Andi Gergely, Chairperson of the European Union of Jewish Students, comments that “as an international student organization, we are highly concerned that an institution of higher education accepts to host a conference that will promote hate propaganda. It affects not only Jewish students in Geneva and Europe, but anybody who cares for peace, democracy and the respect of human dignity.”
Please distribute the following joint statement of the European Union of Jewish Students and the Swiss Union of Jewish Students.
Below the official press release in 3 languages (English, French and Italian).
The EUJS and the SUJS oppose Musheer Al Masri’s visit to the University of Geneva
The European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) and the Swiss Union of Jewish Students (SUJS) are profoundly shocked by the invitation of Hamas spokesperson Musheer Al Masri to speak at the University of Geneva on Wednesday, January 18th 2012.
The conference, organized by the association “Right for All”, is announced to take place next Wednesday at the University of Geneva and will host a leader of the ruling party in Gaza. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union, and by welcoming Musheer Al Masri in its building, the University of Geneva provides a platform for Hamas’ non-democratic, racist and loophole ideology.
Hamas is known for denying the Holocaust, rejecting the Oslo Peace Accords, disclaiming the Egypt-Israel Peace treaty, advocating the destruction of Israel through violence, and for being responsible of more than 400 attacks against civilians during the Second Intifada. In addition to denying the right of existence of the State of Israel and to openly encouraging women and children to participate in the “Holy war”, Hamas ideology is based on deep anti-Semitism. Its charter praises “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” and caricatures Jews as power hungry. Moreover, the notion that Jews control governments, finance and media is perpetrated. The charter explicitly calls for the murder of Jews.
Thus, by hiding behind freedom of expression that has its limits, the Dean demonstrates a flagrant lack of understanding vis-à-vis the organization that will be represented at the university. The educational mission of this institution is delegitimized in our eyes.
The European Union of Jewish Students together with the Swiss Union of Jewish Students condemn the University of Geneva in the strongest possible terms for hosting Musheer Al Masri. It is absolutely not acceptable that a state institution – which is historically committed to Democracy, Justice and Human rights – provides a platform to an organization which openly claims the destruction of a member state of the United Nations as its main objective.
We thank the Association Switzerland-Israel for bringing this issue to public attention, and extend an invitation to anyone who considers university to be a place of Human Rights promotion, peace and combat of racism. The peaceful demonstration will be held at the entrance of Uni-Mail (Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40, 1205 Geneva), on Wednesday January 18th, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
L’EUJS et la SUJS s’opposent à la venue de Musheer Al Masri
à l’Université de Genève
L’EUJS (European Union of Jewish Students) et la SUJS (Swiss Union of Jewish Students) sont profondemment choquées par la présence au sein de l’Université de Genève, ce mercredi 18 janvier, de Musheer Al Masri, porte-parole du Hamas.
La conférence organisée ce mercredi à l’Université de Genève, par l’association “Droit pour Tous”, accueillera Musheer Al Masri, député et porte-parole du parti islamiste Hamas.
En accueillant M. Al Masri dans son enceinte, l’Université de Genève devient un vecteur de communication de l’idéologie non-démocratique, raciste et meurtrière du Hamas, reconnu comme organisation terroriste par l’Union Européenne. Se réfugiant derrière le prétexte de la liberté d’expression, le Rectorat fait preuve d’un manque de discernement flagrant vis-à-vis du Hamas, et leur offre ainsi une tribune inespérée.
Il semble plus que jamais nécessaire de rappeler que le Hamas est engagé dans un combat idéologique dédié à la haine et à la violence. Qu’il s’agisse de nier la Shoah, d’encourage ouvertement femmes et enfants à prendre part à “la Guerre Sainte”, de rejeter toute solution pacifique au Proche-Orient, de réclamer la destruction d’Israël ou de mener des attaques meurtrières contre des civils (plus de 400 contre civils israéliens durant la Seconde Intifada), le Hamas ne ménage pas ses efforts pour imposer la terreur.
L’idéologie du Hamas se base sur un antisémitisme profond. Sa Charte fait l’apologie du «Protocole des Sages de Sion», caricature les Juifs comme étant avides de pouvoir, ayant la contrôle des gouvernements de la finance et des médias et appelle explicitement à leur meurtre. En accueillant le porte-parole de cette idéologie, l’Université de Genève discrédite la mission d’éducation qui lui a a été confiée.
Comme associations estudiantines, l’EUJS et la SUJS déplorent l’autorisation accordée par l’Université de Genève. Une décision qui porte un coup aux valeurs enseignées par cette noble institution.
C’est pourquoi, l’EUJS et la SUJS se rallient à la manifestation organisée devant l’entrée de Uni-Mail (Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40, 1205 Genève), mercredi 18 janvier de 19h à 19h30 par l’Association Suisse-Israël Genève.
COMUNICATO STAMPA
EUJS e SUJS si oppongono alla visita di Musheer Al Masri all’Universita’ di Ginevra
La European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) e la Swiss Union of Jewish Students (SUJS) sono profondamente sconvolte dalla notizia dell’invito del portavoce di Hamas, Musheer Al Masri, a una conferenza che si terra’ a Ginevra, Mercoledi’ 18 Gennaio 2012. La conferenza, promossa dall’organizzazione “Droit pour Tous” e’ prevista per il prossimo Mercoledi’ in un’aula dell’Universita’ di Ginevra, e ospitera’ un leader del partito al Governo di Gaza.
EUJS e SUJS intendono sottolineare che Hamas e’ considerata un’organizzazione terrorista dall’Unione Europea, e che l’Universita’ di Ginevra, nell’accogliere Musheer Al Masri nel proprio edificio, dara’ voce ad un’ideologia anti-democratica, razzista e ingannevole. Hamas e’ conosciuta per il suo negazionismo, per aver rifiutato il Trattato di Pace di Oslo, per aver negato gli accordi di Pace tra Egitto e Israele, e per essere responsabile di piu’ di 400 attacchi contro civili durante la Seconda Intifada.
L’ideologia supportata da Al Masri sostiene che “non c’e’ soluzione alla questione Palestinese se non la Jihad” (Art.8), nega il diritto di Israele ad esistere, e incoraggia apertamente donne e bambini a partecipare attivamente alla Jihad.
Inoltre, tale ideologia e’ fondamentalmente antisemita. Nel suo statuto inneggia ai “Protocolli dei Savi di Sion”, e caricaturizza gli Ebrei come un popolo assetato di potere. Inoltre, diffonde l‘idea chegli Ebrei controllino i governi, la finanza e i media, e infine, nello stesso statuto incita esplicitamente alla loro uccisione.
Percio’, dietro alla bandiera della Liberta’ d’espressione , che ha i suoi limiti, il Rettore dimostra una lampante mancanza di comprensione riguardo l’organizzazione che verra’ presentata, e delegittimizza la propria missione educativa. Accogliendo il portavoce di Hamas, l’Universita’ di Ginevra scredita la missione di educazione a lei confidata.
La European Union of Jewish Students, insieme alla Swiss Union of Jewish Students, condannano pesantemente l’Universita’ di Ginevra per l’accoglienza di Musheer Al Masri. Non e’ accettabile che un’Istituzione di Stato – che nella storia si e’ sempre battuta per la Democrazia, la Giustizia e i Diritti Umani – dia voce ad un’organizzazione che dichiari come suo obbiettivo primario la distruzione di uno Stato membro delle Nazioni Unite.
Ringraziamo l’organizzazione « Suisse-Israël » per aver manifestato per prima tale questione, e invitiamo a partecipare alla manifestazione pacifica che stanno organizzando, chiunque ritenga che l’Universita’ sia un luogo dove promovere Pace e Diritti Umani, e dove combattere il razzismo. La manifestazione si terra’ all’entrata dell’Uni-Mail (Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40, 1205 Ginevra), Mercoledi’ 18 Gennaio, dalle 19:00 alle 19:30.
