Students at the University of Edinburgh have condemned a poster found on campus which claims that the Holocaust was a Jewish invention designed for financial gain. The University has opened an investigation into who placed the poster there.
The poster quotes the renowned Israel hater Norman Finkelstein, whose own parents survived the Auschwitz and Lublin/Majdanek concentration camps, to suggest that the Holocaust was “the greatest robbery in the history of mankind,” and that much of what we know about the terrible events is “nonsense if not sheer fraud”.
It also cites a link to a Holocaust denial site, inviting “gentlemen” to explore it.
Jewish student Noa Cohen, Vice Chair of the Israeli Engagement Society, told student paper The Tab: “This appalling poster clearly demonstrates that anti-Semitism is a problem at Edinburgh and it is time for EUSA [Edinburgh University Students Association] and university management to take the concerns we have brought for months seriously.
“We are at a tipping point where bigotry is manifesting itself even more blatantly than before, and this makes me worry for the safety of myself and other Jewish students. The perpetrator must be found and subjected to disciplinary action as soon as possible, as they have no place on our campus.”
The poster was spotted by Imogen Wilson (yes, that Imogen Wilson), EUSA Vice President for Academic Affairs, who posted a picture of it to Twitter:
This horrific poster just appeared on our campus. Thought I should raise it with you all at #NUSNC16 pic.twitter.com/ppvBH6hRzG
— Imo Wilson EUSA VPAA (@eusavpaa) April 20, 2016
Anti-Semitism has been high on the student agenda in recent days, thanks in no small part to the election of an alleged anti-Semite as the National Union of Students (NUS) President earlier this week.
Delegates at the NUS conference were also criticised for applauding an argument not to commemorate Holocaust Day this year, including by Wilson who was in attendance. A motion to commemorate the day was later passed by those present.
Honestly cannot believe that there were speeches against the amendment to commemorate the holocaust. Unbelievable. #NUSNC16
— Imo Wilson EUSA VPAA (@eusavpaa) April 20, 2016
A spokesman for the Edinburgh University Students Union has condemned the posters and confirmed that the University has opened an investigation into who placed them there, saying: “It has been brought to our attention that a number of holocaust denial posters have been seen across campus. EUSA condemns this entirely and will not tolerate anti-Semitism.
“The matter has been raised with the University, who have launched an investigation.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.