News

Amazon is selling a decorative canvas consisting of an abusive image of an Israeli soldier shooting a Palestinian child through the head, which could be breaching criminal laws.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to Amazon asking it to stop selling this faux painting, which is entitled “Israel Kills Child”.

The poster is sold and dispatched by “Beautiful Art Shop”.

UKLFI has pointed out that by permitting the online sale of this image, Amazon is likely to be committing a breach of Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, by displaying a visible representation which is abusive, “within the sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.”

Material depicting an inflammatory and false picture of an Israeli soldier shooting point blank at a child is grossly offensive and will cause distress and alarm to Jewish, Israeli, and other people.

Amazon could also be in breach of Sections 18 and 19 of the Public Order Act 1986 by displaying, publishing and distributing “written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting” and “having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby” and Sections 21 and 22 by showing and distributing a visual image that is “threatening, abusive or insulting” and “having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby”.

The decorative canvas also breaches Amazon’s  own policies, in particular not to sell offensive and controversial products, or those which promote, incite or glorify hatred, violence, racial or religious intolerance as well as listings that graphically portray violence or victims of violence.”

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We hope Amazon will remove this offensive item. The company should be aware that this kind of item can stir up antisemitism.”