Rooul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during World War II, has been proposed as the first winner of a human rights prize to be awarded every three years by the Council of Europe.
Wallenberg’s name has been put forward by the Board of Deputies of British Jews which cites his “courage and devotion for beyond the call of duty.” In January, 1945, Wallenberg was abducted by the Russians. Despite Soviet claims that he died in a Moscow prison in 1947, there have been 15 alleged sightings of him since then, most recently in 1975.
In its letter to the Council of Europe, the Board of Deputies stated: “In the event of Mr. Wallenberg being unable personally to receive the prize, we would propose that it be presented, for safe keeping on his behalf, to his two closest relatives, who are leading the compaign for his release. They are his half sister, Mrs. Nina Lagergren, and his half brother, Prof. Guy von Dordel.”
Greville Janner, MP, president of the Board, was present in Jerusalem Sunday when Mayor Teddy Kollek and Gideon Housner, prosecutor at the Eichmann trial, opened a park named after Wallenberg. However, the Swedish Embassy in Israel was not represented because the park is in East Jerusalem, whose annexation by Israel is not recognized by Sweden.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
