In a concerning incident that unfolded during an event involving members of the Jewish community in Poland's parliament, Grzegorz Braun, a far-right Polish lawmaker, resorted to using a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles. This shocking act of disruption, caught on camera and widely circulated, triggered immediate outrage and strong condemnation. The event was intended for the annual Hanukkah celebrations and had been organized at the invitation of the parliament's speaker, Szymon Holownia.
Footage broadcasted by private broadcaster TVN24 captured Braun, a member of the Confederation party, taking a fire extinguisher and proceeding to the candles, resulting in a white cloud of extinguishing agent. This forced security personnel to swiftly evacuate individuals from the affected area. Notably, among those present were members of the Jewish community, including children, who had attended the event.
Following this disturbing act, Braun took the podium in the parliamentary chamber and described Hanukkah as "satanic," attempting to rationalize his actions as a restoration of "normality." When confronted about his behavior, Braun defiantly responded that those engaged in acts of "satanic worship" should be the ones feeling shame.
In the aftermath of the incident, Speaker Holownia took decisive action by excluding Braun from the ongoing parliamentary session. Holownia also announced his intention to inform prosecutors about Braun's actions, emphasizing a commitment to zero tolerance for racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism during his tenure as the speaker. Furthermore, Braun faces significant penalties, including a reduction in salary for three months and the suspension of parliamentary expenses for six months.
The Confederation party, to which Braun belongs, issued a statement on the X social media platform condemning his behavior, signaling clear disapproval from within the party.
Notably, this is not the first time Braun has caused disruption in parliament. He has previously approached and shouted at lawmakers during their addresses. Despite initial expectations that the Confederation party would play a pivotal role after the October 15 election, ultimately winning 18 seats, Braun's actions have drawn negative attention and criticism.
The incident has evoked widespread condemnation, with Poland's Chief Rabbi, Michael Schudrich, expressing his embarrassment and emphasizing that Braun's actions do not reflect the sentiments of the entire country. Additionally, Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Poland's Catholic Church issued a public apology to the Jewish community, distancing the Church from Braun's behavior and expressing a sense of shame regarding the incident.
