More than 98,000 people have filed complaints with the UK Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) in defense of British-Nigerian arts trustee Misan Harriman, following accusations of antisemitism leveled against him by right-wing outlets including the Daily Mail and the Telegraph. The complaints mark the highest number ever submitted to IPSO over a single issue. Separately, an open letter signed by activist Greta Thunberg and artists Tracey Emin and Peter Doig condemns what they call a "dishonest smear campaign" targeting Harriman, who is an Oscar-nominated photographer, chair of the Southbank Centre, and a nominee for Amnesty UK’s People’s Human Rights Champion.
The controversy stems from Harriman sharing a social media post questioning why a Muslim victim was ignored by police and media prior to an attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green. The Telegraph accused him of sharing a "conspiracy," and Labour MP David Taylor suggested Harriman be removed from his Southbank Centre chair position. Harriman’s colleagues, including deputy chair Libby Savill, have defended him, rejecting the allegations. The case highlights tensions around free speech, press accountability, and the intersection of arts leadership with political activism, particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.