Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev: Evil begins with hate speech, let's fight against it with deeds
Welcome speech of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria at the opening of STOP HATE SPEECH International Conference
Bulgaria has shown and continues to show that the model for tolerance and respect between people is positive. The fact that representatives of four main religions in our country have gathered here at the conference today is indicative - Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews and Muslims. This was stated by Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev in his welcome speech at the opening of STOP HATE SPEECH International Conference in Sofia.
Тhe Prosecutor General pointed out that after Russia's aggression in Ukraine, it seems as though people are not learning from their history. He recalled that both the Holocaust and all atrocities in human history began with the hate speech from one person to another.
" In Bulgaria, we have always lived together and I am sure that we will continue to set a positive example. Bad is easier. It is hard to be good. To be human in inhuman times like those of the Second World War, when the Bulgarian people, the Orthodox Church and representatives of the Bulgarian state saved all - I repeat all - their fellow Jews, " said the Prosecutor General. He urged us to learn from the lessons of history and always strive for democracy and tolerance.
" Evil begins with hate speech. Let's fight against it with deeds, ” the Prosecutor General said.
More than 130 guests are taking part in the forum - general and supreme prosecutors from countries of the European Union and the region, senior clergy from various religions, representatives of governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations, academic society, human rights defenders and civil activists, etc.
We are publishing the full text of the Prosecutor General's welcome speech to the participants in STOP HATE SPEECH International Conference in Sofia:
I have the honor to open the Stop Hate Speech conference with the organizers of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria and European Jewish Association. I am proud that in Bulgaria we are launching a European initiative to combat hate speech. In recent years, there is a resurgence of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, racism and other anti-democratic trends that hate speech leads to. Lately, especially after Russia's aggression in Ukraine, it seems as if we are not learning from our history. And in order not to let it happen again, actions are needed.
Not to repeat the Holocaust, which resulted in the death of over six million Jews and was an attempt to destroy an entire nation, as well as other forms of genocide and murder. Because the truth is that words come before deeds.Both the Holocaust and all atrocities in human history began with something that probably seems innocuous to many people - hate speech from one person to another. But this is only the beginning. And if you allow me to quote the Apostle of Bulgarian freedom, Vasil Levski: " Deeds are needed, not words.
" But besides we must speak good and correct words we must start doing good deeds more actively. Like preserving the memory of the good and erecting a monument in Sofia of jurists who took part in the salvation of our Jews. Like this conference. That is why it is very important to me. It is important for us to start working even more actively and to join our efforts in the fight against the anti-democratic trends that I have emphasized.I said at the beginning that I was proud. I am proud because Bulgaria has shown and continues to show that it is a positive model for tolerance and respect between people. The fact that today representatives of four main religions in the country are sitting here together – Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews and Muslims – is indicative.
Here are Prosecutors General and colleagues from all over Europe, politicians, non-governmental organizations protecting human rights, representatives of the academic community and many other friends of ours from different countries, including the State of Israel. Just meters from here, almost side by side, a mosque, an Orthodox church, a synagogue and a Catholic cathedral have peacefully coexisted for decades. Just like in Bulgaria we have always lived together. And I am sure that we will continue to set our positive example. Bad is easier.It's hard to be good. To be human in inhuman times like those of the Second World War, when the Bulgarian people, the Orthodox Church, representatives of the Bulgarian state saved all - I repeat all - their fellow Jews.
Despite the harsh circumstances, and even though Bulgaria was an ally of Nazi Germany, not a single Bulgarian Jew was sent to the death camps, and many of them later laid the foundations of the State of Israel.Thanks to people like Dimitar Peshev - Deputy President of the National Assembly, who fervently defended the Bulgarian Jews with 43 members of Parliament, like Metropolitan Kiril, sheltered his fellow citizens at his home and declared that he would be the first to lie down on the tracks to stop the trains of death, like Metropolitan Stefan, received a delegation and celebrated a liturgy in cathedral “St. Alexander Nevsky " for the salvation of Bulgarian Jews, as diplomats who issued the so-called " Nansen passports ", such as many professional organizations, writers, doctors, journalists, legal practitioners and ordinary Bulgarians who even hold demonstrations in support of their neighbors and fellow citizens. And we should not be ashamed to say that if we, as an ally of Nazi Germany, have done it, then other Europeans could have done more.
Apart from pride as a Bulgarian, however, I also feel sadness. I am sad that the then Bulgarian state failed to save 11,343 Jews from Macedonia and Thrace who were under its administrative control. These Jews were killed in Treblinka, Katowice and Auschwitz, and Bulgarian people understood what was happening only when they saw the trains with these martyrs.
We honor their memory and regret that we did not save them as well. But this should not prevent us as Bulgarians and Europeans from being proud of our rescued fellow citizens on the territory of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. We must clearly state that we must not allow the memory of the martyrs of Macedonia and Thrace to be insulted, as well as the dignity of the living, and this tragedy to be used for conjunctural and political purposes.We should set a good example and strive for the good, to be at the level of our ancestors to make our contribution in future.
Let us remember that evil begins with hate speech. Let us fight against it with deeds, learn from the lessons of history and always strive for democracy and tolerance.
I am sure that together we will achieve it, because we are all united here by one thing - the desire to build a better society. And to become a goal not for most people but for all Europeans.
Thank you for your attention! It was an honor for me.
Bulgaria has shown and continues to show that the model for tolerance and respect between people is positive. The fact that representatives of four main religions in our country have gathered here at the conference today is indicative - Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews and Muslims. This was stated by Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev in his welcome speech at the opening of STOP HATE SPEECH International Conference in Sofia.
Тhe Prosecutor General pointed out that after Russia's aggression in Ukraine, it seems as though people are not learning from their history. He recalled that both the Holocaust and all atrocities in human history began with the hate speech from one person to another.
" In Bulgaria, we have always lived together and I am sure that we will continue to set a positive example. Bad is easier. It is hard to be good. To be human in inhuman times like those of the Second World War, when the Bulgarian people, the Orthodox Church and representatives of the Bulgarian state saved all - I repeat all - their fellow Jews, " said the Prosecutor General. He urged us to learn from the lessons of history and always strive for democracy and tolerance.
" Evil begins with hate speech. Let's fight against it with deeds, ” the Prosecutor General said.
More than 130 guests are taking part in the forum - general and supreme prosecutors from countries of the European Union and the region, senior clergy from various religions, representatives of governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations, academic society, human rights defenders and civil activists, etc.
We are publishing the full text of the Prosecutor General's welcome speech to the participants in STOP HATE SPEECH International Conference in Sofia:
I have the honor to open the Stop Hate Speech conference with the organizers of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria and European Jewish Association. I am proud that in Bulgaria we are launching a European initiative to combat hate speech. In recent years, there is a resurgence of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, racism and other anti-democratic trends that hate speech leads to. Lately, especially after Russia's aggression in Ukraine, it seems as if we are not learning from our history. And in order not to let it happen again, actions are needed.
Not to repeat the Holocaust, which resulted in the death of over six million Jews and was an attempt to destroy an entire nation, as well as other forms of genocide and murder. Because the truth is that words come before deeds.Both the Holocaust and all atrocities in human history began with something that probably seems innocuous to many people - hate speech from one person to another. But this is only the beginning. And if you allow me to quote the Apostle of Bulgarian freedom, Vasil Levski: " Deeds are needed, not words.
" But besides we must speak good and correct words we must start doing good deeds more actively. Like preserving the memory of the good and erecting a monument in Sofia of jurists who took part in the salvation of our Jews. Like this conference. That is why it is very important to me. It is important for us to start working even more actively and to join our efforts in the fight against the anti-democratic trends that I have emphasized.I said at the beginning that I was proud. I am proud because Bulgaria has shown and continues to show that it is a positive model for tolerance and respect between people. The fact that today representatives of four main religions in the country are sitting here together – Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews and Muslims – is indicative.
Here are Prosecutors General and colleagues from all over Europe, politicians, non-governmental organizations protecting human rights, representatives of the academic community and many other friends of ours from different countries, including the State of Israel. Just meters from here, almost side by side, a mosque, an Orthodox church, a synagogue and a Catholic cathedral have peacefully coexisted for decades. Just like in Bulgaria we have always lived together. And I am sure that we will continue to set our positive example. Bad is easier.It's hard to be good. To be human in inhuman times like those of the Second World War, when the Bulgarian people, the Orthodox Church, representatives of the Bulgarian state saved all - I repeat all - their fellow Jews.
Despite the harsh circumstances, and even though Bulgaria was an ally of Nazi Germany, not a single Bulgarian Jew was sent to the death camps, and many of them later laid the foundations of the State of Israel.Thanks to people like Dimitar Peshev - Deputy President of the National Assembly, who fervently defended the Bulgarian Jews with 43 members of Parliament, like Metropolitan Kiril, sheltered his fellow citizens at his home and declared that he would be the first to lie down on the tracks to stop the trains of death, like Metropolitan Stefan, received a delegation and celebrated a liturgy in cathedral “St. Alexander Nevsky " for the salvation of Bulgarian Jews, as diplomats who issued the so-called " Nansen passports ", such as many professional organizations, writers, doctors, journalists, legal practitioners and ordinary Bulgarians who even hold demonstrations in support of their neighbors and fellow citizens. And we should not be ashamed to say that if we, as an ally of Nazi Germany, have done it, then other Europeans could have done more.
Apart from pride as a Bulgarian, however, I also feel sadness. I am sad that the then Bulgarian state failed to save 11,343 Jews from Macedonia and Thrace who were under its administrative control. These Jews were killed in Treblinka, Katowice and Auschwitz, and Bulgarian people understood what was happening only when they saw the trains with these martyrs.
We honor their memory and regret that we did not save them as well. But this should not prevent us as Bulgarians and Europeans from being proud of our rescued fellow citizens on the territory of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. We must clearly state that we must not allow the memory of the martyrs of Macedonia and Thrace to be insulted, as well as the dignity of the living, and this tragedy to be used for conjunctural and political purposes.We should set a good example and strive for the good, to be at the level of our ancestors to make our contribution in future.
Let us remember that evil begins with hate speech. Let us fight against it with deeds, learn from the lessons of history and always strive for democracy and tolerance.
I am sure that together we will achieve it, because we are all united here by one thing - the desire to build a better society. And to become a goal not for most people but for all Europeans.
Thank you for your attention! It was an honor for me.
Източник: epicenter.bg
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