News Releases 2021
“FIFA must not be associated with abuse of the 'Beautiful Game' in the service of hate.”
Paris, 17 March 2021
In a letter to FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) President, Gianni Infantino, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, recalled their 2017 correspondence, expressing “outrage at the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) glorification of terrorism in naming tournaments, teams and stadia after murderers.”
Paris, 12 March 2021
In a letter to INTERPOL Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, The Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, demanded the return to “Most Wanted” status of Ahlam Ahmad Al-Tamimi, responsible for killing 15 – of which 8 children – in a Jerusalem pizza restaurant in 2001.
Ahlam Ahmad Al-Tamimi is also on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorist” list.
Read more: Wiesenthal Centre to INTERPOL: “Return Terrorist...
Paris, 5 March 2021
The Wiesenthal Centre commended the security personnel – for identifying and immobilizing – and the police for its rapid response and arrest of a man wielding a ceramic knife outside a Jewish school in Marseille.
Over the past year there have been several stabbings of Jewish and Gentile teachers in France, the most recent being the beheading of a teacher who had discussed the Mohammed caricatures and freedom of expression in class.
Most of the perpetrators have been radicalized Jihadists infested with Jew hatred.
While French police have shown immediate intervention, arrestees on arraignment have been too often treated by the courts with silk gloves. Obvious antisemitic targeting has been dismissed on grounds of narcotics, alcohol or mental impairment.
“The Wiesenthal Centre will be watching closely the judicial treatment of today’s perpetrator, who reportedly appeared deranged, but also determined to hurt. We share the relief of students, teachers and parents in the face of danger,” concluded Samuels.
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“For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.” (Simon Wiesenthal, 1908-2005)
“Norway's neo-Nazi movement, Vigrid, should be banned as an example that incitement to hate is not freedom of expression!”
Paris, 5 March 2021
In a letter to Delphine Ernotte, the newly elected President of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – better known for its subsidiary, the Eurovision Song Contest –, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, brought attention to “an apparent indifference to antisemitism in one of your 116 member organizations, the Norwegian NRK (Norsk rikskringkasting - Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation)...” continuing, “The case of NRK P13 digital music channel radio host, Shaun Henrik Matheson’s rant to his predominantly young audience: ‘I wish the vaccine did not work in Israel... Israel is a shitty country!’ – is unacceptable.”
Paris, 3 March 2021
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre last week contacted a number of Foreign Ministers, Secretaries of State and a Prime Minister, urging them to boycott the “celebration” of the 20th anniversary of the UN World Conference Against Racism.
Held in Durban, South Africa, in September 2001, the first WCAR degenerated into an antisemitic hatefest.