Protest Against Anti-Semitism

Protest Against Anti-Semitism
We, the undersigned, deplore and condemn the outrageous anti-Semitic diatribe contained in the speech by the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad to the Organization of Islamic States Conference on October 10, 2003. His slurs and libels recall the most blatant anti-Semitism of the past.

We, the undersigned, recognize that Mahathir Mohammad's vilification of the Jewish people is one more and dramatic example of how today's global climate of discourse has made it possible for unabashed Jew-bashing to be expressed with impunity -- with terrible potential consequences -- because it hasn't been nipped in the bud.

We, the undersigned, deeply regret the absence of a strong, global rejection and refutation of Mahathirs ugly remarks. The absence of hard-hitting public condemnation lends an undeserving legitimacy to his defamation.

We, the undersigned, believe that the ultimate consequence of anti-Semitism, which although it begins with the Jews never ends with them, is to imperil the universal values of human dignity, democracy, pluralism, fundamental freedoms and individual liberty. Ridding the world of the re-emergent evil of anti-Semitism is an integral part of defending these values by all those who cherish and share them

We, the undersigned, therefore, call on leaders in government and civil society of all nations to vigorously and loudly express their condemnation of Mahathir's hateful comments in particular and of anti-Semitism in general. It is time for all decent people to stand up and be counted.