11/11/09
Friends of Palestine WA
P.O. Box 1410
West Perth 6872
Ph: 0407 850 962
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We have received information this afternoon which indicates the WA branch of Amnesty International made the final decision to cancel this Sunday’s performance of Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza, in part because the play’s controversial content did not fit in with the other events scheduled for the ARTillery Youth Arts Festival. However, the WA Branch President of Amnesty International has confirmed to us this decision was taken principally as a result of concerns raised by Kulcha about the controversial nature of the play. These concerns were raised by Kulcha following pressure being applied to the arts venue by representatives of the Jewish Community Council of Western Australia (JCCWA).
Notwithstanding this new information, Friends of Palestine WA unreservedly condemns Kulcha for its part in the decision to cancel the play. Furthermore, we are extremely disappointed that Amnesty International caved in to pressure from Kulcha and the JCCWA in ultimately deciding to cancel the performance.
Friends of Palestine WA and its many hundreds of supporters are incensed at this brazen act of censorship. It is partly as a conscious act of rebellion against this censorship that we intend to put on our own performance of the play in February next year.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR COMMENT PLEASE WRITE TO friendsofpalestinewa@gmail.com OR CALL THE CONVENER OF FRIENDS OF PALESTINE WA, ALEX WHISSON, ON 0407 850 962
