In a recent interview, Piers Morgan challenged Candace Owens’ characterization of the situation in Gaza as a “holocaust.” He argued that the comparison was inappropriate, stressing that the Holocaust refers specifically to the genocide of six million Jews orchestrated by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. While acknowledging that the loss of life in Gaza is deeply tragic, Morgan noted that the current death toll—under 50,000—is vastly different in both scale and historical context.
In this article, I aim to explore the concept of a holocaust as a general descriptive term—not limited to the Nazi genocide. I will examine what constitutes a holocaust from a broader historical and moral perspective. Finally, I will reflect on how the Qur’an, as a moral benchmark, might frame what constitutes a holocaust.
What Is a Holocaust in general terms?
A holocaust is among the gravest expressions of human cruelty—a large-scale, deliberate, and systematic destruction of human life. It is not the result of natural disasters or accidents, but of calculated human actions rooted in ideology, prejudice, and the abuse of power. At its heart, a holocaust represents a complete moral collapse, where the tools of governance or influence are turned against a group with the intent to destroy.
Central to any holocaust is massive loss of life, often in the hundreds of thousands or millions. These atrocities are not spontaneous—they are meticulously planned and executed over time with chilling precision. Victims are targeted not randomly, but for who they are: their race, religion, ethnicity, politics, or social identity. An ideology often drives this targeting, portraying the victims as threats or obstacles.
What distinguishes a holocaust from other forms of violence is the intent to annihilate—not just to conquer or punish, but to erase an entire people or culture. This may include not only physical extermination but also cultural erasure through the destruction of language, religion, and heritage.
Such acts are frequently state-sponsored or institutionally supported, using the machinery of bureaucracy—IDs, propaganda, detention, transportation—to systematize terror. The methods are extreme: mass executions, forced labor, starvation, and torture, all intended to dehumanize and dominate.
The aftermath is devastating. Generations may be lost. Survivors carry deep, lasting trauma. Societies are left grappling with the hatred and silence that allowed such horrors to unfold.
To understand a holocaust is not just to recognize mass killing—but to see it as a total breakdown of moral order, where prejudice becomes policy and power is used to destroy rather than protect. The term “holocaust” is both a description and a warning—of what happens when humanity turns against itself.
A Broader Lens: Historical Events That Reflect the True Meaning of a Holocaust
While the Nazi genocide is well known and widely documented, here are 15 other examples of what may also be described as holocausts, based on scale, intent, and systematic targeting:
One, the Transatlantic Slave Trade (16th–19th century), where over 12 million Africans were kidnapped, sold, and transported under brutal, inhumane conditions. Millions died during the Middle Passage or while enslaved. This atrocity was driven by European colonial powers such as Britain, Portugal, France, and the Netherlands.
Two, the genocide of Native Americans across the Americas (15th–20th century), which included forced removals like the Trail of Tears, massacres, and cultural destruction. Perpetrated by European settlers and later the U.S. and Canadian governments, it resulted in the loss of millions of Indigenous lives and ways of life.
Three, the Belgian atrocities in the Congo (1885–1908), where King Leopold II’s regime caused the deaths of an estimated 10 million Congolese through forced labor, mutilation, starvation, and executions—all in pursuit of rubber and ivory profits.
Four, the Aboriginal genocide in Australia (1788–1900s), marked by massacres, land dispossession, and forced assimilation. British colonial policies included the removal of Aboriginal children from their families, known as the Stolen Generations, aimed at erasing Indigenous identity.
Five, the Herero and Nama genocide (1904–1908) in present-day Namibia, where German colonial forces exterminated up to 80% of the Herero and 50% of the Nama through desertification, executions, and concentration camps.
Six, the Bengal Famine of 1943, which killed up to 3 million Indians. The famine was exacerbated by British colonial policies under Winston Churchill, including grain diversion and denial of relief. Churchill is reported to have blamed Indians for their own deaths.
Seven, the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852), during which over 1 million Irish died and another million emigrated. While the potato blight was natural, British policies of continued food exports, high taxation, and mass evictions magnified the suffering.
Eight, the Rwandan genocide (1994), in which nearly 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered within 100 days. While executed locally, international powers including France and Belgium have been criticized for their roles and failure to intervene.
Nine, the Armenian genocide (1915–1923), where the Ottoman Empire systematically killed or deported 1.5 million Armenians through mass executions, starvation, and forced marches. Despite strong historical evidence, this genocide is still officially denied by Turkey.
Ten, the Indonesian anti-communist purge (1965–66), where an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people were killed, including communists, ethnic Chinese, and left-leaning Muslims. The mass killings occurred with support and encouragement from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Eleven, the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia (1975–1979), where nearly 2 million people died under Pol Pot’s regime due to mass executions, forced labor, starvation, and systematic targeting of intellectuals and ethnic minorities.
Twelve, the Japanese atrocities in Nanjing and East Asia during World War II (1937–1945), especially the Nanjing Massacre, where over 300,000 civilians and prisoners of war were brutally killed, and thousands of women raped, as part of Imperial Japan’s expansionist campaign.
Thirteen, the Iraq War and Sanctions (1990–2011), where over 500,000 Iraqi children are estimated to have died due to U.N. sanctions, according to UNICEF. The 2003 U.S.-led invasion further caused massive civilian deaths, torture scandals (e.g., Abu Ghraib), and widespread displacement.
Fourteen, the Cultural Revolution in China (1966–1976), where Mao Zedong’s political purge led to the deaths of an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people. Intellectuals, minorities, and dissidents were targeted through public humiliation, torture, and executions under the banner of ideological purity.
Fifteen, the Rohingya crisis (2016–present), where Myanmar’s military has been accused of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Villages were razed, civilians massacred, and over 700,000 people were forced to flee to Bangladesh amid allegations of mass rapes and ethnic cleansing.
Piers Morgan or Candace Owens?
Based on the general description of a holocaust—large-scale, systematic, and targeted destruction of human life—what is happening in Gaza today may also be understood through this lens. While the death toll may differ in scale from other historical cases, the sustained bombardment, mass displacement, and collective punishment of a specific population raise urgent moral, legal, and humanitarian concerns.
I agree with Candace Owens: we must act now. Just as the world should have intervened in the early stages of the Nazi genocide, we cannot wait until the death toll reaches a million to acknowledge the gravity of what is unfolding. A holocaust is not defined solely by numbers—it is defined by intent, system, and silence. It is also important to remember that the list above is not exhaustive. Many other atrocities, past and ongoing, reflect the same tragic pattern. Each one calls for remembrance, justice, and the courage to act before it is too late.
How Does the Qur’an Frame a Holocaust?
A holocaust, by its very nature, involves the large-scale and systematic destruction of human life. It is not the death of one, or one hundred, or even one hundred thousand—but often the calculated erasure of entire communities. It shocks the conscience by the scale of its brutality.
Yet the Qur’an offers a framing that is simple, clear, deep, and spiritual. It does not measure the value of life in numbers but in principle. The Quran decrees,
“Whoever kills a soul—unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land—IT IS AS IF HE HAD SLAIN MANKIND ENTIRELY. And whoever saves one—it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” -Quran 5:32
This verse elevates the worth of a single life to that of all humanity. In the Qur’an’s moral vision, the intentional killing of one innocent soul is not a small crime—it is a universal tragedy.
From this divine lens: ONE INNOCENT DEATH EQUALS A HOLOCAUST.
Peace,
Anas Zubedy
Kuala Lumpur
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