The  British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) has apologised for a reference to  “genocide” in Gaza, in its professional publication.

Tommy McIlravey. credit: LinkedIn

In the April issue of CBT Today, BABCP published a piece about Islamophobia, which referred to “the genocide taking place in Gaza”.  Following a number of complaints from BABCP members and others, including UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI),   the chief executive of BABCP has decided not to refer to a genocide in Gaza in future.

He acknowledges that  this term remains contested and is the subject of an ongoing legal case in the International Court of Justice.

Tommy McIlravey, Chief Executive Officer of BABCP has told UK Lawyers for Israel:

“We will no longer allow the unqualified use of contested terms – such as ‘genocide’ in relation to the events in Gaza – to appear in our publications”

BABCP has also introduced further measures to counter antisemitism:

• It is exploring if it can bring forward their already planned training around antisemitism for CBT therapists, which is part of its wider antiracism CPD programme
• It has  published an article by Dr Sandi Mann about impact of antisemitism on mental health in the May issue of “CBT Today”

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We are pleased that BABCP has acknowledged the importance of the issue of antisemitism in mental health, and is incorporating antisemitism into its anti-racism programme. It is also helping to combat the misinformation regarding the use of the term ‘genocide.’”