Opinion

Very noble sentiments

DUP MLA William Humphrey stated (January 21) that 'those evil people across the UK who hold and voice antiSemitic views are a disgrace and an affront to our British way of life.' He goes on... 'we must demonstrate that we hugely value our fellow loyal citizens from the Jewish faith.'

All very noble sentiments. But it was not always so.

As he knows the Nazis made all Jews put a yellow Star of David on their outer clothes so that all people would know what their religion was.

Well they were not the first. In 1275 King Edward I introduced the Statute of Jewry which included - any Jew above the age of seven had to wear a yellow badge; all Jews over the age of 12 had to pay a special tax; Christians were forbidden to live among Jews; Jews were not allowed to live outside certain cities and towns Worse was to follow. In 1287 Edward I seized all Jewish property and transferred all debts that people owed to Jewish moneylenders to Edward himself. In 1290 came the Edict of Expulsion which expelled all Jews from the kingdom of England and any Jews remaining were liable to be seized and executed.

Still make you proud to be British Mr Humphrey.

TONY CARROLL

Newry, Co Down