Polish president condemns anti-Semitic march

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has denounced an anti-Semitic march that took place last week in the central Polish city of Kalisz.

On Sunday, a counterdemonstration was also held in the central Polish city under the slogan "Kalisz free from fascism."

Photo: PAP/Tomasz Wojtasik

“I strongly condemn all acts of anti-Semitism. This barbarism, committed by a group of hooligans in Kalisz, stands in contradiction with the values on which the Republic of Poland is based,” Duda tweeted on Sunday.

Stanowczo potępiam wszelkie akty antysemityzmu. Barbarzyństwo, którego dopuściła się grupa chuliganów w Kaliszu, stoi w sprzeczności z wartościami, na których oparta jest Rzeczpospolita. A wobec sytuacji na granicy i akcji propagandowych przeciwko Polsce jest wręcz aktem zdrady.

— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) November 14, 2021

During a march held last Thursday in Kalisz, participants shouted anti-Semitic slogans and burned a copy of the Statute of Kalisz, a historic document issued by Prince Bolesław the Pious in 1264 that gave Jews protection and religious tolerance rights.

Police checked the identity documents of 67 people and seized two banners during the march, which was accompanied by a demonstration, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

On Monday, police detained three people involved in organizing the march, Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński announced in a tweet.

Nie ma zgody na antysemityzm i nienawiść na tle narodowościowym, religijnym lub etnicznym. Wobec organizatorów haniebnego wydarzenia w Kaliszu państwo polskie musi okazać swoją bezwzględność i stanowczość. Dziś Policja zatrzymała trzy osoby w tej sprawie.

— Mariusz Kamiński (@Kaminski_M_) November 15, 2021

Those detained faced charges of inciting hatred based on nationality differences, insulting a group of people because of their national and religious affiliation, and inciting crime motivated by ethnic and religious bias, officials told reporters.

(jh/gs)

Source: PAP