Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020
Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020
TG leader Marlene Hassan Nahon's thoughts on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Lest We Forget 27/1/1945.
Today, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz.
“A visit to Auschwitz marked my life too, some five years ago. As a Jewish woman, it channelled a sense of heightened empathy with the atrocities committed behind those ghastly walls, the people who dwelled in them, and the sense of injustice, despair and indignation they must have experienced. As many others before me, after the visit I pledged to do my bit to stop these atrocities from ever happening again.
“75 years later Auschwitz still stands, both as a reminder of the depths of human cruelty, and a lesson on the need to uphold the values of tolerance and democracy.
“As politicians, it is our duty to ensure that people’s civil liberties are never jeopardised, as well as trying to inspire others to embrace difference. We must aspire to live in a society where those with different races and creeds are considered an essential part of a multi-coloured, multi-cultured whole, united in its diversity and love for humanity.
“It is the job of society as a whole, particularly those who organise and take part in collective action, to fight back against all attempts to undermine this unity.
“Today some of the few remaining survivors of the Holocaust will congregate in Auschwitz to warn us yet again, after a recent surge of anti-Semitic attacks on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, Home Office data published in October 2019 showed a 10 percent increase in reported incidents of anti-Semitism within a year. Transgender hate crime rose by 37 per cent, homophobic incidents by 25 per cent, crimes motivated by prejudice against those with a disability by 14 percent, and racially motivated incidents by 11 percent. When it comes to religion, 47 per cent of all offences – a total of 3,530 – were against Muslims. Eighteen per cent – 1,326 – were against Jews, near double the figure for the previous year.
“At a time in which we are witnessing the return of political bigotry and discrimination is on the rise, we must all remain vigilant, supportive of our minorities and militant in our democratic values.
“In Gibraltar, we take pride in our culture of respect for diversity and our solid community bonds. Let us continue to provide that example for humanity, an example that life is happier when lived in peace and respect, but also that unity can help us achieve success in all areas of society.
“Remembrance is not only about paying tribute. It is also about channelling past experiences and learning the lessons of history. May this day serve to open hearts and minds across the globe.”
Yichyei Zichram Baruch – May their memory be a blessing.