A concentration camp survivor today took her story of survival to the Scottish Parliament to mark Holocaust memorial day.
Eva Schloss, the step-sister of Anne Frank, described her traumatic experiences to an invited audience including members of the Jewish community, school children, politicians and religious representatives.
"To share this story with thousands of pe
ople all over the world is very important," she said.
"Especially today, Holocaust Memorial Day, we have to remember the atrocities that happened – that innocent people that have never done anybody any harm were murdered.
"And as long as the spirit is alive, as long as we remember them, they haven't died for nothing."
Mrs Schloss, who survived Auschwitz, was speaking after a play at Holyrood, dramatising events from the Holocaust.
The 79-year-old, whose mother married Anne Frank's father after the war, called on young people to stand up to hatred.
And she called for global effort to help end the conflict in Gaza.
"Every life which is lost, especially innocent children, is a terrible thing but this conflict has to be solved," she said.
"I think the world has to help there because there is just too much hatred in this area.
"Until Hamas recognises the existing of Israel, there is war. And wars have casualties.
"It has to be resolved and there's enough room in the world for everybody to have a place and somehow the country has to be divided and we have to have two states there."
She told the audience – which included representatives from a range of faiths – that Israel is important as an "escape" in case Jews should face such persecution again.
"I speak up now to educate our young people to make them realise that everyone in life is valuable and we have to protect each other," she added.
Among the audience today were four school pupils from Drummond Community High School in Edinburgh, who presented Mrs Schloss with flowers after the play.
Head girl at the school Niloo-Far Khan, 17, said: "It was an excellent play, and important to watch because racism is still an issue that needs to be brought to audiences."
The play, run by the Blue Sky Network and involving young actors, is due to go to Haifa in Israel with a cast of mixed Jewish and Muslim children.
The play was based on the survivor's autobiography, Eva's Story, published in 1988. It was dramatised by an American playwright in 1995 who incorporated video interviews of Holocaust survivors, including Mrs Schloss.
Today's event was arranged by Holyrood's equal opportunities committee.
