🔗 Share this article Holocaust Survivors Demand Nigel Farage to Make Amends Over Reported Anti-Jewish Statements. A coalition of Shoah survivors has insisted that Nigel Farage tell the truth and apologise for reported anti-Jewish taunts attributed to him toward Jewish schoolmates during his school days. The political party leader has claimed he never targeted anyone with malicious intent, framing it may have been mere "childish teasing". "As Holocaust survivors, we grasp the profound danger of bigoted language – for we have seen where such words inevitably end," declared the survivors in a open letter. "Let us be clear: lauding Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or shouting racist insults is not banter. Not in a playground. Not ever." A Pointed Inquiry The document asks straightforward questions to the public figure: "Are the claims accurate that you stated ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ and mimicked gas chambers? Did you target your peers to bigoted harassment?" The Signatories The group of 11 survivors includes individuals with deeply traumatic personal histories from the Nazi genocide. Hedi Argent, who saw the murder of 27 members of her immediate and extended family. Simon Winston, who was held in a ghetto before breaking out in 1942 and living through the rest of the war concealed. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and later incarcerated at Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated. Other signatories include Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan Pollack, Hanneke Dye and Agnes Kaposi. Growing Accounts This action comes after the characterisation of corroborating accounts by more than several dozen former pupils and teachers as "made-up twaddle" by a high-ranking official. Since the initial report, more contemporaries have shared their stories. 28 former pupils and teachers now state they observed bigoted conduct by him. One notable testimony comes from Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish-born Bafta and Emmy-winning director, who said that a young Farage would come near him and utter the phrases "Hitler was correct" and "gas them", on occasion making a long hiss to simulate the sound of gas chambers. Further Allegations Other former pupils from diverse backgrounds have also spoken publicly with accounts of targeted insults. Cyrus Oshidar claimed he was branded a "racial slur" and has dismissed the notion that such actions were without intent. Another student of Asian heritage portrayed him as an "blatant racist" who would use the phrase "Enoch Powell was correct" as a form of "ethnic harassment". The Ultimate Question The missive from survivors puts forth an ultimate dilemma to Farage: "By denying saying those words, are you claiming that dozens of individuals are not telling the truth? If you did say them, now is the time to take responsibility and make amends." "People who aspire to lead our country should under no circumstances sow discord by race or religion. Anti-Jewish bigotry must always be confronted. This moment is about personal accountability. The choice is yours, Mr Farage."
A coalition of Shoah survivors has insisted that Nigel Farage tell the truth and apologise for reported anti-Jewish taunts attributed to him toward Jewish schoolmates during his school days. The political party leader has claimed he never targeted anyone with malicious intent, framing it may have been mere "childish teasing". "As Holocaust survivors, we grasp the profound danger of bigoted language – for we have seen where such words inevitably end," declared the survivors in a open letter. "Let us be clear: lauding Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or shouting racist insults is not banter. Not in a playground. Not ever." A Pointed Inquiry The document asks straightforward questions to the public figure: "Are the claims accurate that you stated ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ and mimicked gas chambers? Did you target your peers to bigoted harassment?" The Signatories The group of 11 survivors includes individuals with deeply traumatic personal histories from the Nazi genocide. Hedi Argent, who saw the murder of 27 members of her immediate and extended family. Simon Winston, who was held in a ghetto before breaking out in 1942 and living through the rest of the war concealed. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and later incarcerated at Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated. Other signatories include Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan Pollack, Hanneke Dye and Agnes Kaposi. Growing Accounts This action comes after the characterisation of corroborating accounts by more than several dozen former pupils and teachers as "made-up twaddle" by a high-ranking official. Since the initial report, more contemporaries have shared their stories. 28 former pupils and teachers now state they observed bigoted conduct by him. One notable testimony comes from Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish-born Bafta and Emmy-winning director, who said that a young Farage would come near him and utter the phrases "Hitler was correct" and "gas them", on occasion making a long hiss to simulate the sound of gas chambers. Further Allegations Other former pupils from diverse backgrounds have also spoken publicly with accounts of targeted insults. Cyrus Oshidar claimed he was branded a "racial slur" and has dismissed the notion that such actions were without intent. Another student of Asian heritage portrayed him as an "blatant racist" who would use the phrase "Enoch Powell was correct" as a form of "ethnic harassment". The Ultimate Question The missive from survivors puts forth an ultimate dilemma to Farage: "By denying saying those words, are you claiming that dozens of individuals are not telling the truth? If you did say them, now is the time to take responsibility and make amends." "People who aspire to lead our country should under no circumstances sow discord by race or religion. Anti-Jewish bigotry must always be confronted. This moment is about personal accountability. The choice is yours, Mr Farage."