Action demand over racist sign
THE World Jewish Congress has said it is deeply disturbed by the Polish government’s failure to act and remove an anti-semitic banner at a guesthouse.
Stating “Entry forbidden to Jews, Commies and all thieves and traitors of Poland”, the banner appeared at a guesthouse owned by Piotr Rybak in Cesarzowice, near Wrocław.
Mr Rybak is well known in Polish far-right circles and was turned away at the UK border in June on his way to attend a Britain First rally. The incident comes amid rising concern over the strength and growing audacity of the far-right in Poland. “Given Poland’s history, we would have expected the authorities to act forcefully and swiftly to put a stop to such activity,” said Robert Singer, the World Jewish Congress’s chief executive officer.
Mr Rybak was convicted of inciting racial hatred after burning a Jewish effigy at a far-right demonstration in Poland last year.
So far, Polish authorities have made no move against him despite the banner appearing to break anti-hate crime and discrimination laws.