Foundation puts up posters with faces of Israeli hostages in Vienna
Der Standard, December 1, 2023
German original: https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000197820/stiftung-haengt-plakate-mit-gesichtern-israelischer-geiseln-in-wien-auf
"Never again is now" - this is the motto of a new poster campaign calling for the release of all Israeli hostages. The project is supported by author Doron Rabinovici, among others.
At the beginning of December, 24 posters with the faces of Israeli hostages - the majority of whom are still in captivity - will be put up in Vienna. The posters are several square meters in size and are mainly placed in the city centre. The faces of the few hostages who have been released are pasted over with hearts. The Dr. Éva Kahán Foundation in Vienna initiated the project together with entrepreneur Sandra Berkson under the motto "Never again is now!". There have been similar campaigns in cities around the world under the slogan #BringThemHomeNow.
Writer Doron Rabinovici is supporting the campaign together with other cultural figures. "We are already there, where we have always been warned about," he said at the launch of the campaign on Friday morning. What happened on October 7 was a genocidal message. "Only when everyone is free will we be able to free ourselves," said Rabinovici. So that Jews, Christians, Muslims and non-believers can live in peace, security and dignity, the slogan should be: "Bring them home! Let my people go! Am Israel Chai!" The latter phrase is the name of an Israeli anthem of solidarity and a widely used slogan. It translates as "The people of Israel are alive".
Similar posters have already been torn down
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, numerous videos have circulated on social media showing people in other cities tearing down flyers and posters calling for the release of the hostages and throwing them in the trash. Actor Cornelius Obonya, who also supports the campaign, said: "To all those who tear down posters of people who have been kidnapped or already killed, I can only say: imagine it the other way around just once. If your children were kidnapped, if your grandmother were suddenly taken somewhere on a motorcycle at gunpoint." Nothing justifies murder and the deliberate targeting of civilians.
The Dr. Éva Kahán Foundation is a non-profit foundation based in Vienna that supports socially disadvantaged young people and artists. Éva Kahán was a Hungarian lawyer who campaigned for democracy, freedom and minority rights. She died in Vienna in 2004. (1.12.2023, Milena Wurmstädt)