SCHAKOWSKY CONDEMNS IRAN HOLOCAUST DENIAL CONFERENCE

December 6, 2006

SCHAKOWSKY CONDEMNS IRAN HOLOCAUST DENIAL CONFERENCE

WASHINGTON, DC-Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.Res. 1091, which condemns in the strongest terms Iran's commitment to hold an international Holocaust denial conference on December 11-12, 2006. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important resolution.

I have the honor of representing one of the world's largest communities of Holocaust survivors in the United States. It is on their behalf, and on behalf of all of their friends and family who perished at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II, that I make this statement today.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's current intent to host an international Holocaust denial conference is only the latest abominable act he has taken in a series of anti-Semitic Holocaust denial statements and actions since he rose to power.

Those of us who understand history and humanity will not let President Ahmadinejad's efforts to diminish what was one of mankind's worst disasters go unanswered. No rational person can deny the systematic state-sponsored murder of 6,000,000 Jews and other targeted groups by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II. The Holocaust happened. It was the worst crime and the largest mass murder of the last century. It is a fact.

President Ahmadinejad's past and present declarations and actions--spewing outrageous anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric, remaining a primary source of funding, training, and support for terrorist groups, and openly threatening Israel and the United States--prove President Ahmadinejad is on a crusade of hatred and are deeply troubling acts.

I hope other governments, especially those in Middle East and Islamic world, and those on the UN Security Council will join me in speaking out against this hateful and untruthful rhetoric. President Ahmadinejad's assault on the truth is an insult to all.

After the Holocaust the Jewish people vowed to "Never Forget." We will never forget. And the world must never forget. And we will never bow to the ignorance, threats, bigotry and fanaticism of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - a man whose actions and words are an insult to the great Persian people.

I thank my colleagues who will vote unanimously to pass H.Res. 1091. Thank you Mr. Speaker.