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Wiesenthal Center Expresses Guarded Optimism As Indicted Hungarian
World War II Criminal Is Incarcerated in Perth, Australia |
Jerusalem – The Simon Wiesenthal Center today expressed guarded optimism that justice will finally be achieved in the case of indicted Hungarian Nazi war criminal Karoly (Charles) Zentai, who was put in prison this afternoon in Perth, Australia pending his extradition to Hungary to face charges. In a statement issued today in Jerusalem by its chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center noted that it had already submitted the incriminating evidence against Zentai to the Hungarian and Australian authorities in 2004, after he was discovered in the framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” project.
According to Zuroff:
“For five years Mr. Zentai has succeeded in postponing his trial, despite his proclaimed innocence, by mounting a variety of technical challenges totally unconnected to his case. Given the serious charges against him, we very much hope that this extradition will be approved as quickly as possible, so that justice can finally be achieved. What Minister O’Conner and the Australian public must remember is that Mr. Zentai is currently elderly, but in the prime of his life he is accused of committing the murder of an innocent eighteen year old boy simply because he was Jewish.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
| Thursday,
October 08, 2009 10:03 AM |
|
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| Statement
by Wiesenthal Center re today's decison in Australia on case
of suspected Hungarain Nazi war criminal Charles Zentai |
IIn
response to today's decision by a Perth, Australia court to
reject an appeal by suspected Hungarian Nazi war criminal Charles
Zentai against his extradition to Hungary to stand trial for
the murder of 18 year old Jewish boy Peter Balasz in Budapest
on November 8, 1944, the Wiesenthal Center's chief Nazi-hunter
Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff issued the following statement:
" I obviously am pleased that his appeal was rejected but Zentai still has the
possibility of appealing to the Supreme Court which might
again delay the process for who knows how long, which is
exactly what his family wants, since their goal is to prevent
a trial at all costs.
"I am hopeful that these
technical delays, which have absolutely nothing to do with
the serious accusations against Zentai, will come to an end
as quickly as possible and that justice can finally be achieved
at long last.
That is the minimum that the Balasz family deserve and that should be a primary
consideration for the Australian authorities.
"In this case and others
like it, it is important to keep in mind that the suspect
may be elderly now, but when he was in the prime of his life,
he is accused of devoting his strength and energies to the
commission of a most heinous crime."
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center: Time for Legal Maneuvering by Zentai to End
So That Justice Can Finally Be Achieved |
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomes today’s decision by
Justice John Gilmour to reject yet another appeal by accused
Holocaust perpetrator Charles Zentai against his extradition
to Hungary to stand trial for the murder of 18 year Jewish
teenager Peter Balazs. In a statement issued today in Jerusalem
by its chief Nazi hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
the Center called upon the Australian judicial authorities
to help achieve justice by putting an end to the repeated technical
appeals launched by Zentai which are purely a diversionary
tactic to prevent his trial in Hungary.
According to Zuroff:
“Seven months ago, Perth Magistrate
Barbara Lane described Zentai’s claim that the murder of
Balazs was not a war crime when it was committed as “misconceived
and quite misleading.” Justice Gilmour today affirmed that
decision and ruled as well that the charge against Zentai
is a war crime. It is high time that he be tried in a court
of law so that justice can finally be achieved. The memory
of Peter Balazs and the incredible pain of his family deserve
no less.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER URGES HUNGARIANS TO PROSECUTE AN ORGANIZER OF THE NOVI
SAD MASSACRE OF JANURY 1942 AT ANNUAL MEMORIAL FOR VICTIMS |
Novi
Sad, Serbia-The Simon Wiesenthal Center today called upon
the Hungarian authorities to prosecute Dr. Sandor Kepiro,
one of the Hungarian officers who organized the mass murder
of hundreds of Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies in the Serbian city
of Novi Sad (then under Hungarian occupation) on January
23, 1942. Kepiro, who escaped after World War II to Argentina,
was discovered living in Budapest by the Wiesenthal Center’s
chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff in the summer of 2006.
In an impassioned speech at the
annual memorial for the victims, Zuroff called upon the
Hungarians to bring Kepiro to justice while it is still
possible.
In his words:
“If there is anything that we must remember and internalize, it is that
the crimes of the Nazis and their collaborators were carried out by
human beings, who must bear full responsibility for their crimes… This
is a sad truth that many governments would prefer to forget or ignore,
because the practical implication of this basic fact is that a serious
effort be made to bring the killers to justice. How else is it possible
that Dr. Sandor Kepiro, one of the Hungarian officers who organized
the Razzia, who was responsible for the roundups in the area of the
streets Cara Dušana, Nikola Tesla, Futoška, and Jevrejski streets is
still living in Budapest unprosecuted and unpunished… So let the demand
for justice be issued from this place, not only in the name of the
victims but by, and on behalf of, the living, and for future generations.
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO HOLD THE
KILLERS ACCOUNTABLE.
BRING KEPIRO TO JUSTICE NOW WHILE IT IS STILL POSSIBLE!!!”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
| Monday,
January 19, 2009 |
Novi
Sad City Hall |
|
Ceremony
Granting Honorary Citizenship to Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Acceptance Speech
by Dr. Zuroff
|
Mayor
Pavlićić, members the city council, H.E. Ambassador of Israel
Artur Kol, His Grace Bishop Irinej, Chief Rabbi Yitshak Asiel,
President of the Jewish community Dr. Ana Frankel, distinguished
guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great privilege to
accept the honorary citizenship of Novi Sad, a city with
a long history of over 300 years, a city of great political
and cultural influence which became known as “Srpska Atina”
(The Athens of Serbia), a city which before the Holocaust
had a flourishing Jewish community and continues to be the
home of Serbia’s second-largest Jewish community. more...
|
| January
19, 2009 |
Novi
Sad City Hall |
|
| WIESENTHAL
CENTER'S CHIEF NAZI-HUNTER, ISRAEL DIRECTOR DR. EFRAIM ZUROFF,
AWARDED HONORARY CITIZENSHIP OF SERBIAN CITY OF NOVI SAD
|
Novi
Sad/Jerusalem/Los Angeles- The Simon Wiesenthal Center has
announced that its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director, Dr.
Efraim Zuroff, was today awarded the honorary citizenship
of Novi Sad, Serbia by Mayor Igor Pavlićić in a ceremony
held tonight at the local City Hall. In his remarks, Mayor
Pavlićić noted Zuroff's tireless efforts to bring Nazi war
criminals to justice all over the world and in particular,
his role in exposing former Hungarian gendarmerie officer
Dr. Sandor Kepiro, who participated in organizing the large-scale
massacre of Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies in Novi Sad on January
23, 1942.
The leadership of the Wiesenthal Center welcomed the honor bestowed upon
Zuroff and noted its particular significance these days, when the memory
of the Holocaust and the victims of Nazism has been under such heavy
attack by those seeking to besmirch the State of Israel.
According to Associate Dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper:
" By honoring Dr. Zuroff, the city of Novi Sad also honors the late
Simon Wiesenthal for his relentless pursuit of justice, as well as the memory
of all victims of Nazism whose martyrdom is today so readily and cynically abused
by the enemies of the Jewish state."
Attached please find the text of Dr. Zuroff's remarks at the ceremony.
Dr. Zuroff is the eleventh person to receive honorary citizenship of
Novi Sad. Among the others are Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin,
inventor Nikola Tesla, composer Mikis Theodarakis and tennis star Monika
Seles.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Hungary,
Lithuania, Australia and Croatia Among Countries Given Failing
Grades in Wiesenthal Center 2008 Annual Report on Worldwide
Investigation and Prosecution of Nazi War Criminals |
| Jerusalem
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center today released the full text
of its seventh Annual Status Report on the Worldwide Investigation
and Prosecution of Nazi War Criminals, which covers the period
from April 1, 2007 until March 31, 2008 and awarded grades
ranging from A (highest) to F to evaluate the efforts and results
achieved by more than three dozen countries which were either
the site of Nazi crimes or admitted Holocaust perpetrators
after World War II. more... |
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| Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Serbian Decision to Seek Extradition of Three
Nazi War Criminals |
|
Belgrade – The Simon Wiesenthal Center
today warmly welcomed the decision, announced here today
at a press conference convened by Serbian Justice Minister
Snežana Malovic and chief war crimes prosecutor Vladimir
Vukčevic with the participation of the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter
Dr. Efraim Zuroff to seek the extradition of three Nazi war
criminals, two of whom were discovered and exposed in the
framework of the Center’s “Operation: Last Chance” project.
The criminals in question are former Hungarian gendarmerie
officer Dr. Sandor Kepiro, currently residing in Budapest
Hungary; former Ustasha police chief of Požega, Croatia Milivoj
Ašner, currently residing in Klagenfurt, Austria and former
Belgrade Security Police operative Peter Egner, currently
residing in Seattle, Washington, USA. The first two were
found and exposed by the Wiesenthal Center.
In his remarks at the press conference,
Dr. Zuroff stressed the practical and symbolic significance
of the decision and praised the new Serbian government for
undertaking this step which had hereto merely been discussed
by its predecessors.
According to Zuroff:
“In today’s circumstances, in which the most difficult part of bringing
Nazi war criminals to justice is often the lack of political will of
governments to take the necessary action, Serbia’s decision to seek
the extradition of Kepiro, Ašner and Egner sends a powerful message
that the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the murderers
and that it is still possible to bring the perpetrators of the Holocaust
to the bar of justice. We hope that these requests will be issued as
quickly as possible to maximize their impact.”
For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center: Decision to Allow Extradition of Zentai A Giant Step
Forward for Justice for Holocaust Victim Peter Balazs
|
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the decision by an
Australian court in Perth to allow the extradition to Hungary
of Hungarian officer Charles Zentai who is wanted for murder
committed in Budapest during the Holocaust. In a statement
issued by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim
Zuroff, who exposed Zentai in the framework of “Operation:
Last Chance”, the Center expressed deep satisfaction that
justice might finally be achieved.
According to Zuroff:
“Today’s decision brings us a
giant step forward toward achieving historic justice. Our
thoughts are with the family of Peter Balazs whom Zentai
is alleged to have murdered in Budapest in November 1944.
And it is only thanks to Peter’s father Dezso and his brother
Adam, who collected the evidence of Zentai’s role in Peter’s
murder, that the Wiesenthal Center was able more than three
years ago to track down the person responsible for the
crime. We urge the Australian authorities to expedite the
case and complete the extradition process as quickly as
possible so that justice can finally be achieved.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
|
|
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| WIESENTHAL
CENTER WELCOMES REJECTION BY AUSTRALIAN SUPREME COURT OF LEGAL
CHALLENGE TO EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED NAZI WAR CRIMINAL
|
Jerusalem-The
Simon Wiesenthal Center expressed deep satisfaction in the
wake of the rejection today by the Australian Supreme Court
of a legal challenge mounted by suspected Hungarian Nazi
war criminal Charles Zentai to prevent his extradition to
stand trial in Budapest for his crimes during World War II.
(Zentai, together with a suspect wanted for fraud in Ireland,
had claimed that the courts in Perth did not have the jurisdiction
to rule in his extradition case, a technical argument which
hereto had delayed his extradition to Hungary for more than
two years.)
In a statement issued today by
its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
the Center called upon the Australian authorities to expedite
the extradition process to help ensure that justice is
achieved, and warned that Zentai’s supporters would make
every effort to present him as unable to stand trial even
if this was not necessarily the case.
According to Zuroff:
“In these circumstances, it is important to remember that the passage
of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the perpetrators and that
suspected killers should not be ignored simply because they have hereto
eluded justice. The families of the victims are the ones who deserve
our sympathy, not those who committed murder, and in this regard it
is illuminating that it was Adam Balasz, the brother of Zentai’s alleged
victim, Peter Balasz, who submitted the evidence to the Wiesenthal
Center in Jerusalem shortly after “Operation:Last Chance” was launched
in Hungary, with a request that we try to track down and bring his
brother’s murderer to justice.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Blasts Latest Delay in Case of Accused Nazi Murderer
Facing Extradition From Australia to Hungary |
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center today harshly criticized the
decision of an Australian court to postpone for at least
six months a decision which had hereto prevented the extradition
from Australia to Hungary of Charles Zentai, a Nazi collaborator
accused of murdering a Jewish teenager in Budapest during
the Holocaust. In a statement issued today in Jerusalem,
the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim
Zuroff expressed his deep frustration and exasperation with
the Australian courts which have allowed a purely technical
legal issue, in no way connected to the facts of the case,
to prevent the extradition to stand trial of an accused Holocaust
murderer.
According to Zuroff:
“By failing to resolve the technical
challenge mounted by Zentai’s lawyers and postponing the
decision by half a year, the Australian courts have significantly
increased the likelihood of an accused Nazi murderer escaping
trial and punishment. It is as if the court is entirely
oblivious to the responsibility it should feel to Zentai’s
victim, Peter Balazs and his family, who for decades sought
to bring his killer to justice, and instead of expediting
the extradition process have allowed its manipulation to
help Zentai avoid his day in court.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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For
First Time Ever Australia Gets Failing Grade in Wiesenthal
Center Annual Report on Worldwide Investigation and Prosecution
of Nazi War Criminals;
Today’s Decision in Zentai Case Explains Why
|
Jerusalem
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center today released the full text
of its sixth Annual Status Report on the Worldwide Investigation
and Prosecution of Nazi War Criminals, which covers the period
from April 1, 2006 until March 31, 2007 and awarded grades
ranging from A (highest) to F to evaluate the efforts and
results achieved by more than three dozen countries which
were either the site of Nazi crimes or admitted Holocaust
perpetrators after World War II. more...
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Wiesenthal
Center Urges Australian Authorities to Expedite
Extradition Proceedings Against Holocaust Perpetrator |
Jerusalem
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center has urged the Australian judicial
authorities to expedite the extradition appeal process in
the case of accused Holocaust perpetrator Charles Zentai,
in the wake of today’s decision by a court in Perth to resume
his case only on August 7, “lest the lengthy and numerous
delays granted the accused ultimately facilitate his eluding
justice.” ††††† In a statement issued here today
by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
the Center noted that Zentai had already succeeded in postponing
his appeal against the Hungarian request for his extradition
to stand trial for murder in Budapest for more than two
years, and that every delay only brought him closer to
escaping prosecution.
According to Zuroff:
“The fact that Zentai has been
able to delay his appeal for such a long time is an absolute
travesty of justice. If Peter Balasz whom Zentai is accused
of murdering on November 8, 1944 had been the beneficiary
of similar delays, he would have survived the Holocaust
[since Budapest was liberated from the Nazis in mid-February
1945], but that is a luxury that Zentai and his accomplices
never afforded him. To date, the Australian justice system
has proven to be overly kind to an individual whose alleged
crimes clearly do not qualify him for any such consideration.”
For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
|
|
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Wiesenthal
Center’s Chief Nazi-Hunter Calls Upon Hungarian Government
to Expedite Prosecution of Local Nazi War Criminals in Budapest
Ceremony |
Budapest
– The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel
director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, today urged Hungarian leaders
to make certain that local Nazi war criminals exposed by
the Center’s “Operation: Last Chance” project would be brought
to justice as quickly as possible. ††††† Zuroff issued this call at the
main Holocaust memorial in the Hungarian capital, where
he appeared as a featured speaker alongside Hungarian Prime
Minister Ference Gyurscany, Parliament Speaker Katalin
Szili, Chief Rabbi Kardos and others, which was attended
by thousands in the square beside the Dohany Street synagogue
under the sponsorship of the Hungarian association of the
“March of the Living.”
The criminals in question are
gendarmerie officer Dr. Sandor Kepiro who is currently
under investigation for his role in the mass murders carried
out in Novi Sad in January 1942 and Karoly (Charles) Zentai
wanted for murder in Budapest in 1944 and currently appealing
his extradition to Hungary from Australia. Both were discovered
in the framework of “Operation: Last Chance” and are on
the Center’s April 2007 “Most Wanted List.”
For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
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|
|
צייד
הנאצים הראשי של מרכז שמעון ויזנטל קרא בטקס בבודפשט לממשלת
הונגריה
לזרז את הליכי העמדתם לדין של פושעי מלחמה נאצים |
more... ††††† For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
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WIESENTHAL
CENTER PRESENTS PROOF OF SECOND CONVICTION OF HUNGARIAN WAR
CRIMINAL DR. SANDOR KEPIRO AND SUBMITS NEW EVIDENCE TO BUDAPEST
PROSECUTOR |
Budapest-
The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met here today with Prosecutor Zjolt Falvai,
who is in charge of the new criminal investigation against
convicted Hungarian war criminal Dr. Sandor Kepiro, who was
discovered and exposed by Zuroff in the framework of the
Center’s “Operation:Last Chance” project. Zuroff submitted
new evidence regarding the crimes committed by Kepiro in
the January 23, 1942 mass murder of 1,246 civilians in the
Serbian city of Novi Sad (then under Hungarian occupation),
as well as information concerning Kepiro’s likely involvement
in the deportation of Jews to Auschwitz in the spring and
summer of 1944. He also discussed further cooperation between
the Center and the Hungarian judicial authorities in the
investigation of this case. ††††† In an additional development of
significance in the case, Zuroff revealed that the Center
had obtained proof that Kepiro had been convicted a second
time in absentia in Hungary in 1946. (His initial conviction
was in January 1944, but it was annulled following the
Nazi occupation of Hungary and he was never punished for
his crimes in Novi Sad.)
According to Zuroff:
“The confirmation that Kepiro was convicted a second time in Hungary
reinforces the necessity of punishing him for his responsibility for
crimes committed during the Holocaust. We have offered our fullest
cooperation to the Hungarian authorities in this case and urged them
to expedite their efforts to bring this arrogant war criminal to justice
at long last.”
For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
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|
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SERBIAN
PRIME MINISTER KOŠTUNICA AND PRESIDENT TADIĆ PROMISE ZUROFF
FULLEST COOPERATION IN EFFORTS TO BRING NAZI WAR CRIMINALS
KEPIRO, AŠNER AND ROJNICA TO JUSTICE |
Belgrade-
The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met here today with Serbian leaders to
enlist their support in the ongoing efforts to facilitate
the prosecution of three war criminals who committed crimes
against Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies on the territory of former
Yugoslavia during World War II. The cases in question are
those of: former Hungarian gendarmerie officer Dr. Sandor
Kepiro, who participated in the mass murder of civilians
in Novi Sad in January 1942 and is currently living in Budapest;
former Croatian police chief of the city of Slavonska Požega
Milivoj Ašner, who orchestrated the persecution and murder
of hundreds of civilians under his control and is currently
residing in Klagenfurt, Austria; and the former Croatian
governor of Dubrovnik, who carried out a policy of persecution
and repression against Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies and presently
lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. ††††† In separate meetings with Prime
Minister Koštunica (together with Justice Minister Stojković
and President Tadić, Zuroff stressed the need for Serbia
to adopt a proactive stance on these cases and urged the
Serbs to seek the extradition of all three criminals. Both
Koštunica and Tadić expressed unqualified support for the
Center’s attempts to facilitate the prosecution of Holocaust
perpetrators and promised that the Serbian authorities
would make every effort to provide evidence and political
support for this effort.
According to Zuroff:
“I am encouraged by my meetings with both the Prime Minister and the
President, whose support for the prosecution of Nazi war criminals
was unequivocal, and hope that it will be translated into practical
political and judicial action by the pertinent Serbian authorities
as quickly as possible.”
For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
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WIESENTHAL
CENTER BLASTS DECISION BY BUDAPEST MUNICIPAL COURT NOT TO
IMPLEMENT JAIL SENTENCE OF CONVICTED BUT HERETO UNPUNISHED
HUNGARIAN WAR CRIMINAL DR. SANDOR KEPIRO |
Jerusalem-
The Simon Wiesenthal Center today blasted the February 19
decision, announced today, of the Budapest Municipal Court
not to implement the 1944 jail sentence meted out to Hungarian
gendarmerie officer Dr. Sandor Kepiro for his participation
in the mass murder of over 1,200 civilians (mostly Jews,
the others primarily Serbs and Gypsies) on January 23, 1942
in the Serbian city of Novi Sad [in Hungarian-Ujvidek], then
under Hungarian occupation. ††††† In a statement issued in Jerusalem
by its chief Nazi-hunte,r Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff,
who exposed Kepiro’s current whereabouts in Budapest several
months ago, the Center expressed its outrage over the mistaken
and misguided verdict, which according to Zuroff “grant
a totally-undeserved prize to a unrepentant and cynical
war criminal who has never been punished for his heinous
crimes which have been fully verified by a Hungarian court
of law.”
According to Zuroff:
“We firmly believe that this decision is morally unjust and legally flawed
since it is based on Kepiro’s return to active service in May 1944,
which was not due to his innocence of the original charges on which
he was convicted, but rather a decision made possible by the Nazi occupation
of Hungary in March 1944. We therefore urge the prosecution to appeal
and if unsuccessful, to immediately initiate a full investigation of
Kepiro’s criminal activities in 1942 and 1944 in order that he finally
be held accountable for his terrible crimes. In that respect, it is
important to remember that there is no limitation on prosecution of
war crimes and that the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt
of the perpetrators.”
For more information
call 00-972-50-7214156
|
|
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| Wiesenthal
Center Demands Investigation by Hungarian Foreign Ministry
of Role of Diplomats in Protecting Unpunished Nazi War Criminal
Sandor Képiró |
The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today called upon the Hungarian Foreign
Ministry to launch an official investigation into the role
of Hungarian diplomats in protecting twice-convicted but
hereto unpunished Nazi war criminal Dr. Sandor Képiró. ††††† In a letter sent to Hungarian
Foreign Minister Kinga Göncz, who is currently visiting
Israel, the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff pointed to statements by Képiró indicating
that officials of the Hungarian Embassy in Buenos Aires
knew of his presence in Argentina and had told him in 1996
that he could return to Hungary without fear of prosecution.
At that point, Képiró had been living in Argentina for
close to 50 years having escaped from Europe following
his convictions in 1944 and 1946 for his role in the mass
murder of 1,246 civilians in the city of Novi Sad on January
23, 1942.
Among the questions posed by Zuroff
to the Foreign Minister are:
- Was the Képiró’s residence
in Buenos Aires known to Hungarian diplomatsIf so,
from what date
- Was this information ever
sent to Budapest and if so, to whom
- Did Hungarian diplomats
indeed tell Képiró that he could return to Hungary without
any fear of prosecution
According to Zuroff:
“Today marks exactly six months since I submitted information
concerning Képiró’s crimes and current whereabouts in Budapest
to Hungarian prosecutors. In my worst nightmares, I never
imagined that at this point he would still be unprosecuted
and /or unpunished for these heinous crimes. We urge you
to initiate an investigation of the strange circumstances
surrounding this case and do whatever you can, to help expedite
its successful conclusion.”
For
more information call 00-972-50-7214156
|
|
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| Serbian
Foreign Minister Drašković Expresses Support for Wiesenthal
Center Initiative to Encourage Serbia to Seek Extradition of
Three Nazi War Criminals |
|
Jerusalem – Serbian Foreign Minister
Vuk Drašković expressed his unqualified support for the recent
initiative of the Simon Wiesenthal Center to encourage Serbia
to seek the extradition of three Nazi war criminals, in a
meeting held last night in Jerusalem with the Center's chief
Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff.
The criminals under discussion are:
| 1. |
Hungarian
gendarmerie captain Dr. Sándor Képiró, who has already been convicted twice for this role in the murder of over 1,000
civilians in Novi Sad in January 1942 and is currently
living in Budapest. |
| 2. |
Croatian Milivoj
Ašner, who as police chief of Požega played an active role in the persecution and
deportation to Ustasha concentration camps where they
were killed of hundreds of Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies.
He is currently living in Klagenfurt, Austria. |
| 3. |
Croatian Ivo
Rojnića, who as governor of Dubrovnik played an active role in the persecution and murder
of hundreds of Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies. He is currently
living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
Zuroff welcomed the support of Foreign
Minister Drašković and said that a proactive stance by the
Serbian government might ultimately make the difference whether
or not these Nazi criminals would finally be brought to justice.
All three cases have been the focus
of intensive recent efforts by the Wiesenthal Center, with
the latter two having been discovered by the Center in the
framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” project which offers
financial rewards for information which facilitates the prosecution
and punishment of Holocaust perpetrators.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
|
|
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| Wiesenthal
Center Urges Serbian Government to Expedite Extradition of
Holocaust Criminals in Meeting with Foreign Minister Drašković |
|
Jerusalem – The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s
chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff urged
the Serbian government to rapidly expedite the extradition
to Belgrade for trial of three Holocaust war criminals in
a meeting this evening in Jerusalem with visiting Serbian
Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković.
The criminals under discussion are:
| 1. |
Hungarian
gendarmerie captain Dr. Sándor Képiró, who has already been convicted twice for this role in the murder of over 1,000
civilians in Novi Sad in January 1942 and is currently
living in Budapest. |
| 2. |
Croatian Milivoj
Ašner, who as police chief of Požega played an active role in the persecution and
deportation to Ustasha concentration camps where they
were killed of hundreds of Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies.
He is currently living in Klagenfurt, Austria. |
| 3. |
Croatian Ivo
Rojnića, who as governor of Dubrovnik played an active role in the persecution and murder
of hundreds of Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies. He is currently
living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
All three cases have been the focus of intensive recent efforts by the
Wiesenthal Center, with the latter two having been discovered by the Center
in the framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” project which offers financial
rewards for information which facilitates the prosecution and punishment
of Holocaust perpetrators.
For
more information call 00-972-50-7214156
|
|
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| Wiesenthal
Center Calls Upon Hungarian Government to Immediately Arrest
Prominent Convicted War Criminal Living Unpunished in Budapest |
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Budapest - The Simon Wiesenthal Center today publicly urged the Hungarian
government to immediately arrest Dr. Sandor Képiró, who has already
been twice convicted in Hungarian courts for crimes committed during
World War II but was never punished for his crimes. He was recently
discovered living in Budapest in the framework of the Center’s “Operation:
Last Chance” project.
In a press conference held in Budapest today, the Center’s
chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff revealed that Képiró, who
was convicted in 1944 (in person) and again in 1946 (in absentia)
for his role in the murder of approximately 1,000 civilians
in the city of Novi Sad (Ujvidek – in Hungarian) on January
21-23, 1942, has been living undisturbed in the Hungarian capital
for a decade, following almost half a century in hiding in
Argentina. more... |
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מרכז
שמעון ויזנטל קורא לממשלת הונגריה לאסור מיד את הפושע המלחמה
הידוע
המורשע שחי חופשי בבודפשט |
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בודפשט
– מרכז שמעון ויזנטל קרא היום לממשלת הונגריה לאסור מיד את
דר' סאנדור קפירו, שהורשע כבר פעמיים על ידי בתי משפט בהונגריה
בשל פשעים שביצע במלחמת העולם השנייה, אך לא ריצה את עונשו
מעולם. קפירו, שחי בבודפשט, נחשף לאחרונה במסגרת "מבצע:
הזדמנות אחרונה" של מרכז ויזנטל
במסיבת
עיתונאים שהתקיימה היום בבודפשט, חשף דר' אפרים זורוף, צייד
הנאצים הראשי של המרכז, שקפירו, אשר הורשע (בנוכחותו) בשנת
1944 ושוב (בהיעדרו) בשנת 1946 בגין חלקו ברצח כ 1,000 אזרחים
בנובי סאד (אויוידק – בהונגרית) ב 21-23 בינואר 1942, חי
ללא חשש בבירת הונגריה בעשור האחרון, לאחר שהתחבא בארגנטינה
כמעט מחצית המאה.
:לדברי
זורוף
"דר'
סאנדור קפירו הוא פושע המלחמה ההונגרי החי הידוע ביותר, שטרם
ריצה את עונשו. בהתחשב בכך שהוא הורשע כבר פעמיים, ובתפקידו
הניכר בביצוע הרצח ההמוני בנובי סאד בשנת 1942, אנו קוראים
לאסור אותו מיידית.
לפי גזר דינו מ-1944, כשקיבל קפירו הוראה לרכז יהודים, סרבים וצוענים בנובי
סאד כדי לרצוח אותם הוא דרש "פקודות
בכתב" , אך כשנאמר לו שפקודות כאלה ניתנות רק בעל
פה, ביצע אותן בכל זאת. אנשים כקפירו הם בעלי מוסר מפלצתי משום שהיו מודעים
היטב לפקודות הלא חוקיות ולא מוסריות שקיבלו אך בחרו לבצען בכל זאת."
למידע
נוסף נא להתקשר לטל. 7214156-0506
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Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Dismissal of Zentai Challenge;
Urges Speedy Expedition of Appeal Process |
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the rejection by the Federal
Court of Australia of a legal challenge mounted by “Operation:
Last Chance” suspect Charles Zentai to the authority of magistrates in Western Australia
to hear his appeal against his pending extradition to Hungary to stand
trial for crimes he committed during the Holocaust.
In a statement issued in Jerusalem,
the Center’s chief Nazi–hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, said that the decision of the Federal
Court was correct and prevented the abuse of the Australian
legal system by a lawyer intent on preventing the just prosecution
of his client at any cost.
According to Zuroff:
“The legal challenge
mounted on Zentai’s behalf was purely technical and had no connection to the heinous crimes he
is accused of committing. We no doubt will soon see additional
irrelevant attempts by the defendant to convince the authorities
not to send him back to the scene of his crimes, but in this
regard it is extremely important to remember two principles:
1. The passage of time in no way diminishes
the guilt of the perpetrator.
2. The fact that a person escaped justice for decades does not turn a
murderer into an innocent person.
“We urge the Australian
authorities to do whatever possible to expedite the Zentai
case and thereby help facilitate the achievement of justice
while it still can be obtained.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Nazi-Hunter Meets With Holocaust Survivors in Miskolc
to Advance Investigation of “Operation: Last Chance” Hungarian
Suspect |
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Miskolc- The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s
chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met
here today with Holocaust survivors to attempt to advance
an investigation currently underway against a suspect discovered
in the framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” project
who is alleged to have participated in the deportation of
approximately 14,000 Jews from Miskolc to Auschwitz in June
1944.
The Center urges all survivors of
Miskolc who were in the city during the mass deportations
of Jews to Auschwitz to contact its Jerusalem office or (in
Hungary) to call (06) 557-3981 for additional information.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Submits Names of Two “Operation: Last Chance” Suspects
to Hungarian Prosecutors |
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Budapest- The Simon Wiesenthal Center
announced that its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr.
Efraim Zuroff, has today submitted the names of two Hungarians
suspected of Nazi war crimes to prosecutors in Budapest.
In a statement issued in Jerusalem, the Center noted that
the suspects in question, whose names and current whereabouts
were not publically released for security reasons, were suspected
of active participation in war crimes and crimes against
humanity. Both were discovered in the framework of the Center’s
“Operation: Last Chance” project (run in conjunction with
the Targum Shlishi Foundation of Miami, Florida) which offers
financial rewards for information which facilitates the prosecution
and punishment of Holocaust perpetrators.
To date, the Center had received the
names of 14 Hungarian suspects, four of which (including
the two submitted yesterday) have been submitted to Hungarian
prosecutors, since the project was launched in Budapest on
July 13, 2004. The initial two names submitted have yielded
an extradition request for former Hungarian army officer
Charles Zentai from Australia and the opening of an official
investigation for genocide (against former Arrow Cross youth
leader Lajos Polgar).
In that respect, the Center wants
to note the excellent cooperation received hereto from the
Hungarian judicial authorities. “We hope and expect that
the good cooperation forged between the Center and the Hungarian
prosecutors in the case of Zentai and Polgar will continue
in the new cases submitted today,” said Zuroff after this
meeting at the office of the Prosecutor-General.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Presents New Evidence on Atrocities at Arrow Cross Headquarters
in Budapest |
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Melbourne – The Simon Wiesenthal Center today presented new evidence
regarding the persecution, torture, and murder of Jews carried out
at Arrow Cross headquarters in Budapest during the winter of 1944/1945
as part of its efforts to bring wartime fascist leader, and current
Melbourne resident, Lajos Polgar to justice. At a press conference
held at the Melbourne Holocaust Center , the Center's chief Nazi-hunter
Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff presented Holocaust survivor Suzanne
Nozick who, together with her mother, was tortured and raped at Arrow
Cross headquarters, which were under the authority of Polgar who was
a youth leader of the Hungarian fascist movement. After being tortured
for several days, Mrs. Nozick and her mother were marched, along with
other Jews who had been held at Arrow Cross headquarters, to the banks
of the Danube River , where they were shot. Mrs. Nozick's mother
was murdered, as were the others, while she miraculously survived.
Dr. Zuroff announced that he had already
discussed the new evidence in the Polgar case with an official
of the Australian Federal Police, and would be submitting
the testimony as well as additional trial records to the
Australian authorities within the coming two weeks.
According to Zuroff: “The irony of
the case is that despite the mighty efforts of Polgar and
his fellow Arrow Cross members to annihilate Hungarian Jewry,
at least one of their intended victims has survived to tell
the tale and found refuge in the same city as the person
in charge of the site of her torture. We urge both the Hungarian
and Australian authorities to make every effort to ensure
that Lajos Polgar will be held accountable for these crimes.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Urges Australian Justice Minister and Attorney-General
to Take Necessary Action to Prevent “Operation: Last Chance”
Suspect Charles Zentai From Eluding Justice |
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Canberra – The Simon Wiesenthal Center's chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim
Zuroff met here today with Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison
and Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock in order to discuss the latest
developments in the pending extradition of “Operation: Last Chance”
suspect Charles Zentai to Hungary to stand trial for his World War
II crimes, which was recently postponed for approximately five weeks
on the legal technicality of dubious validity. In the meetings, Zuroff
raised his concern that Zentai's lawyers would seek any means available
to prevent his extradition and effectively “abuse the legal system”
to help him avoid being put on trial
Both Justice Minister Ellison and
Attorney-General Ruddock clearly indicated that they would
not allow the extradition to be prevented by unworthy delaying
tactics. They assured Zuroff and Australia-Israel Jewish
Affairs Committee director Dr. Colin Rubenstein, who accompanied
him to the meetings, that the government viewed the prosecution
or extradition of war criminals as an important objective
and would take whatever steps were necessary to see to it
that justice was achieved within the framework of Australian
law.
After the meetings, Zuroff expressed
cautious optimism that Zentai would indeed be extradited,
noting that such a trial would not only be the first successful
legal action taken by Australia against a Nazi war criminal
resident in the country, but would also be the first trial
of a Hungarian Nazi war criminal in Hungary since that country
became a democracy.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Arrest in Perth of “Operation:Last Chance”
Suspect Zentai Following Approval by Australian Justice
Minister Ellison of Hungarian Extradition Request; Urges
Prompt Completion of Process so that Justice Can Be Achieved
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the decision of Australian Justice
Minister Chris Ellison to approve the request of the Hungarian authorities
for the extradition of “Operation: Last Chance” suspect Charles Zentai
so that he can be tried in Budapest for his Holocaust crimes. Evidence
regarding Zentai's crimes and current whereabouts in Perth were submitted
by the Wiesenthal Center's chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim
Zuroff, to both the Hungarian and Australian authorities in November
2004, following receipt of incriminating documents from the brother of
one of his victims in the framework of the Center's “Operation: Last
Chance” which seeks to facilitate the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.
In
a statement issued by Zuroff today in Jerusalem , the Center expressed
its deep satisfaction with the decision of Justice Minister Ellison
and urged the Australian authorities to expedite the extradition process
so that justice in the Zentai case could finally be achieved. Zuroff
also cautioned that Zentai might attempt to prevent his extradition
by exaggerating existent health issues and/or creating imaginary ailments,
as have other suspected Nazi war criminals facing extradition and prosecution
for their crimes.
According to Zuroff: “Today's decision moves us another
step closer to achieving justice and is a powerful reminder that Nazi
war criminals can still be held accountable for their crimes. His extradition
to stand trial in Budapest will constitute the first successful legal
action taken in Australia against a Holocaust perpetrator and we look
forward to that taking place as quickly as possible.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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| Wiesenthal
Center and Targum Shlishi Welcome Extradition Request By Hungary
for “Operation:Last Chance” Suspect Zentai; Urge Australian
Authorities to Expedite Extradition to Achieve Justice |
The Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Targum Shlishi Foundation today expressed
“deep satisfaction” in the wake of the announcement that Hungary had
submitted a request for the extradition of a suspected Hungarian Nazi
war criminal currently residing in Australia, and called upon the Australian
authorities to expedite legal action against Karoly (Charles) Zentai,
who was discovered in Australia in the framework of “Operation: Last
Chance,” a joint project of both organizations.
In
a statement issued today in Jerusalem by the Center's chief Nazi-hunter
Dr. Efraim Zuroff and Targum Shlishi's founder and director Aryeh Rubin,
the two organizations called upon Australian Justice Minister Chris
Ellison and the Australian judicial authorities to ensure that the
extradition process would proceed as quickly as possible within the
framework of the law and the existent extradition treaty between the
two countries.
According to Zuroff and Rubin: ”The passage of time in
no way diminishes the severity of the crimes committed during the Holocaust
and the importance of holding the perpetrators of those crimes accountable.
The extradition request submitted by Hungary creates an excellent opportunity
for Australia to take successful legal action for the first time against
a Nazi war criminal who, based on false or incomplete information,
was able to illegally gain entry to Australia . Hungary has hereto
taken all the necessary steps to achieve justice in this case, and
now it is Australia 's obligation to do its share to help complete
the process.”
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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| Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Decision by Hungarian Judge to Issue International
Arrest Warrant for “Operation: Last Chance” Suspect Charles Zentai |
| The
Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the issue today by the Hungarian
authorities of an international arrest warrant for Charles
Zentai, who was identified in the framework of the Center’s “Operation: Last Chance” project as an escaped Nazi war criminal who actively participated in the persecution
and murder of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust.
In a statement issued in Jerusalem by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center expressed its satisfaction with the
latest development in the case, which it had initiated following
receipt in the framework of “Operation: Last Chance” of evidence regarding Zentai’s involvement in Holocaust crimes.
“Hungary has taken the requisite
first step today toward bringing this suspected murderer to justice
and we are hopeful that he will finally be held accountable for
his crimes, preferably in Hungary where they were committed. We
congratulate the Hungarian judicial authorities and military prosecutor
for their prompt action to date, and urge them to take whatever
steps are necessary to expedite the process of extradition and
prosecution. The fact that Zentai has hereto eluded justice for
so many years, in no way diminishes his culpability and should
not be a factor in this case,” said Zuroff.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Welcomes Request for Arrest Warrant of “Operation: Last
Chance” Suspect Zentai Submitted by Hungarian Authorities |
The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the request for an
arrest warrant against “Operation: Last Chance” suspect Charles
(Karoly) Zentai submitted this week by the Hungarian military
prosecutor to a judge in Budapest . This is the requisite
first step which must be taken before Hungary can issue an
official request for the extradition of Zentai who currently
resides in Perth , Australia . The judge has 15 days to rule
on the request. ††††† “We welcome this step by the Hungarian
military prosecutor,” said the Center's chief Nazi-hunter
Dr. Efraim Zuroff who met earlier this month in Budapest
with military prosecutor Ference Nemesz and other Hungarian
Justice Ministry officials to submit a list of potential
witnesses in the Zentai case and offer the Center's assistance
in the investigation.
Zuroff expressed cautious optimism
that Zentai would finally be held accountable for his crimes
and noted that the Center preferred that he be tried in
Budapest , the site of his crimes, rather than in Australia
. “A trial in Hungary , where the alleged crimes were committed
by Zentai, who served at that time in the Hungarian Army,
would have far greater significance in public terms than
if he were tried in Australia . In this regard, the educational
and social dimensions of such a legal process should not
be underestimated,” said Zuroff.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 |
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| Wiesenthal
Center And Targum Shlishi Foundation Initiate New “Operation:Last Chance” Hotline In Hungary” |
| Budapest
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Targum Shlishi Foundation
today announced the inauguration of a new hotline/infoline
for “Operation:Last Chance” in Hungary, in order to receive information regarding the current whereabouts
and wartime activities of suspected Hungarian Nazi war criminals.
In a press conference held here today, the Center’ chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff revealed the new number (06) 205-500-142
and issued a call to the Hungarian public to submit all pertinent
information and especially details regarding its number one Hungarian
suspect Karoly (Charles) Zentai, a Hungarian army officer who is
accused of the murder of at least one Jewish teenager in Budapest
in November 1944 and of the persecution and torture of numerous
additional Jews kidnapped by Zentai and two fellow army officers
who were tried for their crimes after World War II. Zentai escaped
from Hungary and was tracked down by the Center in Perth Australia,
where he has been living since 1950.
Zuroff, who met with officials of the Hungarian
Justice Ministry yesterday regarding the case, expressed his hope
that Zentai would be tried in Hungary as quickly as possible, in
accordance with the Wiesenthal Center’s preference that Nazi war criminals be brought to justice in the country in
which they committed their crimes or in their country of origin.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Submits to Hungarian Justice Ministry List of Potential
Witnesses in Case of Suspected Nazi War Criminal Charles Zentai
Discovered in Framework of “Operation:Last Chance” |
Budapest-The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s
chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff met here today with officials of the
Hungarian Justice Ministry and submitted a list of potential witnesses
in the case of Charles Zentai, currently residing in Australia, who was
discovered recently in the framework of the “Operation: Last Chance” project jointly conducted with the Targum Shlishi Foundation of Miami Florida.
Zentai is accused of the murder of at least one Jewish teenager, eighteen
year old Peter Balazs, whom he caught without the yellow star and beat
to death in his army barracks in Budapest in November 1944.
Zuroff met with Dr. Laszlo Lang, director of the Department for the Supervision
of Investigations; Military Prosecutor Ferenc Nemesz; Dr.Eva Kis;
and Dr. Katalin Veres and urged them to expedite the investigation
in order to ensure that justice will be achieved. He also offered
the Center’s assistance in examining the case and submitted a list of eleven potential witnesses.
Zuroff also noted that it is already clear from
the available documentation and witness testimony, that Zentai
was involved in additional crimes against Jews in Budapest in 1944
besides the murder of Peter Balazs.
For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
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| Wiesenthal
Center Urges Hungarian and Australian Authorities to Expedite
Investigation of Suspected Hungarian Nazi War Criminal living
in Perth, Australia Discovered by “Operation: Last Chance” |
| The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today called upon the Hungarian and
Australian authorities to expedite the investigation of Charles
Zentai, a suspected Hungarian Nazi war criminal currently living
in Perth who is alleged to have murdered at least one Jew in
Budapest in 1944 and whose crimes became known to the Center
in the framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” launched this past July in Hungary. more... |
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Wiesenthal
Center Rejects Claim of Illegality
of “Operation: Last Chance” in
Hungary |
The
Simon Wiesenthal Center today totally rejected the charge
by parliament ombudsman Attila Peterfalvi that “Operation: Last Chance” was engaged in illegal activity by examining information regarding crimes committed
during the Holocaust in Hungary.
In a statement issued today in Jerusalem, the Center’s
chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff, who coordinates “Operation: Last Chance” worldwide, termed the attempt to find a legal basis to stop the project “a pathetic effort to use an issue ostensibly linked to human rights to protect
those who never had any concern for the human rights of their
victims.” more... |
PRESS
RELEASE SAJTУANYAG
UTOLSÓ ESÉLY AKCIÓ |
| Senki
sem vonja kétségbe, hogy a második világháborús buntettek elkövetoit elévülhetetlenül felelosségre kell vonni. Ez azonban az ido múlásával egyre nehezebb. Noha máig is élnek büntetlenül és száma talán több ezer is lehet, azoknak, akik részt vettek az un. végleges megoldásban, vagyis a több millió zsidó elpusztításában, mégis a számonkérés, a felelosségre vonás lehetosége egyre csökken. A gyanúsítottak ma már idos korúak, de a lehetséges tanúk (pl. a túlélok, a szemtanúk, vagy akár a társtettesek) é letkora is igen magas, a hiteles tanúk elérése is nehéz, különös tekintettel arra, hogy a szóban forgó háborús buntetteket már sok-sok é vvel ezelott és gyakran elérhetetlenül távoli, sot jól álcázott helyeken követték el. more... |
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