Holocaust survivor shares her story with Emirati and Jewish children

DUBAI: A Holocaust survivor shared her life story with schoolchildren in Dubai, in a public exchange symbolizing deepening ties between Jews and Arabs in the Arab world.

Muslims and Jews lit candles of peace in Dubai’s Crossroads of Civilisations Museum and paid tributes to those who were brutally killed in the “Holocaust” in Europe.

The event titled “Let There Be Light” was arranged by International March of the Living (MOTL) in the association of Dubai’s Crossroads of Civilisations Museum.

Eve Kugler, who returned from the brink of death during the Holocaust, was the special guest at the event. It is the first time in the Arab world that a Holocaust survivor spoke directly to the followers of different religions. A Large number of Muslims also participated in the historical event.

91-year-old Eva Kugler said that one person (Adolf Hitler) sowed hatred in Europe and set the entire society on fire, which led to the killings of millions of people on the basis of religious prejudice alone.

Speaking with the media following the ceremony, Eva Kugler said that Pakistan is an Islamic country that lost millions of lives during its creation, which is very painful. She said that she could feel the grief and pain of partition because her father and grandfather were attacked by Nazis because of our religious beliefs.

“I want people to understand that what happened to my family could happen to them as well. It is that simple,” she stated.

Eva Kugler insisted that hatred against Muslims “Islamophobia” or hatred against Jews “Antisemitism” can be eliminated only through interfaith dialogue.

“We have got to learn to live together with respect and stop killing each other,” she said.

Earlier in the day, she addressed a classroom of Jewish and Muslim students in the emirate. “Surprisingly, she met a Pakistani student too in that classroom”, she said.

The Emirati organiser of the event, Ahmed Al Mansoori, while quoting the verses of the Holy Quran in the event, mentioned that Islam only gives the message of love.

He said that Islam gives the message “whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all mankind”.

Talking to the media, Ahmed Al Mansoori said that the purpose of the event is to initiate interfaith dialogue to counter Islamophobia and hatred against other religions.