Week of Events for Holocaust Memorial Day

Tuesday January 17 2017

A week of events is being held throughout Scotland from Sunday to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD).

HMD takes place on January 27 each year, remembering the millions of people killed or left affected by the Holocaust, as well as the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. January 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

In Scotland, a national Holocaust Memorial Day event will be held at Bishopbriggs Academy, East Dunbartonshire, on Thursday January 26. Organised by the Scottish Government, Interfaith Scotland and East Dunbartonshire Council, the evening will include contributions from author Saskia Tepe, daughter of a Holocaust survivor, and Umutesi Stewart, survivor of the Rwandan Genocide, as well as performances from young people from across East Dunbartonshire, the lighting of memorial candles and orchestral music.

Saskia and Umutesi will also spend several days speaking to hundreds of school pupils in Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh and East Renfrewshire, as well as visiting and speaking at the Scottish Jewish Archive Centre, Low Moss prison and holding workshops at a youth conference at St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow.

Interfaith Scotland is also working in partnership with Glasgow University to arrange an Interfaith Peace Service in the University Chapel this Sunday, January 22 at 3pm.

The theme of Holocaust Memorial Day for 2017 is ‘How can life go on’, raising questions of what happens in the aftermath of a genocide.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust is also listing events throughout Scotland, including remembrance services, film showings, a seminar in Stornoway and a reflective walk in Aberdeen. View the website for a full list.

Dr Maureen Sier, Director of Interfaith Scotland, said, "At a time in history when we are seeing the rise of anti-semitism, Islamaphobia and the politics of extremism, it is more critical than ever to remember the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, and to learn from history. 

"Young people everywhere have a right to live on in a world that is not blighted by hatred, discrimination and fear."

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