The Scout Association has launched an investigation into a Muslim Scout group after children's artwork displayed the controversial slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which is widely viewed as calling for the elimination of Israel. The complaint was filed by the Henry Jackson Society, a counter-extremism think tank, after the images were posted on Instagram in December.
Artwork and Slogan Details
The Muslim Scout Association, a branch of the wider Scout Association operating across the UK, encouraged children to "show Palestinian children love and support" during a painting challenge held in conjunction with an Islamic charity. The resulting artwork, shared on Instagram, included the phrase "from the river to the sea," which has been criminalised in Germany and parts of Australia due to its association with Hamas.
One drawing depicted the Al-Aqsa mosque alongside the phrase, with a flower in the colours of the Palestinian flag: red, green, white, and black. Another showed an outline of the state of Israel with the slogan written around it and a giant watermelon, a symbol of Palestinian identity due to its matching flag colours.
Complaint and Concerns
The complaint from the Henry Jackson Society stated: "The phrase 'from the river to the sea' has been criminalised in Germany and parts of Australia because of its association with Hamas and its perceived endorsement of the destruction of the State of Israel. Given the slogan's highly inflammatory nature, we are deeply concerned that children's artwork bearing it has been circulated by a Scout-affiliated organisation. The Scout Association has an important responsibility to ensure that all young people feel welcome and included, regardless of their background or faith."
Emma Schubart, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said: "Scouts should unite young people from every background – not expose them to slogans that have been linked to a proscribed terrorist group. The Scout Association cannot simply ignore this. It needs to explain whether children's artwork featuring 'from the river to the sea' is compatible with the values it expects every Scout group to uphold. If it believes this is acceptable, it should say so. If it does not, it should explain what action it will take."
Scout Association's Response
The Scout Association, which claims to oppose all forms of prejudice and discrimination in its code of conduct and has committed to political neutrality, said in response: "We are aware of this complaint and take the concerns raised very seriously. We have a robust process in place to ensure that matters of this nature are investigated thoroughly, impartially and fairly. The complaint is currently at an early stage, and we are in the process of establishing the relevant facts."
The Scout Association's code of conduct states: "While engaging with current social issues, some of which may be controversial and have a political dimension, members must not endorse any political party or candidate when representing The Scout Association." The Muslim Scout Association has been approached for comment.
