FSWC Issues Advisory to Sponsors, Authorities and Community About Problematic Conference to Be Held at Niagara Falls

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 28, 2013) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is closely monitoring an upcoming conference in Niagara Falls, hosted by The Fatima Centre, a far-right Catholic organization tainted with anti-semitic elements.

The conference, "Fatima: The Path to Peace," scheduled for September 8-13, will be headlined by former US presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul. Slated to speak on September 11^th, Dr. Paul is on record for blaming America's association with Israel for the 9/11 attack on America.

The problematic nature of the organization is purported to be with the head of the organization, Father Nicholas Gruner. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports Gruner has published anti-semitic material and is affiliated with questionable individuals and anti-semitic organizations like the Barnes Review.

In an August 23^rd interview with The Washington Free Beacon (verified by FSWC), Gruner rejected the notion his group is anti-semitic, but is quoted as saying, "What exactly is Holocaust denial? Are we talking about the six million Jews that are alleged to been killed by Hitler?"

Senator Romeo Dallaire, publicized as the keynote speaker, until just days ago, has since disassociated from the radical group and no longer appears on its conference website.

"This convention features a roster of conspiracy theorists, many of whom have been charged with spreading anti-semitism," says FSWC President & CEO Avi Benlolo. "We are continuing to investigate each of the speakers and will keep the community at large advised of the situation as it unfolds."

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is a non-profit human rights organization directly representing over 30,000 Canadian members. FSWC is committed to countering racism and anti-semitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and education. Through its affiliation with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the organization has won two Academy Awards, has two Museums of Tolerances (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is represented at the United Nations and the OSCE. FSWC has a diverse number of programs, including the Tour for Humanity. Visit us at www.fswc.ca.

http://www.fatimathepathtopeace.org/index.php

http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/west-of-eden/ron-paul-tells-haaretz-i-am-not-an-anti-semite-1.404208

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2006/winter/the-dirty-dozen?page=0,2

http://freebeacon.com/fatima-center-head-denies-anti-semitism-questions-holocaust/