NAA complains about Polish Radio 24 promoting Antisemitism
The complaint was about a radio show discussion that promoted antisemitic views. Though it aired on the 80th anniversary of the infamous Jedwabne pogrom, part of the Holocaust, where many Polish Jews were massacred, this topic was not discussed.
During the radio show there was a discussion between three guests Ryszard Majdzik, Andrzej Michałowski and Andrzej Rozpłochowski who claimed liberal-left-wing international forces were putting pressure on Poland.
The NAA made the complaint because such narratives fuel antisemitism and are symbolic of the larger controversy around the legacy of antisemitism in Poland.
The NAA rightly state that,
“The host Antoni Opalinski did not react to any of the antisemitic comments made during the broadcast.”
Below a short transcript from the radio show highlights what language and ideas the NAA were complaining about,
Rozpłochowski (in response to a question about the European Parliament’s position about the rule of law in Poland) said,"The international pressures on Poland come first of all from the anti-Polonism of the chauvinist Jewish circles in the world as well as the international liberal-leftist forces.”
While Michałowski went on to say, “I agree 100 percent (…). We will not let ourselves be outmanoeuvred either by Judeo-communism, the American lobby, or by German pushers. (…) There is such a lobby which keeps pressurising our government (…) For example it’s the Jewish lobby at the moment (…) Once again they are trying to interfere in this law about heirless properties.”
Majdzik, “Did the Jews or Americans come to Poland to rebuild our city? They should pay us compensation, because it was a result of their actions.”
Michalowski: “The traitors only have Polish passports and they speak Polish, but their origin, their families, their genes, are not Polish at all.
The NAA circulated the claims made by the three men among several academics who research antisemitism.
One of them, Prof. M.Bilewicz from Warsaw University published it on his Twitter account,
He emphasised the role of Polish-Jewish architect Sigalin in the post-war reconstruction of Warsaw. This disproves the false claim that Jews didn't participate in the reconstruction.
This tweet provoked various reactions, most curiously from Magdalena Gawin, a deputy minister of culture.
Tweet from Magdalena Gawin in response to the Tweet by Prof. M.Bilewicz
She claimed that, "Sigalin in fact did not want a reconstruction of the historic city centre of Warsaw" and listed several names of (ethnic Polish) architects who, according to her, deserve more praise than Sigalin.
Most interestingly, she didn't have to say anything about the antisemitic contents of the broadcast in question!
