Scottish Green MSP Faces Calls to Resign Over Antisemitic Social Media Post
Ariane Burgess endorsed an image depicting the Israeli flag with a swastika, prompting condemnation from Jewish leaders and opposition parties.
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess is facing demands for her resignation after liking an antisemitic post on social media.
The post, shared by former SNP and Green MSP John Finnie, featured an image of the Israeli flag overlaid with a swastika and covered in blood. Finnie has also been noted for posts describing Israeli soldiers as ‘Nazis in action’ and sharing cartoons that depict Israeli soldiers in Nazi military uniforms.
The Jewish Council of Scotland condemned the material as ‘grotesque and antisemitic,’ stating that it exploits the murder of six million Jews to demonize the Jewish state. A spokesperson for the council called for the Scottish Greens to take immediate action against Burgess and urged her to provide an explanation and an apology to Scotland's Jewish community.
Opposition parties have also voiced criticism. Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton called on Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay to suspend Burgess from the party.
The incident follows recent condemnation of Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer for backing claims that Zionism is racism.
Burgess has stated that she liked the post in error and that it was not her intention to cause harm. She acknowledged that the post was inappropriate and distasteful and that any interaction with it could be upsetting or distressing. Burgess added that she never wants anyone to feel alienated, hurt, or disappointed by her social media interactions or in-person conduct.