Monday, January 27, 2025
‘I fear for the future of my children here’, says Jewish protester dragged out of Irish Shoah event
The Jewish woman who was dragged out of Ireland's official Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony after she silently protested against a diatribe on Gaza by President Michael Higgins has told the JC she fears for the future of her children in the country.
Lior Tibet, 37, was forcibly removed from the event along with a pregnant Jewish friend by security staff after they – along with four other Jews – stood up and turned their back on Higgins when he spoke about the "thousands searching for relatives in the rubble" of Gaza.
"After what happened yesterday I'm really worried about how this will affect my kids. The atmosphere in Ireland is not what it used to be.
"When I first came here, I loved this country. But after October 7, it feels like I am having an existential crisis. It's hard to believe it's the same country," said the mother of two.
Tibet's pregnant friend, who wished to remain anonymous, accused Higgins of politicising the event.
She said: "It was horrible. I couldn't believe it. I told them I was pregnant, and the security guard continued to push me out with their bodies. It was so disrespectful."
The friend added that she was particularly shocked by the speech given that Holocaust survivors Tomi Reichental and Suzi Diamond had specifically asked Higgins not to bring up Gaza.
Tibet, who is from Israel but has lived in Dublin for seven years, said they were demanding a public apology from both the President and Holocaust Education Ireland.
When President Higgins began discussing Gaza, the two women silently turned their backs to him in protest.
Tibet said: "The moment I stood up and turned my back, they grabbed me and started dragging me out. They didn't ask, they just pushed. I'm a Jewish woman at a ceremony for my community. I have a right to be there."
https://www.thejc.com/news/world/i-fear-for-the-future-of-my-children-here-says-jewish-protester-dragged-out-of-irish-shoah-event-qs0rdfgy
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