Solicitor denies saying it was ‘sad’ people can’t question the Holocaust
Paul Johnson insists he was 'misinterpreted' after appearing to express regret 'when people feel they can’t question the Shoah openly' without being accused of denial
A solicitor in Oldham has denied saying it was “sad” that people could not question the Shoah on Holocaust Memorial Day in January.
Paul Johnson of Johnson’s Solicitors told Jewish News that his comments on 27 January had been “misinterpreted” after he posted in response to an article showing how one in 20 Britons did not believe the Holocaust took place.
He tweeted: “This is sad, but not surprising, when people feel they can’t question the Holocaust openly without fear of being accused of Holocaust Denial and Antisemitism. Lies and conspiracy theories thrive on censorship.”
In response, Adam Wagner, a Jewish human rights lawyer asked: “what you meant by this? What kind of questioning of the Holocaust are you hoping that people would be able to do?”
Jewish News was alerted to the tweet by a reader, who preferred to remain anonymous, and Johnson said he was “very sorry” for any upset, adding: “I had no intention to offend anyone.”
In response to questions from Jewish News, he added: “I was saying it is sad that one in 20 Britons do not believe the Holocaust took place. I think that is very sad, as I firmly believe that it did take place.
“I was not saying it is sad that people can’t question the Holocaust. That is an accusation by you based on your misinterpretation of my words.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
