From North America to Latin America to Europe and the Middle East, antisemitic pro-Iran protests have been inciting global antisemitism following Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Iran.
By Rachel Avraham
According to a recent report published by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, “In the aftermath of Israel’s launch of pre-emptive strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last week, Islamist and far-left demonstrators across the globe have exploited the intensifying conflict in the Middle East to propagate longstanding antisemitic tropes, incite violence against Jews, and spread disinformation vilifying and delegitimizing the Jewish state.”
The Combat Antisemitism Movement claims that this is “exacerbating the already-elevated threat levels Jewish communities worldwide have faced since the October 7th massacre in Israel more than a year and a half ago,” which is what led to the double murder of two Israeli diplomats in Washington, DC and a brutal terror attack in Colorado, where an anti-Semite attempted to burn elderly Jewish participants in a pro-Israel march alive.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement reported that “on June 13, Code Pink organized a protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. While framed as an anti-war demonstration, the rally featured inflammatory antisemitic rhetoric, accusing Israel — a nation under sustained missile attack — of committing genocide and calling for an arms embargo against it. Protesters also chanted “Hands off Iran,” aligning themselves explicitly with the Tehran regime.”
They added: “The protest did not call out the Iranian regime’s long history of support terrorism, nor did it mention the Israeli civilians killed by Iran’s recent missile strikes. This selective outrage reveals how anti-war messaging can be co-opted to excuse antisemitism and justify violence.”
According to Combat Antisemitism, “The most disturbing display came on June 17 in New York City’s Times Square, where a crowd gathered at a rally backing the Islamic Republic. Protesters chanted: “Iran, Iran makes us proud! Burn Tel Aviv to the ground!”; “US drones in the sky, Iran’s missiles will reply!”; and “Courts and talks won’t set us free, resistance brings victory!” By glorifying Iran’s attacks on Israel as “resistance,” the rally crossed the line from legitimate political expression to open antisemitic genocidal incitement.”
The Combat Antisemitism Movement added, “On June 16, during a pro-Iran demonstration in Montreal, Quebec, protesters chanted: “Hit, hit Tel Aviv!” — a direct call for the murder of Israeli civilians. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) condemned the incitement, stating, “This Iranian regime rhetoric is not only dangerous to our community but to Canadian values.” The incident highlighted the disturbing ease with which genocidal slogans are now chanted openly on Western streets under the guise of “resistance.””
According to the Combat Antisemitism Movement, “Across Europe, the message was disturbingly similar. In London, England, demonstrators at Parliament Square — led by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign — carried Iranian flags and demanded a UK arms embargo on Israel. In Paris, France, demonstrations saw thousands of protesters reciting slogans such as “Military embargo!” and “Free Palestine!” Banners read “Netanyahu guilty of genocide” and “Free Georges Abdallah” — referencing the Marxist terrorist imprisoned for murdering American and Israeli diplomats in 1982. Protesters praised Iran’s attacks on Israel, blamed France for inaction, and invoked fears of global war.”
The Combat Antisemitism Movement also noted that such hate has reached Latin America: “In Brazil, mass protests targeted Israel with militant rhetoric. In São Paulo, a rally of approximately 30,000 participants, organized by Brazil’s largest pro-Palestine social movements and unions, accused Israel of “genocide” and “apartheid,” and demanded that the Brazilian government sever diplomatic and trade relations with Israel in direct response to its strikes on Gaza and Iran. Protest leader Soraya Misleh proclaimed that calling for isolation of Israel mirrored historical actions against South African apartheid.”
According to the Combat Antisemitism Movement, there have also been pro-Iran protests across the Middle East, especially in Iraq: “In Iraq, the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework — an umbrella organization comprising the country’s leading Shi’a parties and militias — is actively mobilizing mass demonstrations in support of the Islamic Republic. On June 13 and 16, rallies in Baghdad and southern provinces featured pro-Iran banners, portraits of Ayatollah Khamenei, Kata’ib Hezbollah flags, and chants vilifying both Israel and the United States.”
However, such antisemitic incitement does not only exists in protest rallies. The Combat Antisemitism Movement claims that it is also widespread on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on TikTok: “In the wake of Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a chilling meme spread rapidly across TikTok: “Iran, if you’re listening, just do it.” What began as a slogan quickly evolved into a viral trend — with videos explicitly or implicitly calling for the destruction of Israel, praising Iranian missile attacks, and featuring disturbing references to Hitler and Nazi ideology. One post alone garnered over 1.4 million views before being removed. TikTok reportedly took action only after media inquiries, underscoring the platform’s slow and inconsistent enforcement of its own hate speech policies.”
“This is not just offensive — it’s dangerous,” said Alex Ryvchin, Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. “These posts openly call for the destruction of a country and the deaths of millions of people — Jews, Arabs, and Christians alike.”
The Combat Antisemitism Movement concluded: “The past week has made one thing unmistakably clear: support for a genocidal regime often goes hand in hand with unmasked antisemitism. From “Burn Tel Aviv” in Times Square to “Death to the Jews” in Baghdad, the message is unmistakable: these movements are not merely opposing Israeli actions or policies — they are targeting and endangering Jews everywhere.”
Photo from Oneindia News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHxP6N0zlAo
