palestinians simply want what you and I have: the freedom to move, to make decisions, to study, to work, to build lives and have opportunities without restrictions. "Ultimately, I want peace in that land where everyone has equal rights and is treated with dignity and respect. But before peace can come, there has to be justice." Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0