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Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel dies aged 87 | Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel dies aged 87 |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Holocaust survivor and Nobel peace laureate Elie Wiesel has died aged 87. | The Holocaust survivor and Nobel peace laureate Elie Wiesel has died aged 87. |
He died in the US, where he lived and had been a citizen since the 1960s. | He died in the US, where he lived and had been a citizen since the 1960s. |
He became famous after writing about his experiences as a teenager in Nazi concentration camps, where he lost his mother, father and younger sister. | He became famous after writing about his experiences as a teenager in Nazi concentration camps, where he lost his mother, father and younger sister. |
He dedicated his life to ensuring the atrocities committed under the Nazis were never forgotten, and the president of the World Jewish Congress has called him "a beacon of light". | He dedicated his life to ensuring the atrocities committed under the Nazis were never forgotten, and the president of the World Jewish Congress has called him "a beacon of light". |
Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust remembrance centre announced his death on Saturday. | Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust remembrance centre announced his death on Saturday. |
US President Barack Obama said Mr Wiesel was "one of the great moral voices of our time". | |
Elie Wiesel was born in Romania in 1928. In 1940 his town, Sighet, was part of a region that was annexed by Hungary. Four years later the town's entire Jewish population - including 15-year-old Elie and his family - was deported to Auschwitz. | |
Mr Wiesel's mother and one sister were killed in Nazi death chambers. His father died of starvation and dysentery in the Buchenwald camp. Two other sisters survived. | Mr Wiesel's mother and one sister were killed in Nazi death chambers. His father died of starvation and dysentery in the Buchenwald camp. Two other sisters survived. |
After the war Mr Wiesel lived in a French orphanage and he went on to become a journalist. | After the war Mr Wiesel lived in a French orphanage and he went on to become a journalist. |
He wrote more than 60 books, starting with Night, a memoir based on his experiences in the death camps. | He wrote more than 60 books, starting with Night, a memoir based on his experiences in the death camps. |
It included the lines: "For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. | It included the lines: "For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. |
"To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time." | "To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time." |
'Take sides' | 'Take sides' |
Mr Wiesel's use of the term Holocaust helped cement the word's association with Nazi atrocities against the Jews. | Mr Wiesel's use of the term Holocaust helped cement the word's association with Nazi atrocities against the Jews. |
In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his role in speaking out against violence, repression and racism. | In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his role in speaking out against violence, repression and racism. |
When accepting it, he said: "Whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation, take sides. | When accepting it, he said: "Whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation, take sides. |
"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." | "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." |
After Mr Wiesel's death, the head of the World Jewish Congress said he was "undoubtedly one of the great Jewish teachers and thinkers of the past 100 years". | After Mr Wiesel's death, the head of the World Jewish Congress said he was "undoubtedly one of the great Jewish teachers and thinkers of the past 100 years". |
Ronald S Lauder said: "We have lost the most articulate witness to history's greatest crime. | Ronald S Lauder said: "We have lost the most articulate witness to history's greatest crime. |
"His passing leaves a void that will be impossible to fill. At the same time, his writings will live on. | "His passing leaves a void that will be impossible to fill. At the same time, his writings will live on. |
"Our hearts go out to Elie's wife, Marion, herself a survivor of the Holocaust and a great campaigner for justice, and their son, Elisha." | "Our hearts go out to Elie's wife, Marion, herself a survivor of the Holocaust and a great campaigner for justice, and their son, Elisha." |