A Scottish National Party MP has accused David Lammy of taking a position that “outrageously diminishes and minimises the seriousness of the crime of genocide” following comments by the British foreign secretary in a House of Commons debate.
The UK’s Foreign Office declined to comment earlier on Tuesday after Lammy was accused of implying that atrocities in Srebrenica, Myanmar and elsewhere did not constitute genocides because fewer than millions of people were killed.
In a letter to Lammy on Tuesday evening, seen by Middle East Eye, Chris Law MP urged the foreign secretary to retract his remarks, saying: “Your words have caused offense to groups that have experienced, are affected by, and who are currently experiencing atrocity crimes and genocide.”
He added that Lammy’s statement “reveals blatant contempt for the fundamental rights and the very lives of Palestinians”.
“Why is it that you only seem to have a problem with the use of such terms when it comes to what is being perpetrated against the Palestinian people and not others?” ….more
