UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has intervened after Jewish comedian Harry Deansway was excluded from a north London writers’ group because of his Zionist beliefs, raising serious concerns about unlawful discrimination and antisemitism in the arts.

Deansway, a comedian and writer, had attended the Offbeat Writers’ Group for six months without incident before its organiser, Ruby Sullivan, questioned him about his views on Israel.

Ms Sullivan told him she was “very strongly pro-Palestine” and that differences in their political views would affect their working relationship.

Deansway explained that he was “Jewish and a Zionist”, but supported Palestinian rights. He said that Zionism meant believing in Jewish self-determination in the Jewish people’s ancestral homeland, while opposing actions causing suffering to Palestinians.

Ms Sullivan replied: “I really can’t align with your beliefs as they support the massacre of an entire population.”

She added: “I don’t think there is a place in the Offbeat Writers’ Group for you because of this.”

She also said she was preparing an ideological declaration for prospective members, including an “antiapartheid free zone commitment”.

UKLFI has written to Ms Sullivan warning that excluding Deansway because of his beliefs may breach the Equality Act 2010.

UKLFI argues that Deansway is protected under the Act because of his Jewish ethnicity, religion and philosophical belief in Jewish self-determination.

The organisation also raised concerns about Ms Sullivan’s statement that, “because of the horrific past the Jewish people have endured, they should not want to inflict the same suffering on others”.

UKLFI pointed out that holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions is identified as conduct that may amount to antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition.

Literary event cancelled

The dispute also led to the cancellation of a ticketed literary event Deansway had organised for 13 October at Bar Gemišt.

Following Ms Sullivan’s withdrawal and the departure of other performers, the bar cancelled the booking, saying that the event had originally been agreed because of its relationship with Ms Sullivan and her writers’ group.

UKLFI wrote to the bar’s owners, warning that the cancellation could also constitute unlawful discrimination.

However, in a response dated 10 October, directors Marion Zoelle and Uroš Dezutelj rejected the allegations, insisting that their decision was based on changes to the event and a lack of communication, not Deansway’s Jewish identity or beliefs.

They said Deansway remained welcome at the bar but refused to reinstate the event and warned that they would defend themselves against allegations they considered unfounded.

A spokesperson for UKLFI said:

“This is McCarthyism dressed up as progressive politics. A Jewish writer has been subjected to an ideological loyalty test and excluded because he believes in Jewish self-determination.

“People are entitled to oppose Zionism, but they cannot lawfully exclude Jews from cultural activities because they refuse to renounce their beliefs.

“Jewish artists should not have to pass a political purity test to participate in London’s cultural life.”