Ceremony for lighting the Hanukkah candles, organised by Chabad Lubawitsch. The ceremony was interrupted by the MP Grzegorz Braun, member of the far-right monarchist party Confederation of the Polish Crown. He put out the candles with a fire extinguisher. Image: Imago/Adam Chelstowski / Forum
Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, made a clear statement condemning today’s anti-Semitic attack by MP Grzegorz Braun in the Polish parliament during a Hanukkah celebration:
"The anti-Semitic hatred and destructive fascist violence demonstrated today by the Polish Sejm MP Braun has horrified Auschwitz survivors around the globe. They share the deep concern and anguish of their friend and companion Marian Turski, Auschwitz survivor and President of the International Auschwitz Committee, and they are equally horrified by the entry of fascists as elected representatives in the Polish parliament. What happened today in Warsaw also shows how anti-Semitic hatred has managed to regain a foothold in Europe. It is an alarming and bitter insight for all Holocaust survivors."