The Bloody Sunday Trust has published the text of a letter to GAA President Jarlath Burns in which it urges him to drop Allianz as a sponsor given its role in enabling the Gaza Genocide.
Corporate Complicity in Genocide
Following the publication of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s report ‘From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide’ detailing the extent of corporate complicity in the Gaza genocide, Tony Doherty, Chair of the Trust, wrote directly to Jarlath Burns in July.
In his letter Mr Doherty highlighted the specific paragraphs in the UN report focusing on the activities of insurance companies including Allianz which show that-
- Global insurance companies including Allianz also invest large sums in shares and bonds implicated in the occupation and genocide, partly as capital reserves for policyholder claims and regulatory requirements, but primarily to generate returns.
- Their insurance policies also underwrite the risks other companies necessarily take when operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, thus enabling the commission of human rights abuses and “de-risking” the operational environment.
The report of the UN Special Rapporteur sets out a number of recommended actions in response to her findings of corporate complicity in the genocide. These include a recommendation that all corporate entities-
promptly cease all business activities and terminate relationships directly linked with, contributing to and causing human rights violations and international crimes against the Palestinian people, in accordance with international corporate responsibilities and the law of self-determination;
In line with this, the Bloody Sunday Trust asked the GAA to end its sponsorship arrangement with Allianz. Given the GAA’s unrivalled importance in Irish society this would be of major significance and set a precedent for other organisations and institutions to follow.
Expressing his disappointment that the GAA President has chosen not to respond either to his original letter or to a subsequent follow up letter Mr Doherty said,
“As an Irish speaker Jarlath Burns will be familiar with the proverb, Ní féidir leis an ngobadán an dá thrá a fhreastal.
At local level Gaels are acting in solidarity with Palestine to end the genocide. Meanwhile at corporate level Allianz is being allowed to sports wash its reputation through Gaelic games while it profits from that genocide. These positions cannot be reconciled and until resolved will leave the GAA open to the charge of corporate complicity.
The Bloody Sunday Trust is, therefore, publishing its letter to Jarlath Burns to coincide with the Drop Allianz protest at Croke Park organised by Gaels Against Genocide in Gaza and is calling on every GAA club in the country to join the Drop Allianz campaign.”
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The Protest
The Drop Allianz protest organised by Gaels Against Genocide in Gaza takes place at Croke Park on Wednesday 20 August at 12 noon.
