This week, posters labelling the Holocaust as a “robbery” and studies of the genocide as a “fraud” have been found at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow.
Using quotes from Norman Finkelstein’s book ‘The Holocaust Industry’, the posters claim “much of the literature on Hitler’s Final Solution is worthless as scholarship” and “nonsense…is turned out on a daily basis by the Holocaust industry”.
The poster also promotes Chemtrails Geelong, a website which hosts an array of conspiracy theories including extensive information on “The Greatest Swindle of All Time: The Holocaust Fraud”.
The website supports Robert Faurisson and David Irving, both prominent Holocaust deniers, and denies Nazi gas chambers existed, writing that the claim they were “used to murder Jews or other human beings is a contemptible fabrication”.
It also defends the actions of the Nazi regime, who it claims “punished corruption and cruelty on the part of camp commanders”, claims those killed in the camps were the victims of fellow prisoners, and features antisemitic cartoons.
The University of Edinburgh Students’ Association have issued a statement condemning the posters and encouraging any witnesses of hate crime to come forward. They go on to say:
“Every student has the right to feel safe…We have been in contact with the Jewish Society to discuss how we can combat anti-Semitism on campus and would extend that invitation to any student. Should you have any concerns, please contact any of your Sabbatical Officers.”
Noa Cohen, Vice-Chair of University of Edinburgh Israel Engagement Society has said:
“We are at a tipping point where bigotry is manifesting itself even more blatantly than before, and this makes me worry for the safety of myself and other Jewish students. The perpetrator must be found and subjected to disciplinary action as soon as possible, as they have no place on our campus.”
Today, the same material has been found posted around the University of Glasgow, which suggests a more orchestrated campaign is at work.
Antisemitism on university campuses has come to the forefront of the public debate recently after members of the Oxford University Labour Club became embroiled in a scandal over antisemitic remarks.
Student Rights has long argued the issue is a serious problem, and these incidents in Scotland highlight yet another manifestation this insidious racism can take.
Material promoting racist conspiracy theories has no place on campuses, and we urge any student who finds such material to report it to their university immediately.
We are pleased to report that the University of Edinburgh has launched an investigation, and hope the University of Glasgow will follow suit.