Survivor calls for Westminster Holocaust Memorial to honour Righteous among Nations

Submitting the petition to parliament this week, Lili Stern-Pohlmann wrote: “I am a Holocaust survivor rescued by the Righteous. Most people were bystanders during the Holocaust, but thousands of non-Jews risked their lives to help Jewish people.

“Without them many Jews and their descendants would not be here today. During the Holocaust, in many parts of German-occupied Europe, helping Jews was punishable by death.

“Despite this many sought to save them. These Righteous individuals helped Jews escape from ghettos, hiding them, forging IDs, providing money, food and medicines. Some were murdered along with those they sheltered.”

The petition's launched co-incided with a commemoration event in Parliament for European Day of the Righteous, organised by the Polish Embassy.

The application to build the memorial has faced objections in recent months, primarily from local residents and heritage organisations.

A Change.org petition opposing building the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens has attracted more than 11,000 signatures.