Poland: teachers denounce the denial of the Holocaust by Iranian President
EI member organisation the Zwi¹zek Nauczycielstwa Polskiego (ZNP) issued a statement on 27 January criticising the denial of the Holocaust by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In 2005, the United Nations designated 27 January - the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp - as an annual International Day of Commemoration to honour the victims of the Holocaust.
The UN Assembly has also adopted by consensus a resolution condemning "without reserve" any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event either in full or in part.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on 13 Dec 2005 that "the Holocaust was a myth", which attracted worldwide condemnation.
On the occasion of the Day of Commemoration, ZNP invites all teachers around the world to condemn the denial of the Holocaust and to support the UN Resolution by developing educational programmes to remind future generations of the tragedy in order to prevent genocide from occurring again.
Below is the full copy of ZNP's statement in English:
-----------------
Statement concerning the Holocaust
Dear Colleagues,
The Polish Teachers' Union would like to express objection against actions of Iran's president, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. For the Polish people, who witnessed the annihilation of Jewish nation, the Holocaust denial is totally unacceptable and very painful. For hundreds of years Poles and Jews were living together and next to each other. Although our relationship wasn't always easy, we had a feeling that we were building one, common country in which Polish and Jewish identity was not to be put in any danger. Among millions of murdered Jews we lost members of family, friends, neighbors and common citizens, who made a huge contribution to the national development. That is why we, of all other countries, feelthe most the effects of the Holocaust and its influence on the history of Europe and the World after 1945 the most.
On the anniversary of the liberation of the German Concentration Camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau we would like to condemn the revisionism of history practiced by Iran's government. We are aware of the complex political situation in the Middle East, however questioning the legality of the existence of Israel by questioning the Holocaust is, in our opinion, disgusting.
We appeal to Polish teachers and all the teachers around the world gathered in Education International to condemn the denial of truth about the annihilation of Jewish people by teaching about the Holocaust. We believe that the education is the way to prevent the intolerance, racism and the annihilation of whole nations.
We call upon all of you to support the United Nation's resolution against the denial of the Holocaust not only on 27th of January which was laid down by the United Nations in remembrance of the victims of this crimes.
Dear colleagues, we invite You to take a look at the internet sites and participate in projects and seminars about the Holocaust.
ZNP President Sÿawomir Broniarz
