Foul Play in the Polish Parliament - Fire Extinguisher Attack on Hanukkah Candles
This is blatant anti-Semitism at its worst!
Representatives from Poland's Jewish community had paid a visit to the parliament building by invitation, led by the President of the Polish Parliament. They took part in a candle-lighting ceremony during the plenary session, as reported by Polish media outlets.
But then the scandal broke: footage from TVN24 revealed MP Grzegorz Braun (56), a member of the far-right party "Konfederacja", ripping a fire extinguisher off the wall and spraying the sacred flames of the Hanukkah candelabra. The ensuing scuffle with a Jewish community representative was captured on social media, complete with gun smoke swirling in the background.
From the speaker's platform, the MP declared that lighting a Hanukkah candle was an "act of Satanism".
Parliament President Szymon Holownia (47) promptly expelled the controversial MP from the session. Holownia announced that the presidency of parliament would prosecute Braun. As long as he remained President of Parliament, there would be no tolerance for anti-Semitism and racism. Poland's newly elected Prime Minister Donald Tusk (66) labeled Braun's action as disgraceful.
The Hanukkah festival celebrates the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem after the rebellion against the Greeks in 164 BC. It also commemorates the “miracle of light” – a single candle burning for eight days. This year, it lasted until December 15. It is one of the most significant Jewish festivals.
Read further:
- The controversial incident in the Polish parliament garnered widespread condemnation from Poland's newly elected Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, who considered the anti-Semitic undertones of MP Grzegorz Braun's actions as a disgrace.
- The recent anti-Semitic actions within the Polish parliament cast a spotlight on the sensitive issue of Judaism and its followers in Polish politics, stirring questions about the acceptance of such views in international politics.
- Despite the scandal, the Hanukkah festivities continued as planned in Israel, with thousands of Jews from around the world gathering to celebrate the festival's historical significance and religious importance.
- The Polish Parliament President, Szymon Holownia, spoke out firmly against the anti-Semitic acts, emphasizing Poland's commitment to combat discrimination and hatred against Jews. Holownia stressed that such conduct would not be tolerated.
Source:
New insights reveal that MP Grzegorz Braun has a history of making incendiary and anti-Semitic remarks. This includes advocating for conspiracy theories and disparaging Jews and other groups[1][3]. As a result, he has found himself in hot water on several occasions, including facing potential prison sentences for inciting religious hate and being ejected from the European Parliament during a solemn session honoring Holocaust victims[1]. Despite his controversial past, Braun continues to make headlines with his inflammatory behavior and divisive views.
