The ICDT and the Tom Lantos Institute (TLI) jointly condemn the appalling comments regarding the Holocaust recently made by Ahmed Ezz El-Arab, Vice-Chairman of Egypt’s Wafd Party. Among other disturbing statements, Mr. Ezz El-Arab called the Holocaust a “lie”, the Diary of Anne Frank a ”fake” and suggested that the 9-11 terror attacks were a CIA plot. As reported in the Washington Times, the Egyptian Wafd party leader made his comments in Budapest on the sidelines of the Conference on Democracy and Human Rights (organised by the ICDT and the TLI). Ambassador István Gyarmati, founder of the ICDT commented “We were stunned and outraged to learn of Ezz El-Arab’s ignorant and despicable comments made during his recent visit to Budapest. Such shameful statements not only discredit Mr. El-Arab, they profoundly undermine the credibility of the Wafd party which he claims to represent. Both the ICDT and the TLI condemn his comments in the most unequivocal terms and call upon the legitimate leaders of the “Arab Spring” to do so as well.”

11 July 2011