Greece will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Friday.
The Greek leader made the announcement during a meeting with David Saltiel, the president of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, and Dr. Efstathios Lianos Liantis, the head of the Greek Delegation to the IHRA.
A statement from the premier’s office added that “Greece is the first country to adopt the working definition of Holocaust denial, a landmark act.”
The IHRA working definition offers a comprehensive description of anti-Semitism in its various forms, including hatred and discrimination against Jews, Holocaust denial and, sometimes controversially, the way anti-Semitism relates to the ways criticism of Israel is expressed.
Also commenting on Greece’s assumption of the IHRA presidency, the premier’s office said that this will also coincide with the 200th anniversary of the beginning of Greece’s War of Independence.
During its presidency of the Alliance, Greece will focus on promoting the fascinating 2,000-year-long history of Jews in Greece.
Mitsotakis assigned oversight of the project to Greek Vice President Panagiotis Pikrammenos, who will also coordinate and supervise the integration of the IHRA definitions into domestic legislation and education.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an intergovernmental organization founded in 1998, unites governments and experts in an effort to strengthen, advance and promote Holocaust education and research.