Danish Consul General Addresses AJC "Solidarity with Denmark" Event

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ambassador Jarl Frijs-Madsen, Consul General of Denmark in New York, addressed a special ceremony at AJC headquarters today to commemorate the victims of the twin terror attacks in Copenhagen. Representatives of New York's diplomatic, interfaith and political communities joined with AJC leaders for the somber event.

"The terror that has hit Europe this year has sadly now also become a part of Denmark's recent history," said Frijs-Madsen. "In these difficult times, it has given us enormous courage, comfort and strength to know that we are not alone, but surrounded by friends all over the world."

A Danish Muslim first attacked a free speech event at a Copenhagen café, killing a Danish filmmaker, and several hours later murdered Dan Uzan, a Jewish security guard at Copenhagen's Krystalgade synagogue, and wounded two Danish police officers. The shooter died in a confrontation with police after the two attacks.

"In the middle of our grief and shock, we are thankful that Dan Uzan and the Danish police officers posted at the synagogue did manage to protect the 80 people inside the synagogue who were gathered for a Bat Mitzvah," said Frijs-Madsen.

The consul general vowed that, "Denmark will continue to protect our countrymen in the Jewish community" and that the Danish people will not allow anti-Semitism "to take root in Denmark," as demonstrated by the "Prime Minister's statements, the sea of flowers and condolences by the synagogue, and, perhaps the most powerful statement of all, 40,000 Danish citizens at a candlelight vigil in Copenhagen."

AJC Executive Director David Harris, who has visited Copenhagen numerous times, spoke fondly of the Danish people, for their principled rescue of Jews during the Holocaust and for building in the post-war period a country that regularly comes at the top of the UN human development index. "Denmark is a world leader in human dignity and human rights," he said.

Harris pointed out that the sequence of events in Copenhagen were similar to the deadly violence that transpired in Paris a month ago. "The first attack was on European values, and then the Jewish community was attacked," said Harris. "Jewish security is inextricably interwoven with European security, and European security is equally interwoven with Jewish security."

"What happened in Copenhagen is tragically consistent with what AJC has been saying to our friends in capitals across Europe for more than 15 years," said Harris. "First and foremost, we need absolute clarity in confronting this challenge. The perpetrators of these terrorist outrages need to be named – they are jihadists, and they came after Denmark and France because these countries embody democratic and pluralistic values."

Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC director of Intergroup and Interreligious Affairs, led the more than 100 attendees in prayer and remembrance. "Our solidarity today is inseparable from our long-held and deeply felt gratitude that Denmark played a historic role in saving Jews during our darkest hour. We are here today for you, Denmark, during this dark hour," said Marans.

Diplomats representing Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Slovakia attended. Moreover, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Latter Day Saints, and the Episcopal Church, as well as officials from the offices of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and New York Mayor Bill De Blasio were present for the ceremony.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

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