University of Tirana, Albania’s Largest School, Adopts IHRA Anti-Semitism Definition

The Academic Senate at the University of Tirana — Albania’s largest and top-ranked higher education institution — adopted on Tuesday the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism.

The move drew praise from Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) Advisory Board member Valentina Leskaj.

“Fighting bigotry goes hand in hand with Albania’s steadfast commitment to fostering religious tolerance and pluralism, and the IHRA definition is an important tool in pushing back against hate,” the former Albanian lawmaker and current chairwoman of the Advisory Board for the Albanian Center for Population and Development said. 

The University of Tirana is the second Albanian school to adopt the IHRA definition in recent months, following the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali” late last year.

We applaud Albanian university @UVIsmailQemali for adopting @TheIHRA definition of anti-Semitism.

This move continues Albania’s legacy in protecting its Jewish community and is an important step in the global interfaith fight against anti-Semitism. pic.twitter.com/KZ9vNWLAYi

— Combat Anti-Semitism (@CombatASemitism) December 24, 2020

Last October, the Albanian Parliament — in partnership with CAM and the Jewish Agency for Israel — hosted the first-ever Balkans Forum Against Anti-Semitism, held in conjunction with the legislative body’s adoption of the IHRA definition. 

“We need to continue and fight any form of anti-Semitism, which is a threat to our own civilization,” Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said at the event.

Earlier this month, Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj was a featured speaker at the inaugural Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism, hosted by the city of Frankfurt am Main in partnership with CAM. 

In his remarks, Veliaj described his city as standing for “solidarity and coexistence.”

The IHRA definition states, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The definition’s accompanying list of examples details 11 specific behaviors used to discriminate against the Jewish people.

Watch a (CAM) video about the IHRA definition below:

The IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism: A Solution from Combat Anti-Semitism on Vimeo.