World news-roundup: Hungarian who helped Jews flee in Shoah honoured with plaque

Country: Chile

A Chilean diplomat who saved 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust has been honoured as Righteous Among the Nations. Samuel del Campo, working in the country’s embassy in Romania, dished out Chilean passports to Jews in 1942 to save them being deported. Yad Vashem has verified his actions.

Country: Canada

The head of B’nai Brith Canada has criticised a parliamentary motion promoting tolerance, saying it could inhibit opposition to radical Islam. Legislators acted after six worshippers were shot dead in a Quebec mosque by a man with far-right views. The former head of the Canadian Jewish Congress defended the motion.

Country: Hungary

A Hungarian printer who helped Jews flee the Nazis during the Holocaust has been honoured with a plaque in Budapest. Emil Wiesmeyer’s firm printed 4,000 blank passports for Swedish ambassador Raoul Wallenberg to issue, saving Jews from deportation. The Communist government jailed Wiesmeyer in the 1950s.

Country: Australia

Victoria Police is investigating members of Melbourne’s ultra-orthodox Jewish community after community leaders allegedly assisted a school principal to escape to Israel in the dead of night when they became aware she had been accused of abusing girls in her care. Malka Leifer fled to Israel in March 2008.