Madam Director-General,

In the 28 years of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s NGO accreditation to UNESCO, it came as a shock to learn in February 2020 from the well-respected organization NGO Monitor, that the organization had granted academic certificates to terrorism “graduates” and their murderous “instructors.”

The NGO Monitor report focused on a 2018 ceremony at An Najah University in Nablus to celebrate 61 Palestinian terrorists who had completed a course on “Human Rights” while incarcerated in Israeli prisons. The university had claimed the ceremony was organized by UNESCO.

UNESCO then denied responsibility for the actions of the University Chairs in its name, even when they abuse the good reputation of the organization. We are aware, however, that member states’ National Commissions — in regular contact with Paris headquarters — can impact on unacceptable UNESCO University Chairs behavior.

In this case, the Palestinian UNESCO National Commission should then be compelled to stand by the values of UNESCO — or else continue extolling terror.

Only Monday, the equally respected Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) presented a “second round” of evidence, with many more examples and film clips of families showing their terrorist prisoner relatives’ certificates for a course on “International Law and Human Rights,” reportedly issued by UNESCO

Palestinian television also displayed such a certificate, claiming it was issued jointly by UNESCO with the Palestinian An-Najah University to “laureate” Wa’al Hajazi Abu Shahadm, responsible for the murder of six civilians and several wounded in a Jerusalem open-air market.

You can watch the video here.

The certificate also recognized three “instructors” in the UNESCO-approved course:

Yasser Abu Bakr, a member of the terrorist Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade and murderer of a nine month old baby, a policeman, and another civilian;

Nasr Awais, who orchestrated the murder of 14 people in various attacks;

Izz Al-Din Khaled Hamemrah, who organized a bus bombing in Jerusalem, leaving 8 dead and dozens wounded, and a shoot-out in Bethlehem.

The certificate is signed by “UNESCO Chair Director,” Dr. Johnny Assi and An-Najah National University Acting President, Dr. Maher al-Natsheh.

Madam Director-General, we urge you to investigate whether UNESCO grants such certificates to incarcerated terrorists on an international basis. At a minimum, we expect measures to be taken in regard to the UNESCO office in Ramallah and a belated removal of “Johnny Assi” from any UNESCO engagement.

Most respectfully,

Dr. Shimon Samuels, Director for International Relations and Wiesenthal Center Permanent Observer to UNESCO

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