MSPs support Holocaust hero campaign

Published on Friday 13 February 2009 20:59

A HOLYROOD motion backing The Scotsman's campaign for a posthumous honour for a hero of the Holocaust has been supported by 56 MSPs.

The campaign aims to recognise the achievements of Jane Haining, a missionary from Dumfries who refused to abandon the Jewish orphans under her care in Budapest when the Nazis invaded in 1944.

As a result, Ms Haining was arrested on trumped-up charges and sent to the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where she is believed to have been killed in the gas chambers.

The Scotsman is supporting a campaign by the Holocaust Education Trust, which is calling for Ms Haining and other British heroes of the Holocaust to receive posthumous knighthoods or damehoods. The rules of the British honours system currently allow for posthumous awards to be made only for those who have died in battle.

The campaign aims to change the rules to allow honours to be awarded posthumously in exceptional circumstances.

Karen Pollock, the chief executive of the trust, said: "It's good news that so many MSPs have supported this campaign. We hope some way can be found to honour people like Jane Haining appropriately."

Labour MSP Ken Macintosh, who put down the motion, said: "I am delighted we have had such strong support from every party in the Scottish Parliament."