ADL: Romanian Minister Must Apologize for Holocaust Denial
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has urged the Romanian
government to demonstrate its commitment to fighting anti-Semitism by having a
newly-appointed minister apologize for his Holocaust denial comments, European
Jewish Press (EJP) reported.
In public comments made last March, Dan Sova, who was
appointed Romania’s Minister of Parliamentary Relations on August 6, denied the
mass killing of Jews in Iasi in 1941 and stated that “no Jew suffered on
Romanian territory” during World War II.
Sova later expressed regret that his statement was
misunderstood, but has yet to apologize for his remarks.
“It is imperative that Mr. Sova make a full and clear
public apology for the comments he made in March denying the Holocaust,” said
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.
“A public apology by Mr. Sova and his proactive
engagement in reforming the law prohibiting fascist and racist organizations
will make clear to all that he and the Romanian government are committed to
fighting anti-Semitism,” Foxman said.
In a letter to Prime Minister Victor Ponta, the ADL urged
the government to have Sova make “a more substantial and lasting impact by
moving from words to deeds” by reforming the laws against fascist and racist
organizations, the use of their symbols, the glorification of their leaders and
Holocaust denial, EJP reported.
Following Sova’s remarks, he was removed from his role as
spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party and sent on a three-day study tour
to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
On Monday, Aurel Vainer, president of the Federation of
Jewish Communities of Romania, said that Sova’s appointment made him “want to
wear a black armband” as a sign of mourning.
He said that Sova’s promotion “did not send the correct
message to young people.”
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