19.06.2020

Inverted red triangle on Facebook: Donald Trump’s activities are despicable and without sense of history

Responding in Berlin to the American president’s election campaign team employing a Nazi symbol, the red inverted triangle marking political prisoners in concentration camps, and the subsequent removal of the adverts by Facebook, Christoph Heubner, the Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee stated: ... Inverted red triangle on Facebook: Donald Trump’s activities are despicable and without sense of history

03.06.2020

Mark Zuckerberg is blindly fumbling around in a world filled with racist and anti-Semitic hatred, blatant populist lies and far-right extremist conspiracy theories

Commenting on Mark Zuckerberg’s remarks on the conflict between Twitter and the American President, and labelling anti-Semitic contents and flagging posts glorifying violence on facebook itself, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, said in Berlin: ... Mark Zuckerberg is blindly fumbling around in a world filled with racist and anti-Semitic hatred, blatant populist lies and far-right extremist conspiracy theories

22.05.2020

The film The Euphoria of Being, with Eva Fahidi, wins the Audience Award in Munich

In the Hungarian film The Euphoria of Being, the Hungarian-Jewish Auschwitz survivor Eva Fahidi meets her alter ego, the young dancer Emese Cuhorka. During the deeply moving process of increasing closeness, dialogue, combined movements and dance, the 94-year-old Eva Fahidi portrays her memories of her murdered family members and the horrific experiences in Auschwitz and the Münchmühle forced labour camp near Allendorf in Hesse. In a very literal sense, it is a moving process of memories that touches audiences around the world and leaves them almost breathless. ... The film The Euphoria of Being, with Eva Fahidi, wins the Audience Award in Munich

19.05.2020

Armbands, Stars of David, Auschwitz analogies: Deceptive comparisons at ‘hygiene demonstrations’ are outrageous and wrong

Holocaust survivors are becoming increasingly disturbed by images of so-called hygiene demonstrations, where demonstrators are drawing on Nazi symbols and contents to attract attention and describe their supposed persecution in the current situation. The slogan displayed in Freiburg “Vaccination makes you free” deliberately creates absurd parallels between the protestors’ personal situation and the situation in Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp with its inscription above the main gate “Arbeit macht frei” (work makes you free). Equally absurd are the links with the crimes of SS... ... Armbands, Stars of David, Auschwitz analogies: Deceptive comparisons at ‘hygiene demonstrations’ are outrageous and wrong

11.05.2020

Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories are growing in the debate surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic: “Once again it’s the Jew’s fault”

In Berlin Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, made a statement concerning the growth of conspiracy theories in the debate surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic: ... Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories are growing in the debate surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic: “Once again it’s the Jew’s fault”

07.05.2020

The Auschwitz survivor Dorota Flug has died: She had trust and confidence that, based on the knowledge of their own responsibility, the people in Germany would develop a realistic and grateful awareness of their own liberation

Auschwitz survivors around the globe are deeply saddened and are mourning the death of another companion, a witness of the times and a wise friend. Dorota Flug died on 1 May in Jerusalem aged 94, just a few days before the international day of remembrance for 8 May 1945. The people in Germany have much to thank her for during these days surrounding the United Nations’ Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation on 8 - 9 May. ... The Auschwitz survivor Dorota Flug has died: She had trust and confidence that, based on the knowledge of their own responsibility, the people in Germany would develop a realistic and grateful awareness of their own liberation

05.05.2020

6 May 2020 − Opening film at the Munich Documentary Film Festival: Eva Fahidi, Auschwitz survivor from Budapest "The Euphoria Of Being"

Founded in 1985, the Munich Documentary Film Festival has meanwhile gained worldwide recognition. 121 films from 42 countries are being screened this year from 6 to 24 May during the festival’s 35th edition. The films will be shown via streaming on the Internet where tickets are available for the individual performances. 75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp, the festival organizers are providing much food for thought with the series "Dok.focus lasting memories". The series is showcasing seven films from Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and... ... 6 May 2020 − Opening film at the Munich Documentary Film Festival: Eva Fahidi, Auschwitz survivor from Budapest "The Euphoria Of Being"

02.05.2020

On the death of the French Auschwitz survivor Liliane Badour-Esrail: "Without Liliane the world has become a little darker."

In Berlin Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, made the following statement after receiving news of the death of the French Auschwitz survivor Liliane Badour-Esrail: ... On the death of the French Auschwitz survivor Liliane Badour-Esrail: "Without Liliane the world has become a little darker."

29.04.2020

Igor Levit: "My concert is a gesture of profound respect and gratitude"

Statement by pianist Igor Levit introducing his house concert on 29 April 2020: ... Igor Levit: "My concert is a gesture of profound respect and gratitude"

27.04.2020

29 April: House concert by Igor Levit – a message to the survivors. Joint action by the pianist Igor Levit and the International Auschwitz Committee

... 29 April: House concert by Igor Levit – a message to the survivors. Joint action by the pianist Igor Levit and the International Auschwitz Committee

09.04.2020

Samoskarłowacanie się UE: gościnny komentarz MKO w gazecie „taz“

Ocaleni z Holocaustu na Węgrzech i w innych krajach europejskich od dawna z przerażeniem i oburzeniem śledzą wydarzenia polityczne związane z Viktorem Orbanem. Trwała destabilizacja demokracji na Węgrzech i zatruwanie klimatu społecznego przez otwarte manipulacje propagandy, wykorzystujące stare antysemickie i rasistowskie stereotypy, przypomina ocalonym o wydarzeniach historycznych, których oni i ich rodziny doświadczyli już wcześniej na własnej skórze. ... Samoskarłowacanie się UE: gościnny komentarz MKO w gazecie „taz“

08.04.2020

75. rocznica wyzwolenia Buchenwaldu w dniu 11 kwietnia 2020 r.: Honorowe obywatelstwo miasta dla Evy Fahidi i Ivana Ivanjiego

Ocaleni z Oświęcimia i Buchenwaldu na całym świecie z wielką radością i uwagą przyjęli gest Weimaru nadania honorowego obywatelstwa miasta Węgierce żydowskiego pochodzenia, ocalonej z Oświęcimia i Buchenwaldu Evie Fahidi, oraz Serbowi żydowskiego pochodzenia, ocalonemu z Oświęcimia i Buchenwaldu Ivanovi Ivanjiemu, szczególnie w kontekście odwołania obchodów 75. rocznicy wyzwolenia obozu w Buchenwaldzie. ... 75. rocznica wyzwolenia Buchenwaldu w dniu 11 kwietnia 2020 r.: Honorowe obywatelstwo miasta dla Evy Fahidi i Ivana Ivanjiego

Krzystof Penderecki © Wikimedia, Akumiszcza

29.03.2020

Nie żyje polski kompozytor Krzysztof Penderecki: oświetlał ciemności oraz piękno świata

W związku ze śmiercią polskiego kompozytora Krzysztofa Pendereckiego Christoph Heubner, wiceprzewodniczący Międzynarodowego Komitetu Oświęcimskiego, podkreślił w Berlinie: ... Nie żyje polski kompozytor Krzysztof Penderecki: oświetlał ciemności oraz piękno świata

12.03.2020

The extreme right-wing of the AfD, Der Flügel is being observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution: “An encouraging and important signal”

In view of the current growth of right-wing extremist threats in Europe, Holocaust survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee are gretaly relieved to know that Germany’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution has now placed the right-wing extremist faction of the AfD, Der Flügel (The Wing), under observation, thus making it clear that democracy is taking the current threat by extreme right-wing groupings seriously and is taking a decisive stand against them. ... The extreme right-wing of the AfD, Der Flügel is being observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution: “An encouraging and important signal”

06.03.2020

Before the eyes of the EU: Orban removes books by the writer and Auschwitz survivor Imre Kertesz from the curriculum in Hungarian schools

Auschwitz survivors are angry and shocked at the continuing consolidation of dictatorial trends that are being promoted in Hungary by Viktor Orban. Whilst in Europe the dangers and threats to European societies by extreme right-wing and racist groups and parties are becoming increasingly evident, the Hungarian autocrat Orban is working surreptitiously, yet before the eyes of Europe. He is continuing to take every opportunity to eradicate critical thought from the public sphere. He is also helping to revive the old toxic vocabulary and phrases of dictatorship, National Socialism and their...

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