Wiesenthal Center Urges Chilean Authorities to Take Strongest Measures Against Outrageous Manifestations of Hatred

October 12, 2020

“Hate can be devious and calls for rapid action"

BUENOS AIRES and PARIS -A public demonstration in Santiago, Chile, has been the shocking scene of armed Nazi groups with open incitement against Jews. (photo)

The Wiesenthal Center, at every opportunity, has protested to Chilean authorities that legislation is insufficient to protect their Jewish citizens, who are harassed from both the extreme right and left elements in sympathy with the Palestinian Federation's violent discourse.

Director for International Relations of the Center, Dr. Shimon Samuels, urged Chile to take all measures to criminalize hate speech resulting in violence...To see uniformed Nazis marching in Santiago -  in ideological lockstep with antisemitic leftist pro-Palestinians -  is a step to the abyss. Chile did not end its military dictatorship to accept these challenges to its democracy "

“How long will we have to wait for the protection of Jewish citizens in Chile? Hate knows no boundaries. It is neither from the right nor from the left. Hate is devious.It calls for legislative action, if not immediate it will be too late to regret”, concluded Dr. Ariel Gelblung, Director of the Center for Latin America.

For further information, please contact Dr. Shimon Samuels at +336 09770158 or Dr. Ariel Gelblung at +54 9 11 49695365.

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The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).