Polish Parliament Condemns Holocaust Denial Remarks

The news in Polish

1. potępić
   uznać coś za złe, skrytykować. ↩︎
2. komora  (f.)
   zamknięte pomieszczenie w budynku lub urządzeniu. ↩︎
3. głosować
   brać udział w wyborach lub podejmowaniu decyzji przez oddanie głosu. ↩︎
4. przeciw
   wbrew, w opozycji do czegoś. ↩︎
5. wypowiedź  (f.)
   słowa wypowiedziane wobec kogoś; oświadczenie. ↩︎
6. zniekształcać
   zmieniać coś tak, że traci pierwotną formę lub znaczenie. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who made the remarks about gas chambers that were condemned?

Question 2: How many parliamentarians voted in favor of condemning the remarks?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
potępić	condemn
komora  (f.)	chamber
głosować	vote
przeciw	against
wypowiedź  (f.)	statement
zniekształcać	distort

Read the full story

The Polish Sejm has formally adopted a resolution condemning comments made by Grzegorz Braun, who publicly questioned the existence of gas chambers at the Auschwitz concentration camp. This decision received overwhelming support, with 399 parliament members voting in favor and only three against. No parliament members abstained from voting, highlighting the widespread disapproval of Braun’s remarks.

In early July, during a radio interview with Radio Wnet, Braun described the gas chambers at Auschwitz as a “fake.” The interview was promptly halted by the host, yet the statement provoked a fierce backlash from politicians across the spectrum, various institutions, and the Catholic Church. Among the critics were Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda, and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, emphasizing their stance against historical misrepresentation.

Adding to the controversy, Braun had been previously involved in a disruptive incident at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw, where he prevented Professor Jan Grabowski from delivering a lecture. Braun took physical action by removing the academic from the podium and damaging audio equipment. Police intervention became necessary during this episode, which stirred additional criticism of Braun’s conduct.

The Polish government’s response was echoed by various international voices, including the Israeli Embassy, highlighting the importance of maintaining historical truth concerning Nazi atrocities. The situation has reached the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office, which is currently investigating Braun’s statements for potential legal breaches.

The Polish Senate also reacted unanimously, passing a resolution that condemned efforts to relativize or distort the history of the Holocaust. The Senate’s swift response demonstrates a unified commitment among Polish lawmakers to counter any attempts at Holocaust denial or distortion within and beyond Polish borders.

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