Holocaust Survivors Demand Nigel Farage to Apologise Over Alleged Antisemitic Remarks.

A coalition of Shoah survivors has called for that Nigel Farage tell the truth and express remorse for alleged antisemitic comments he is said to have made toward Jewish schoolmates during his youth.

The Reform UK leader has said he never insulted anyone with malicious intent, framing it may have been mere "childish teasing".

"Being Holocaust survivors, we understand the grave risk of words of hatred – because we have experienced firsthand where such words ultimately lead," stated the survivors in a missive.

"It is crucial to understand: expressing admiration for Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter. Not in a playground. Not ever."

A Direct Question

The letter puts forth straightforward questions to the political figure: "Is it true you said ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ and mimicked gas chambers? Did you expose your fellow pupils to bigoted harassment?"

The Signatories

The collective of eleven survivors contains individuals with deeply traumatic personal experiences from the Nazi genocide.

• Hedi Argent, who was bereaved of 27 members of her immediate and extended family.
• Simon Winston, who was imprisoned in a ghetto before fleeing in 1942 and living through the rest of the war in hiding.
• Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and later moved to Bergen-Belsen, where she was rescued.

The remaining survivors include Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan Pollack, Hanneke Dye and Agnes Kaposi.

Increasing Allegations

This action is a response to the rejection of similar allegations by more than two dozen or more former pupils and teachers as "fabricated nonsense" by a deputy leader.

Since the initial report, additional former pupils have come forward. 28 people connected to the school now assert they saw racist or antisemitic behaviour by him.

One notable testimony comes from Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish Bafta and Emmy-winning director, who recalls that a teenage Farage would sidle up to him and say the phrases "Hitler was right" and "gas them", on occasion including a long hiss to mimic the sound of gas chambers.

A Broader Pattern

More individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds have likewise spoken publicly with allegations of personal harassment.

• Cyrus Oshidar claimed he was referred to as a "Paki" and has rejected the claim that such actions were not meant to hurt.
• Another student of Asian heritage portrayed him as an "open racist" who would use the phrase "Enoch Powell was right" as a form of "racial bullying".

A Concluding Demand

The final appeal poses a final question to Farage: "By denying saying those words, do you mean that dozens of individuals are lying? If you did say them, now is the opportunity to take responsibility and apologise."

"Individuals who hope to lead our country should under no circumstances create division by ethnicity or faith. Antisemitic hatred must never become acceptable. This moment is about moral responsibility. The path forward is your own, Mr Farage."