Scotland marks Holocaust Memorial Day 2025
Civic, faith and political leaders joined with communities from across Scotland in the Scottish Parliament on 30 January to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2025 in a ceremony sponsored by Jackson Carlaw MSP and Paul O’Kane MSP.
Proceedings were opened by The Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, The Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, who acknowledged the significance of the commemoration taking place in the Parliament. A tribute to the late Henry Wuga MBE was then made by Kirsty Robson, Senior Outreach Officer at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, at the start of the event, where the audience reflected on readings of Burns poetry in celebration of his life.
(L-R) Adam Nickels – Head of Outreach, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT), Smajo Bešo, First Minister The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP, Alfred Garwood, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, and Kirsty Robson – Senior Outreach Officer, HMDT. © Phil Wilkinson
First Minister The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhain Brown MSP gave speeches on behalf of the Scottish Government, giving unequivocal commitments to ensuring support is always given to Holocaust memorial and education in Scotland.
Reflecting on the two significant anniversaries marked by HMD in 2025, the two keynote speakers at the event were Dr Alfred Garwood MBE, Holocaust survivor, and Smajo Bešo OBE, survivor of the genocide in Bosnia. Both spoke of the devastating impact the genocide has on children, and how we must act in aide of a better future.
Buildings across Scotland were lit in purple to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day including Lerwick Town Hall in Shetland. © Shetland Islands Council
Students from Largs Academy and Mearns Castle High School gave their thoughts on visits undertaken to sites such as The Anne Frank House and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Young people from Scotland’s Roma, Rwandan and Bosnian communities read extracts of life stories, poetry and prayers and performed a piece of music on the piano.
Buildings, statues and landmarks across the country lit purple as part of Light the Darkness, including Edinburgh Castle, The Kelpies and several universities.
Watch the ceremony from the Scottish Parliament:
Banner image: Edinburgh Castle lit in purple to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. © Alex Orr