Reflection on Antisemitism and Discrimination Held on AMIA Bombing Anniversary

On the anniversary of the 1994 terrorist attack against the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), a day of reflection on antisemitism and discrimination took place at the University of Buenos Aires' Faculty of Law. The event, organized by the Latin American Jewish Congress, convened judicial officials and leaders from various Jewish organizations.

Horacio Rosatti, President of the Supreme Court of Justice, stressed that true democracy is defined not only by majority rule but also by how society treats its minorities. He stated, "If we want to live in democracy, what defines it is not only that it is the government of the majority, because totalitarianisms are also majorities. What distinguishes them is how that society treats minorities, the most vulnerable."

Leandro Vergara, dean of the Faculty of Law, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that "hate does not distinguish, so the response to hate cannot be from a single community." Claudio Epelman, executive director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, drew parallels between the AMIA bombing and the Holocaust, warning that "terrible events like those that have occurred throughout history do not arise spontaneously." He noted that the Holocaust began with segregation and discrimination, not Auschwitz.

Mariano Borinsky, a judge, emphasized that "impunity can never become resignation" and that "memory only retains its meaning when it translates into stronger institutions and an effective commitment to truth." Manuel Ramírez Candia, a minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay, added that antisemitic acts violate not only religious freedom but also human rights and the human will. The event served as a solemn reminder of the AMIA bombing, which killed 85 people and injured over 300, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance against hate and discrimination.