News Releases 2016
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Geneva, 27 September
The Wiesenthal Centre represented by its Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels was invited to participate in the NGO Monitor seminar marking "15 Years since Durban: Restoring the Universality of Human Rights". The meeting was held at the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Council in memory of the indefatigable champion for Jewish rights, David Littman.
Samuels with Ambassador Raz Shechter
Speakers included Israeli Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Aviva Raz Shechter, NGO President Gerald Steinberg, American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris,UN Watch Director Hillel Neuer, Harvard Law School's Alan Dershowitz, Australian MP Michael Danby and International Humanist and Ethical Union former UN representative Roy Brown.
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"I salute the Simon Wiesenthal Centre representatives and assure them that they have the support of Paris in their precious work", Deputy Mayor of Paris.
For Immediate Release
Paris, 22 September
At 11am on 20 September - the 11th anniversary of Simon Wiesenthal's death - the City of Paris inaugurated Simon and Cyla Wiesenthal Square, in the presence of their daughter, Paulinka Wiesenthal-Kreisberg and her family. They were joined by some 120 survivors, resistance fighters, city officials, diplomats, religious and community leaders, and members of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre-Europe.
Left to right: SWC President Richard Odier, Andre Rakoto of National Bureau of War Victims, Shimon Samuels, District Mayor Remi Feraud, Paris Deputy Mayor Catherine Vieu-Charier, Mrs. and Mr. Wiesenthal-Kreisberg, Graciela Samuels, Israel Embassy Attache Ido Bromberg, Resistance Banner Bearer Ilan Shulman.
The Simon and Cyla Wiesenthal Square was inaugurated in the 10th District of Paris. The gathering was addressed by 10th District Mayor Remi Feraud, Deputy Mayor of Paris Catherine Vieu-Charier and Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations Dr. Shimon Samuels.
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"Lone-wolf recruitment - from your neighbour Norway's Breivik to Jihadi terror across Europe - all begin with the word, whether written or electronic".
Paris, 8 September 2016
In a letter to the Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, expressed shock that "the far-right - reportedly xenophobic and antisemite magazine - Nya Tida (New Times) had been granted a stand at the Gothenburg Book Fair, to be held 22-25 September and expecting 100,000 visitors, especially youth".
"In May, 2014, we protested that the Party of the Swedes (reportedly a cover for the former National Socialist Party) were being granted access to schools as part of a civic education curriculum . We later commended the response to our intervention: an announced ban on anti-immigrant, Roma homosexual, Muslim and Jewish incitement in schools...We have no sign that that policy was implemented,but it is certainly now contravened by the far right Book Fair Stand", stated the Centre.
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Breaking news: In response to the Centre's protest below, the legal affairs division of UEFA’s Disciplinary and Integrity Unit notified Samuels in an email that “disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against St. Etienne.”
According to UEFA, the unit will be investigating the team for four infractions — illicit banners, the blocking of stairways, the throwing of objects and the setting off of fireworks.
UEFA has a ban on political displays at games and the presence of the Palestinian flag falls under the “illicit banners” infraction. A disciplinary decision will be reached during UEFA’s Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s next meeting on September 22. See:
http://www.algemeiner.com/2016/08/29/human-rights-organization-welcomes-decision-by-governing-soccer-body-to-investigate-french-team-for-anti-israel-discrimination/
“Palestinian mischief seems bent, once again, on hijacking soccer for political mayhem.”
Paris, 29 August 2016
In a letter to UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) ad interim President, Angel Maria Villar Llona, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, noted that “the Centre, has, for over twenty years, worked with UEFA against racism, how much it sympathizesin view of the recent crisis within the organization and wishes successful Presidential elections on 14 September.”
The letter stressed that “Palestinian mischief, however, seems bent – once again – on hijacking soccer for political mayhem,” continuing, “in June 2015, we were present in Zürich when Ramallah campaigned to expel Israel from FIFA. Together with a few Christian friends of Israel, we were trampled in a violent charge by 'Palestinian solidarity' hooligans.”
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“Jihadi atrocities are accompanied by a 'cultural cleansing’ of non-Islamic holy sites. Cemetery desecrators are similarly associates to terror.”
Paris, 29 August 2016
In a letter to the recently appointed UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire MP, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, argued that “Belfast – a city that has witnessed so much violence between Protestants and Catholics – is now the scene of a vicious antisemitic assault, not on live Jews but, reportedly, by a mob in a paroxysm of hate targeting their deceased families. Jewish history has learned that the intent that begins with a cemetery desecration can lead on to an eventual pogrom.”
The letter noted that “apparently the attack was premeditated, as eight youths came armed with hammers and blocks, accompanied by a crowd of racist supporters.”
Read more: Wiesenthal Centre to Northern Ireland Secretary...