A group of Shoah survivors has publicly demanded that Nigel Farage tell the truth and express remorse for alleged antisemitic taunts attributed to him toward Jewish pupils during his school days.
The political party leader has claimed he never insulted anyone with the aim to hurt, suggesting it may have been mere "schoolyard talk".
"As Shoah survivors, we understand the grave risk of hateful words – for we have witnessed where such words ultimately lead," stated the survivors in a letter.
"Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mimicking gas chambers, or shouting racist insults is not simple joking. Not on a schoolyard. Not anywhere."
The document puts forth direct questions to the public figure: "Is it true you said ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ accompanied by mimicking gas chambers? Did you target your peers to antisemitic abuse?"
The group of eleven survivors contains individuals with devastating personal stories from the Holocaust.
Other signatories include Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan Pollack, Hanneke Dye and Agnes Kaposi.
This public letter comes after the rejection of similar testimony by more than several dozen former pupils and teachers as "made-up twaddle" by a high-ranking official.
After the story broke, further individuals from that era have come forward. Twenty-eight former pupils and teachers now state they witnessed racist or antisemitic behaviour by him.
One well-known account comes from Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish Bafta and Emmy-winning director, who recalls that a young Farage would sidle up to him and say the phrases "Hitler had the correct idea" and "gas them", at times making a prolonged hissing sound to imitate the sound of gas chambers.
Other former pupils from ethnic minorities have also spoken publicly with allegations of targeted insults.
The survivors' letter puts forth an ultimate challenge to Farage: "Should you continue to deny saying those words, do you mean that 20 former classmates and teachers are lying? If you did say them, now is the time to take responsibility and say sorry."
"Those who aspire to lead our country should under no circumstances sow discord by ethnicity or faith. Hatred of Jews must never become acceptable. This moment is about ethical duty. The choice is your own, Mr Farage."
A passionate writer and shopping enthusiast with a keen eye for quality products and lifestyle trends.
Brian Hernandez
Brian Hernandez
Brian Hernandez
Brian Hernandez