The Conference of Presidents is welcoming the king of Morocco’s acknowledgement of the Holocaust as "one of the most tragic chapters of modern history."
"This courageous act by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to recognize the historical truth and universal significance of the Holocaust and the need to educate the Arab and Moslem world about its impact on mankind is especially remarkable," said conference chairman Alan Solow and executive vice chairman Malcolm Hoenlein. "We hope that the King’s endorsement of this important initiative will encourage others to do the same."
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CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS WELCOMES THE KING OF MOROCCO’S CALL FOR HOLOCAUST AWARENESS IN ARAB WORLD
New York, July 27, 2009… The recognition by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco of the Holocaust as “one of the most tragic chapters of modern history” and his endorsement of the Paris-based Aladdin Project, which aims to spread awareness of the genocide among Muslims, was lauded by Alan Solow, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
King Mohammed VI’s acknowledgment of the Holocaust was read in a speech in his name at the opening ceremony of the Aladdin Project, an initiative of the Paris-based Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah. According to Anne-Marie Revcolevschi, director of the Shoah foundation, this is the first time an Arab head of state has taken “such a clear stand on the Shoah.”
“This courageous act by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to recognize the historical truth and universal significance of the Holocaust and the need to educate the Arab and Moslem world about its impact on mankind is especially remarkable. We hope that the King’s endorsement of this important initiative will encourage others to do the same. The Conference of Presidents with Yad Vashem and the Claims Conference has undertaken to train educators in Moslem countries to teach about the Holocaust. The King’s stand is in sharp contrast with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has made Holocaust denial a central theme of his extremist ideology,” said Solow and Hoenlein. The Jewish leaders added that this same advocacy of tolerance has been in evidence in His Majesty’s treatment of the Jewish community of Morocco, which boasts a 2,000-year history in the country.
