Paris, 19 January 2024
Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr Shimon Samuels, urged Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice (in southern France), to take action against the promotion in his town of a documentary film entitled “General Suleimani - Hero and Martyr of the Resistance”, by “Aissa Axe de la Resistance” (stage name of an anonymous pro-Iranian antisemite). The first screening of this Iran-backed travesty, organized by a shady ragbag of Jew-haters, is supposed to be held next 26 January, a day before the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The online poster of the event. Note the absence of venue details.
The “guest speakers” (via webcam) at this première are Youssef Hindi and Monsieur K, who are both devoted to extreme-right ultraconservatism and the defamation of Judaism.
Samuels recalled that, “The individuals involved have become active on social media in recent years, and are linked to well-known antisemitic associations or ‘geopolitical think tanks’, such as ‘Égalité & Réconciliation’ (media outlet of the infamous Alain Soral) or ‘Civitas’ (an ultra-Catholic traditionalist paragon of bigotry)... Their constant narratives on social media include the most abject antisemitic tropes, from ancient ‘blood and lust libels’ to conspiracy theories connected to the Covid pandemic, the Jewish control over finance and media, manipulation of terrorist groups, etc.”
The goal of this film documentary is to glorify Qasem Soleimani, the strategist of the IRGC Qods Force international operations – including terrorist attacks that caused one third of US losses in Iraq, or the strengthening of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria or the Houthi in Yemen. Considering the speakers’ curriculum, this 26 January event will be the occasion to relay the Islamic Republic of Iran’s anti-Israel and anti-West genocidal propaganda.
The Mayor of Nice, Mr. Estrosi – who had assisted our Centre in 2005, in naming a school in a town nearby “College Simon Wiesenthal” – and the Police authorities announced they would ban the screening and debate, “because clearly inciting hatred and discrimination.” Nevertheless, considering that it is announced as a “private event” with a videoconference for the guest speakers, this seems most likely to be an online screening, rather than “in person” event. Thus, the ban could be easily circumvented.
“As far as the Wiesenthal Centre is concerned, in the present context, this event must be banned whatever its format, as it does not only incite antisemitism, but is also a call to violence,” concluded Samuels.
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Happy birthday to 1-year old hostage Kfir Bibas!
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