Simon Wiesenthal Center Shocked and Dismayed Over “Hitler's Den” - Urges India's Civil Society to Demand a Name Change

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading International Jewish human rights organization, is urging leaders of civil society to demand that the owners of “Hitler’s Den” immediately change the name of its establishment. “We are shock and dismayed by the continued promotion and use of Nazi symbols, iconsand even Hitler’s Mein Kampf by businesses and publishers,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center, based in Los Angeles. “We are equally shocked by the'Hitler’s Den' establishment in Nagpur and dismayed by the owner’s insistence that 'this is our identity' and that a second 'Hitler’s Den' is opening in Laxmi Nagar. In 2011, in our globalvillage, such behavior is unacceptable,” Cooper added.

“Historically, anti-Semitism is alien to the people and culture of India. Today, world Jewry is developing important relationships with many groups across India. It is our hope that leaders ofIndia’s religious communities and civil society take the lead in demanding an end to a trend that trivializes and mocks the victims of genocide.”

Rabbi Cooper is a frequent visitor to India. He brought the Simon Wiesenthal Center “Courage To Remember” exhibition on the Nazi Holocaust to the Gandhi Cultural Centre in New Delhi andBangalore.

In 2009, he led a nine Faith memorial service in Mumbai on the first anniversary of the 26/11 massacre at the Chabad House in Mumbai.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agenciesincluding the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

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