Legal debate starts over concert protest

A LEGAL debate has begun in Edinburgh Sheriff Court in the case of five people charged in connection with a protest at a concert by an Israeli string quartet at the International Festival in 2008.

The three men and two women were originally charged with committing a breach of the peace in the Queen's Hall during a performance by the Jerusalem String Quartet. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Crown then deserted that case, but later charged the five with a racially aggravated course of conduct. The case has been continued without plea on several occasions.

At yesterday's hearing, a joint minute was agreed whereby reference to Jews was deleted from the charge.

The charge now alleges that the five, while acting together, pursued a racially aggravated course of conduct which amounted to harassment of the quartet by making comments about Israelis and the State of Israel.