Turkey marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Saturday marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we commemorate more than 6 million victims who were brutally murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators in a systematic way. We also remember with respect the Turkish diplomats who aided those victims fleeing this horrible tragedy," The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The statement said Holocaust victims have been commemorated across the world as well as in Turkey and an event was held on Thursday at the University of Ankara with the participation of Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakci and Chief Rabbi of Turkey Rav Isak Haleva.

“On Nov 1, 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, which Turkey co-sponsored, to designate January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day,” it noted.

"Despite the Holocaust, which was the result of racism and hatred towards differences, the rise in antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia in today’s world is worrying. It is essential to resolutely fight against these hate-based phenomena that pose threats to global stability," it stressed.

The statement said that lessons should be derived from the Holocaust, “which has no parallel in history”.

Turkey has been participating as an observer country since 2008 in the activities of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which was established with the aim of researching Holocaust thoroughly, duly commemorating its victims and educating the new generations about this crime, it noted.

"Turkey opened its doors to hundreds of Jews, including scientists, fleeing Nazi persecution and today provides protection to millions of people escaping from cruelty," it said.

The Foreign Ministry added that Turkey will continue its efforts to prevent racism, discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of extremism.