“Organisations employing symbols and notions that glorify or even tolerate German Nazism, like Pride and Modernity (Duma i Nowoczesność), should be banned,” PM Mateusz Morawiecki told journalists on Tuesday.
During a joint conference with the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Elżbieta Rafalska, the Prime Minister was asked about his position on TVN’s Superwizjer programme, which showed the activity of Polish neo-Nazis.
“It targets humanity, it targets our heroes”
“I would like to thank journalists for tracking down this sort of things. These two totalitarianisms, Nazism and communism, were the largest tragedies in the history of humankind. (...) Poland has to pursue a zero tolerance policy for Nazi, fascist or communist symbols. Their presentation is against the law and against all our values,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that “organisations employing symbols and notions that glorify or even tolerate German Nazism or other totalitarianisms, like Pride and Modernity, should be banned.”
As he said, employing such symbols is not just against the law, but also “against all our values.” “It targets humanity, it targets our heroes,” Morawiecki further said. In this context, he stressed that Poland “was the first country to oppose Nazi Germany” and, as a result, suffered “the greatest sacrifice.” “These two totalitarianisms, German Nazism and communism, were the greatest tragedies of the 20th century and one of the greatest tragedies of all time, in the whole history of humankind. Young people (…) who show and use such symbols are naturally not just ignorant, but should be punished for it,” Morawiecki added.
Result of the journalistic investigation
TVN’s Superwizjer journalists infiltrated the Pride and Modernity organisation and revealed what goes on at Polish neo-Nazi gatherings.
The footage shows, among others, flags with swastikas hung on trees and an ‘altar’ in honour of Hitler. The participants of the gathering are visible too: dressed in fascist uniforms and raising toasts “to Adolf Hitler and Poland, our beloved homeland.” They also share a layer cake in the colours of the Third Reich flag.
An inquiry was opened by the public prosecutor’s office in Gliwice, under the special supervision of the Prosecutor General. The first three men have already been detained, including the head of Pride and Modernity, Mateusz S. In their homes, prosecutors found Nazi flags, badges, patches and publications, as well as ammunition and guns.
Joanna Smorczewska, spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Gliwice, said that the materials secured so far may serve as a premise to ban the “Pride and Modernity” Association. Its founder is alleged to have organised the celebration of Hitler’s birthday. “The prosecution has already taken the respective administrative steps. Documents of the association and the activity of its members will be scrutinised,” she explained.
Petitions to ban the organisation
Head of the local authorities of Wodzisław Śląski, the town where members of Pride and Modernity celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday, petitioned the prosecution to ban the association. In a week’s time, the matter should be brought to court. “As the head of the district authorities and lifelong citizen of Wodzisław Śląski, I am shocked by this situation,” Ireneusz Serwotka, head of the district authorities, commented on the Superwizjer programme.
Wodzisław Śląski is where the “Pride and Modernity” Association is registered, and it was in the nearby forest that Adolf Hitler’s ‘birthday’, caught on camera by TVN’s journalists, was celebrated. “The head of the district authorities is determined to ban this organisation,” declared Michał Lorek, the district’s secretary.
Since the association is registered in Wodzisław, the head of the district is the one who officially supervises it. Pursuant to Article 25 of the Associations Law, he has the right and obligation to monitor whether the organisation acts in accordance with its statutes and legal regulations. “He cannot simply delete the association from the register, but he’s already taken steps to ensure that it ceases to exist,” said Lorek.
On Monday, the authorities called on the organisation to clarify the situation. Pride and Modernity now have seven days to answer, counting from the day of serving the letter – most likely today (the letter was sent by priority mail). What if they don’t respond? “If we don’t get an explanation, we’ll petition the District Court in Gliwice to ban the association,” says Lorek, citing Article 29 of the Associations Law.
Źródło: tvn24.pl/tłumaczenie Intertext.com.pl