UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has challenged a Rochdale leisure centre over its treatment of an Israeli gym member who was allegedly subjected to racist abuse and threats of violence, only to be told that he and his fiancée could be banned from the gym alongside the alleged aggressor.

UKLFI has written to the management of Oulder Hill Leisure Complex in Rochdale, warning that its handling of the incident may breach the Equality Act 2010 and appears to contradict its own rules on discriminatory and threatening behaviour.

The incident began on 19 June 2026 when a gym member was asked by another customer where he came from. When he replied that he was from Israel, the man allegedly launched into a tirade of racist abuse.  According to the Israeli, the man shouted: “F*** you, you are killing babies. I hate all the people of Israel.”

He then allegedly declared: “F*** you, I wish I had a button I could press right now and I would kill all you people from Israel,” before threatening: “I could f*** you up right now.”

The Israeli, who had recently signed up for a year’s membership, immediately reported the incident to gym staff, explaining that he no longer felt safe around the individual. He also reported the matter to the police on 23 June.

However, the alleged aggressor continued to use the gym.

On 24 August, after noticing the man staring aggressively at him, the Israeli approached him in an attempt to resolve the situation peacefully. He suggested that they put the previous incident behind them and agree that nothing further would happen.

Instead, the man allegedly called him a “baby killer” again and swore at him.

The Israeli’s fiancée witnessed the second incident and reported it to the gym.

On 21 September, his fiancée identified the man to the deputy manager, enabling the leisure centre to establish his identity.

Yet, rather than excluding the individual accused of making the threats, the leisure centre proposed restricting when the couple could use the gym.

In an email dated 22 October, the couple were informed that they would be subject to arrangements requiring them to train at different times from the alleged aggressor. If they did not agree, all three would be banned.

The centre apparently justified its approach on the basis that the other man had subsequently made a complaint after he was identified by the gym as the aggressor,  alleging that the Israeli had threatened him.

UKLFI has questioned why the centre appears to be treating the alleged victim of racist abuse in the same way as the man accused of threatening him.

The leisure centre’s published Gym Etiquette expressly states that racist and discriminatory behaviour will not be tolerated. It also provides that anyone behaving in an aggressive, abusive or threatening manner towards another customer will have their membership terminated immediately.

In its letter of 26 October to the management of Oulder Hill Leisure Complex and Grosvenor House Group, UKLFI warned that the centre’s alleged actions may amount to unlawful discrimination under section 29 of the Equality Act 2010.

The Act protects individuals against discrimination on grounds of race, which includes nationality and national origins, in the provision of services to the public.

UKLFI is concerned that restricting the Israeli’s access to the gym, despite his being the person who originally reported the alleged racist abuse, may constitute unlawful discrimination and victimisation. UKLFI also raised concerns about the treatment of the fiancée because of her association with the Israeli.

UKLFI has further highlighted potential criminal offences under sections 4 and 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, relating to threatening or abusive behaviour and the fear or provocation of violence.

UKLFI has asked the leisure centre to explain why the alleged aggressor has not been dealt with under its published rules, to confirm whether the couple’s access to facilities has been restricted, and to explain what measures will be taken to protect them from further intimidation.

It has also called for the preservation of CCTV footage and other relevant evidence, and for a review of the centre’s procedures for dealing with racist incidents.

A UKLFI spokesperson said:

“A leisure centre has a responsibility to protect its customers from racist intimidation, not penalise the victims alongside their alleged abusers.

“Treating the alleged victim and the alleged aggressor as though they are equally responsible sends a deeply troubling message. The centre should enforce its own rules against racist abuse and ensure that the Israeli and his fiancée can use the facilities they have paid for without fear.”

The Israeli gym user commented:

“I was saddened to be subjected to such vicious abuse and threats simply because I said I was Israeli. I joined the gym to exercise and keep fit, not to be intimidated because of my nationality. What has upset me almost as much as the original incident is the way the gym has handled my complaint. Instead of supporting me and standing against such abusive behaviour,  they are threatening to ban me and my fiancée alongside the man who abused me. I feel as though I am being punished for being the victim of racism. All I want is to be able to use the gym safely, like any other member.”