Press Release, 19 December 2007

IAC-Presidium: "Denial and relativization of the Holocaust are directed against the human dignity of everyone"

A session of the Presidium of the International Auschwitz Committee, in which survivors of the Auschitz concentration camp from 34 countries are organized, was held in Jerusalem on December 18/19.

In addition to the problem of urgently necessary financial assistance to needy survivors of the Holocaust the IAC Presidium was concerned with the role played by the Iranian president Ahmadinejad. With his call for the extermination of Israel and his repeated denial of the Holocaust, Ahmadinejad has turned into a leading figure of the right-wing extremists in Europe.

"Full of worries and indignation we notice, how not only the NPD in Germany, but Holocaust deniers in many other countries are motivated by Ahmadinejad in their aggressiveness”, stressed IAC president Noach Flug.

“Denial and relativization of the Holocaust do not only hurt the human dignity of the survivors, but are directed against any liberal public order and the human dignity of everyone.

We therefore expect the politicians and the judiciary to take vigorous und consistent action against right-wing extremist parties which increasingly try to tie young people to their ranks.”

With regard to the situation in Darfour the IAC Presidium decided to send letters to the Secretary General of the United Nations and the General Secretary of the Red Cross.

“In 2008 we will commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. In Darfour human rights are daily trampled underfoot. The people are suffering and are waiting for help. In Auschwitz we were waiting for the world to help. Today they are waiting in Darfour”, said IAC president Noach Flug concluding the session in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, 19 December 2007

For questions: Christoph Heubner, IAC Vice-President, Tel. 0172/393 22 62

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