MP Christiana Erotokritou, member of the Cypriot delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), participated in a debate at the PACE Plenary Session on the prevention and combating of anti-Semitism in Europe.
Ms Erotokritou said that the phenomenon of anti-Semitism is a flagrant violation of human rights and should be treated as such by the governments of the Member States. Members of the Jewish community cannot be held responsible for any negative incidents that take place or be scapegoats and victims of conspiracy theories, a phenomenon that intensifies in times of crisis. Such perceptions, which are mainly expressed by far-right and conservative movements, are unacceptable and dangerous for democracy, the Cypriot MP underlined.
However, she stressed that what is most worrying is the significant number of members of the Jewish community leaving European countries due to the increased attacks and discrimination they suffer, as evidenced by recent surveys. Unfortunately, she added, expressions of anti-Semitism seem to be deeply rooted in Europe, even 80 years after the heinous phenomenon of the Holocaust.
It is therefore important to strengthen and protect Jewish communities in Europe, through the promotion of multiculturalism, tolerance of diversity and the teaching and preservation of the memory of the Holocaust, the MEP pointed out. Moreover, in Cyprus, 27 January is a day of remembrance and tribute to the millions of victims of this horrific moment in history, but also a day to express the firm commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to fight anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of intolerance, Ms Erotokritou noted.
In conclusion, the Cypriot MEP supported the criminalisation of the denial or downplaying of the importance of the Holocaust by all Council Member States, while pointing out that teaching about its memory should be introduced in education and enriched with events and visits to important monuments of Jewish culture.
(Text as sent from the House of Representatives)
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