{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”VideoObject”,”name”:”Metro.co.uk”,”duration”:”T1M31S”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/12\/19\/78880853-0-image-a-5_1702408883002.jpg”,”uploadDate”:”2023-12-12T17:52:13+0000″,”description”:”A far-right Polish deputy used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles during a ceremony in parliament.\n\nFootage from TVN24 showed Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation take the extinguisher before walking across the lobby of the parliament to where the candles were, spraying the menorah and forcing security guards to rush people out of the area.”,”contentUrl”:”https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2023\/12\/12\/7483153969942186281\/480x270_MP4_7483153969942186281.mp4″,”height”:480,”width”:270}
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
A far-right Polish MP has provoked outrage after he sued a fire extinguisher on a menorah during a Jewish community event in the country’s parliament.
Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation party took the equipment from the wall of the parliamentary lobby and used it to put out the candles, forcing security to evacuate people from the room.
Taking to the podium in the chamber, he then described Hanukkah as ‘satanic’ and said he was restoring ‘normality’.
Members of Poland’s Jewish community, including children, had gathered in the building – known as the Sejm – at the invitation of speaker Szymon Holownia.
Footage from the scene shows several of those present covered in white powder from the extinguisher.
Magdalena Gudzinska-Adamczyk, one of the ceremony’s attendees, was shown challenging Mr Braun as he sprayed the menorah.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, she said: ‘This is my religious symbol, I have the right to defend it because we live in a free, democratic country.’
With her face covered in white powder, she told TVN24: ‘I feel very short of breath and have trouble speaking.
‘I have stopped feeling safe in this country.’
{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”VideoObject”,”name”:”Metro.co.uk”,”duration”:”T3M57S”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/12\/20\/78882733-0-image-m-16_1702411878118.jpg”,”uploadDate”:”2023-12-12T19:27:33+0000″,”description”:”Footage from TVN24 showed Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation take a fire extinguisher and extinguish the candles of a menorah during a ceremony in the parliament building.\n\nHe then took to the podium in the chamber where he described Hanukkah as ‘satanic’ and said he was restoring ‘normality’.\n\nBraun left the chamber, shaking hands with other far-right deputies.”,”contentUrl”:”https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2023\/12\/12\/5817024932881976082\/480x270_MP4_5817024932881976082.mp4″,”height”:270,”width”:480}
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Mr Braun has now been prevented from sitting in parliament by Mr Holownia, ahead of a confidence vote in newly appointed prime minister Donald Tusk.
The speaker said prosecutors would be informed of Mr Braun’s actions, and he would lose half of his salary for three months and all parliamentary expenses for six months.
Michael Schudrich, the chief rabbi of Poland, said he was ’embarrassed’ by the MP’s behaviour and that he did not believe it represented the views of the country.
‘Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles and a few minutes later we relit them,’ he said.
‘For thousands of years our enemies have been trying to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees right through to Hamas. But our enemies should learn, they cannot extinguish us.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.