“It is astonishing that whoever signed off that speech felt that it was a compelling reason to do so”
The event took place at Bolton town hall(Image: Joel Goodman)
A Jewish leader walked out of Bolton’s Holocaust memorial day commemorations over a speech he claims ‘politicised’ the event.
Marc Levy, the chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council for Greater Manchester and region, described references to Gaza in a speech by deputy council leader, Labour’s Akhtar Zaman, as ‘deeply inappropriate’.
The event, described by Bolton council as an one that would ‘bridge generations’, was held at the town hall on Tuesday, January 27.
According to the authority, the service was to remember the six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis, and ‘all victims of Nazi persecution, including Roma people, homosexuals, and people with disabilities’. It added that day also provides an opportunity to reflect on ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere ‘where people across Bolton continue to call for peace’.
During his speech Coun Zaman spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities like the Masalit people.
He added: “In Myanmar, the Rohingya minority continues to face systematic persecution and live under conditions of apartheid. The conflict in Gaza is also flagged under a genocide emergency by some international experts and UN bodies, with immense civilian casualties and the systematic destruction of life- sustaining infrastructure raising grave concerns under international law.”
Marc Levy described the speech as ‘deeply inappropriate’
After hearing the speech, Mr Levy left the service, prior to a reading he was scheduled to deliver to the audience. The council said it was deeply sorry he could not stay for the full event and that they ‘have already reached out to him to continue a dialogue about his concerns’.
Speaking after the event, Mr Levy said: “When the keynote speaker felt it appropriate to start discussing other conflicts in the world, especially with a focus on the terrible situation in Gaza, with no context, I felt it was deeply inappropriate because it completely misses the point of what today is meant to be about.
“It is astonishing that whoever signed off that speech felt that it was a compelling reason to do so, because it completely got away from what the day was supposed to be about. Today is about the commemoration of those who have genocide committed against them and, whilst the conflict in Gaza is tragic and awful, what it most definitely is not, is a genocide.
“In a room full of children, to reference that with no context or the ability to speak about the atrocities that were committed on October 7 and the hostage taking, it was the politicisation of the Holocaust Memorial Day.
“As a result, I felt unable to stay and attend the rest of the commemoration. The world is a very difficult and dangerous place at the minute, and you have to have responsibilities and sensitivities to all communities.”
The service was attended by dozens of school children, with some of them creating artwork. Hymns were sung by pupils from St Michael’s Primary School and Bolton School’s girls’ and boys’ divisions.
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “As a council we are always proud to host the annual Holocaust Memorial Day service, organised by a team of volunteers from across the community.
“Remembering the Holocaust, and the murder of six million Jews, is always at the very centre of the event. “However, it is also an opportunity to consider the historical lessons from this atrocity in a modern context.
“This modern context was especially relevant given this year’s theme of ‘Bridging Generations’. With this in mind, speakers at our annual service will often reference current conflicts and call for peace across the world.
“In recent years this has included mentions of Ukraine, the Middle East and other conflicts, reflecting the cross-community nature of the event.
“We are deeply sorry that Mr Levy could not stay for the full event and we have already reached out to him to continue a dialogue about his concerns.”