NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress this week strongly condemned the vandalization of an exhibit of photos in Vienna depicting Holocaust survivors, which was targeted on Monday for the third time since it opened earlier this month.
The vandalism prompted outrage from Christian and Muslim youth groups, who teamed up with local artists to guard the photos, joined soon after by other Vienna residents.
United Nations High Commission for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet issued an unequivocal condemnation on Twitter, affirming her commitment to fighting discrimination and antisemitism: “#Vienna #Austria: I condemn the vandalization of a photo exhibit featuring Holocaust survivors yesterday. We must always #fightracism & end discrimination, so that persecution & genocide will not happen again. Anti-Semitism has no place in our world. #NeverAgain!”
#Vienna #Austria: I condemn the vandalization of a photo exhibit featuring Holocaust survivors yesterday. We must always #fightracism & end discrimination, so that persecution & genocide will not happen again. Anti-Semitism has no place in our world. #NeverAgain! pic.twitter.com/Zj3WUIlREk
— Michelle Bachelet (@mbachelet) May 27, 2019
World Jewish Congress CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer sent High Commissioner Bachelet a letter thanking her for support: “Your commitment to the principle that racism and discrimination must end and your firm statement that antisemitism has no place in our world resonate loudly with all the Jews around the world. It is deeply encouraging to know that these shared values are being sounded and reaffirmed by you on the international stage, and we are proud to be able to count on you as a leader in the fight against antisemitism and all forms of hatred,” he wrote.
“Antisemitism has made a frightening resurgence worldwide, and desecrations of the symbols of the Holocaust only escalate our everyday concerns as Jews. We must do everything we can, together, to ensure the safety and security of Jews everywhere. Antisemitism, and Holocaust denial and obfuscation, are not just a Jewish problem. This is a problem facing the entire civilized world,” Singer wrote.
