Museum and IranWire.com Launch Sardari Project, Bringing Holocaust History to Iranian Audiences

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and IranWire.com launched The Sardari Project: Iran and the Holocaust to distribute articles and videos about the Holocaust, including Iran’s largely unknown role as a haven for between five and six thousand Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied territories. The initiative will also spotlight the dangers of rising antisemitism and other forms of hatred and showcase Iranians who are working today to combat these trends. The series will feature 13 articles and nine videos and be available in both Persian and English. The content will be released through IranWire.com’s Facebook and Twitter channels, and be available on SardariProject.com. 

“Education is a critical step in countering the Iranian government’s Holocaust denial, antisemitic rhetoric, and suppression of information,” says Tad Stahnke, William and Sheila Konar director of international educational outreach in the Levine Institute for Holocaust Education at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Through this project, Holocaust history will be in front of the eyes and ears of Iranian audiences, who are exposed to relentless propaganda from the regime. For many, it will be the first time they will have had access to accurate and relevant information on the subject for themselves and to share with others.” 

Stories will examine:

• Holocaust history and the origins of Holocaust denial;

• The origins and dangers of antisemitic conspiracy theories and propaganda in Iran and elsewhere;

• Profiles of Iranians living in the diaspora fighting antisemitism and hate today;

• Articles and documentaries about Dr. Mohamed Helmy and Derviš Korkut, two Muslim heroes living in Germany and Bosnia who saved Jews during the Holocaust.  

“Iranians, especially young Iranians, yearn to understand the truth of the Holocaust,” says Maziar Bahari, IranWire.com founder. “Iran has a connection to this history almost unknown to Iranians. We named the project after Abdol Hossein Sardari, an Iranian diplomat based in Paris who worked to save many Iranian and non-Iranian Jews after Germany occupied the country. But unfortunately, this image of Iran has been tarnished by Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei who regularly denies the Holocaust. The stories we feature will show aspects of Holocaust history and related topics that many Iranians have never had the opportunity to study. These articles and videos are not simple translations from other languages. We produced them with Iranian audiences in mind.”  

About the Museum

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires people to confront hate, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors nationwide. For more information, visit ushmm.org.

About IranWire 

Since its start in 2013, IranWire has become one of the most popular Persian language news websites inside and outside of Iran. Similarly, IranWire English has become required daily reading for tens of thousands of people around the world who want to have a better understanding of the country. The site is a joint venture of a group of Iranian journalists in the diaspora who started the site to empower young citizen journalists by creating a forum in which they can discuss local and international news.