Ahead of tomorrow’s summit meeting (23.09.2015) of the heads of states and governments of the European Union in Brussels on the situation of refugees in Europe, the International Auschwitz Committee has called on the participating politicians with the following open letter:

We, Auschwitz survivors from Poland, Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic and France, in the depths of despair and always in the face of imminent death, waited for Europe and hoped for Europe.

Today, Europe is once again facing a fundamental challenge. People are looking to us for protection, assistance and a future for themselves and their families with us. They are risking their lives to reach Europe.
All of this reminds us of the desperation we ourselves experienced.

In today’s Europe we see people responding to this challenge with a great readiness to help, but also people filled with fear, and people filled with hatred. We see brutal wire fences rammed in along the borders, haggard faces, burning houses and blatant selfishness. Undignified images reminiscent of Europe’s bitter past and revealing nothing but weakness and helplessness.

This is why we are turning to you today, you who lead and represent the states of Europe. We call on you to respond to the fears of your peoples calmly, with enlightenment and with hope. Now is the time for you to clearly demonstrate Europe’s ability to remember, and Europe’s dignity, through your joint decisions. There is no time left for national egocentricities and election tactics. The situation of the people involved, and the challenge to Europe’s credibility, is far too serious.

But above all we call on you to take a stand against populist and right-wing forces in Europe who exploit the grey areas between fear and hatred for their destructive activities, and to put them in their place rigorously and resolutely. With their hatred these groups fight against everything that defines Europe: diversity, tolerance and compassion.

It is up to you as responsible leaders to ensure that the citizens of Europe fulfil their democratic duty. Very many people have already clearly demonstrated their willingness to do this with their spontaneous help. The words spoken in 2004 by Simone Veil, herself an Auschwitz survivor and the first female president of the European Parliament, are just as valid today:
“Europe has the duty to be a model of democracy, a model of human rights.”

The day of your European summit meeting happens to fall on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the year. It also coincides with the Feast of Sacrifice as the highest festival in the Muslim world. We wish you wisdom and the blessing of the one God when making your decisions.