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Board of Deputies condemns flyers urging Jews to back Tommy Robinson

Marie van der Zyl says his 'anti-Muslim propaganda will never gain support of the mainstream Jewish community'

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The Board of Deputies has condemned flyers that were circulated urging Jews to back the far-right Tommy Robinson, saying his "anti-Muslim propaganda will never gain support of the mainstream Jewish community".

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been accused of Islamophobia as he campaigns to represent North West England in the European Parliament, elections for which take place today.

Anonymous flyers were circulated in Manchester on Wednesday that were a "personal message from the heart" to "our fellow Orthodox Jews", saying Robinson is "a staunch friend of our people".

"Please open your hearts and consider giving your vote to Tommy Robinson in Thursday’s European elections," the flyers say.

"Tommy is an independent, fearless fighter for a sane, decent, honest, traditional-values society, and justice for victims of terrible crimes, callously ignored through 'political correctness'."

The flyer bemoans how "England has become unrecognisable from the decent country we grew up in" and says politicians have "launched sickening attacks on the purity of our beautiful children's education".

It says Robinson has been "standing up for us for many times, both here and in Erezt Yisorael" and urges people to ignore the "official media".

"Remember, it's the same media that pumps out hate and lies about Israel, religious values, our schools and institutions," the flyer adds.

Board President Marie van der Zyl said: "As we've said before, Tommy Robinson's anti-Muslim propaganda will never gain support of the mainstream Jewish community.

"We deplore the attempts of a tiny number of misguided individuals who claim otherwise."

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