Deletion of cartoon from learning resource: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01891
Date received: 18 August 2017
Date responded: 6 September 2017

Information requested

Full details surrounding the deletion of an alleged racist cartoon from the Israel-Palestine Learning & Teaching Resource in particular:

• Who within Education Scotland and /or Scottish Government took the decision to order its deletion?

• At whose behest was this done?

• Was it a consequence of the meeting that day with the pro-Israel lobby group?

• What aspect of the cartoon was deemed to be racist?

Please provide full details of any other similar deletions from the Resource.

Response

The Deputy First Minister viewed the cartoon and, along with a range of officials, recognised it might be misconstrued outwith the wider context of the related materials, resulting in a risk of unbalanced messages being given to children and young people. In light of this risk, it was agreed that the cartoon should be removed. A second cartoon which was there to provide a balancing view was also subsequently removed.

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