The Importance of Holocaust Education in the Arab and Muslim World

In the darkest moments of the 20th century, more than 6 million Jewish men, women, and children were brutally murdered by Nazi Germany, their allies, and their collaborators throughout Europe before and during World War II. We need this fact to be known and taught throughout the Arab and Muslim world because Anti-Semitism, Anti-Zionism, Holocaust distortion, and Holocaust denial is being perpetuated today, more than ever, and teaching the truth about the Holocaust using evidence and facts is the only answer to combat this growing, modern-day problem.

As a Muslim-American, it is no secret that many Arab and Muslim countries continue to distort, manipulate, or even deny these historical facts for whatever political or religious justification they deem fit. These Arabs and Muslims need to understand that Jews were deliberately and systematically murdered in gas chambers, mass shootings, concentration camps, forced labor camps, ghettos, and other malicious acts not limited to executions, starvation, experimentation, and inhumane treatment. In fact, hundreds of thousands of Nazi documents only support these historical facts, yet some Arab and Muslim countries continue to distort, manipulate, or deny the facts in the age of social media and in various forms of vlogging, streaming, blogging, and podcasting.

Anti-Semitism, Anti-Zionism, Holocaust distortion, and Holocaust denial has historical and political roots in parts of the Arab and Muslim world, which was only worsened by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The only answer to this growing, modern-day problem is that Holocaust education must be taught in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities by licensed teachers and professors who understand the true nature, history and context of the Holocaust. Arab and Muslim countries need to understand that Holocaust education will only help them understand facts, foster empathy, understand Jewish suffering, accept reality, eliminate hatred, racism & discrimination, combat extremist narratives, eliminate terrorism, encourage critical-thinking, build bridges, support human rights, strengthen Jewish-Muslim relations, enhance peace and security in the Middle-East and around the world.

Arabs and Muslims need to realize that Holocaust education will only set them free from all the noise in the world today because it is literally the key element missing in rational discourse. Holocaust education is the secret ingredient to peace, security, cooperation, dialogue, and stability in the world, and the absolute least, we can do, as human beings, is intellectually challenge ourselves and motivate one another to elevate the discussion and broaden our perspectives using historical facts and evidence. It doesn't take a genius to come to this conclusion, and for the most part, the world already knows this, but I am specifically reiterating it for those who believe everything they see or hear on social media because more people are getting their information from social media rather than newspapers, journals, or think tanks.

For any Arabs and Muslims who are still questioning the Holocaust in any capacity should thoroughly research the Abraham Accords and understand how a few Arab nations like Morocco, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates have incorporated Holocaust education into their schools, while setting an exceptional example for all nations in the region to strengthen diplomatic normalization with the State of Israel. Arabs and Muslims need to realize that Holocaust education aligns with Islamic teachings on learning from history, avoiding past mistakes, resisting oppression, advocating for justice, protecting human rights, understanding the rise and fall of nations, building a righteous society, encouraging peace, and strengthening interfaith relations.

The Abraham Accords Declaration specifically states (1) “We, the undersigned, recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom, (2) We encourage efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance a culture of peace among the three Abrahamic religions and all humanity, (3) We believe that the best way to address challenges is through cooperation and dialogue and that developing friendly relations among States advances the interests of lasting peace in the Middle East and around the world, (4) We seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith or ethnicity, (5) We support science, art, medicine, and commerce to inspire humankind, maximize human potential and bring nations closer together, (6) We seek to end radicalization and conflict to provide all children a better future, (7) We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world, and (8) In this spirit, we warmly welcome and are encouraged by the progress already made in establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighbors in the region under the principles of the Abraham Accords. We are encouraged by the ongoing efforts to consolidate and expand such friendly relations based on shared interests and a shared commitment to a better future.”

At the end of the day, we have a duty, as human beings, to teach one another and teach our children that Anti-Semitism, Anti-Zionism, Holocaust distortion, and Holocaust denial is being perpetuated everyday on social media, but teaching the truth about the Holocaust using evidence and facts is the only answer to combat this growing, modern-day problem so that, one day, we can all live in peace, security, and prosperity. I urge all readers to please do your part in the world so that your neighbor doesn't have to work twice as hard to do theirs. “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.”

Zunair Ashfaq, MSW, MBE, is a bioethicist, social worker, human rights defender, and writer

www.linkedin.com/in/zunair-ashfaq-281b3415