Joint Statement Condemning the Political use of the Holocaust
Joint statement of multiple Jewish organizations from Poland Condemning the Political use of the Holocaust
We, representatives of Jewish organizations, oppose the use of the most tragic events of European history, in particular the Holocaust, in the current political power struggle.
We appeal to all parliamentary groups to publicly condemn such behavior. We appeal to all politicians to avoid the instrumental use of history. We ask the state services to effectively stop any similar behavior that is based on open or hidden anti-Semitism and ultimately leads to violence and suffering.
In recent days, we have witnessed the unprecedented use of the deaths of millions of Jews in the current political power struggle by various sides of the political scene. It takes various forms: from "innocent" tweets, through press articles, political spots, to verbal and physical attacks by members of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on professors dealing with the subject of the Holocaust. The behavior of representatives of the Polish political scene brings to mind the darkest years of the interwar period, when far-right politicians openly built their political capital on intolerance, chauvinism and anti-Semitism.
All these behaviors are another proof that the knowledge about the Holocaust in Poland is insufficient, or even negligible. We believe that independent research on the Holocaust should be developed in Poland to create a solid basis for discussion and polemics. There is nothing wrong with a dispute, as long as it is conducted with respect for the other party and based on facts, not emotions.
Political struggle cannot be a pretext to tarnish the memory of millions of victims of the Second World War.