Board vice president Jonathan Arkush has strongly condemned the Reverend Stephen Sizer, an Anglican vicar who posted to Facebook an article accusing Jews and Israel of responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, adding to his posting an apparent endorsement that the article ‘raises so many questions’.
Mr Arkush said: “Posting a link and giving approval to an article which in effect accuses Jews of responsibility for the 9/11 atrocity is unquestionably antisemitic, just as it is beyond absurd. I am extremely concerned that a Minister of the Church of England could possibly have considered it appropriate or becoming to his position to advertise such racist nonsense. I regard Rev Sizer as having breached the terms of his undertakings given to the Board of Deputies as a result of the disciplinary complaint against him. This is a very serious matter and the Board will be taking further action.”
A Church of England spokesman said: “Our attention has been drawn to comments by the Rev. Steven Sizer made earlier today on social media. In those comments Rev. Sizer linked to an article entitled “9/11 Israel did it.”
“These comments would rightly be seen as unacceptable whenever they were posted. It is a matter of deep sorrow and shame that they have been posted in this week of all weeks.”
“The Diocese of Guilford, where the Rev Sizer is licensed, is taking immediate steps to investigate. The diocese is aware of the seriousness of the matter and are also in touch with the Board of Deputies of British Jews.”
In 2013 Rev Sizer admitted he regretted posting website links which promoted Holocaust denial and Zionist conspiracy theories. In 2012, he was twice forced to alter his website and was briefly investigated by police.