Coalition calls on minister to withdraw criticism of museum’s Palestinian exhibit

A coalition of civil society groups is pushing back against criticism by a federal cabinet minister and Jewish organizations of a museum exhibit on Palestinian displacement.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a federal Crown corporation in Winnipeg, has faced a torrent of criticism over its exhibit on the Nakba, the forced displacement of about 750,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

Culture Minister Marc Miller has said the museum failed by not naming Hamas in the exhibit as a terrorist organization that targets Jews, while Jewish and civil society groups say the exhibit portrays only one side of a complex history.

Dozens of groups issued a joint statement today voicing support for the museum and pushing back against what they call political interference in its operations.

“As publicly funded institutions governed by the public interest, museums dedicated to human rights have a responsibility to confront difficult, contested, and often painful histories. This exhibition reflects that responsibility,” the letter says.

“We are particularly concerned that calls for political intervention have, in some instances, extended beyond public advocacy into commentary from elected officials regarding the content of the exhibition.”

The letter’s 74 signatories include Amnesty International, the United Church of Canada, Independent Jewish Voices and the Union of National Employees, which represents most of the Winnipeg museum staff.

They wrote political leaders should respect the independence of museums and “refrain from influencing or appearing to influence curatorial decisions” in the face of what they call an organized pressure campaign.

The Canadian Press has contacted Miller’s office for comment.