Yet again the Muslim Council of Britain has boycotted Holocaust Memorial Day. After their governing committee met a spokesman explained...
"There was no one in that [committee] meeting who was prepared to attend [Holocaust Memorial Day] this year without making a visible protest about the genocide in Gaza. It was agreed that the MCB does not wish to minimize the tragedy of the Holocaust or demean or disturb its annual memorial by attending and protesting about the genocide in Gaza, and it was therefore decided to abstain from the Holocaust Memorial Day this year."
Labour MP and Justice Minister Shahid Malik deserves plaudits for taking the MCB to task in a letter to The Guardian:
"I'm sad to be writing critically about the Muslim Council of Britain on the issue of the Holocaust Memorial Day once more (Report, 26 January). This week many thousands around the country did not commemorate the Holocaust in order to "silence criticism of Israel", as suggested by the MCB - nor did their commemoration in any way equate to support for the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
During the Nazi era more than 12 million were exterminated - 6 million because they were Jewish. Had Hitler been able to get his hands on a few Muslims, I'm sure they would have met a similar fate. This year's HMD theme was "standing up to hatred" - something that should be embraced by all Britons. Tragically the MCB have missed the point of HMD - it's a day when we unite in our humanity against the evil potential of man by reminding ourselves of past depravity.
For the record, as a former humanitarian affairs minister, I was angry at the Israeli military action in Gaza and at the BBC's decision not to air Gaza appeal, but I am also a proud member of the HMD Trust - there is no contradiction."
