Grzegorz Braun A far-right Polish legislator caused an uproar in the country’s parliament on Tuesday when he used a fire extinguisher to extinguish Hanukkah candles during an event with members of the Jewish community. Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation party walked across the parliament lobby, creating a cloud of extinguisher powder, forcing security guards to clear the area. The incident occurred during the annual Hanukkah celebrations to which members of the Jewish community, including children, were invited. Braun later took to the podium, describing Hanukkah as “satanic” and claiming to restore “normality.” Parliament’s speaker, Szymon Holownia, excluded Braun from the sitting, informed prosecutors about his actions, and announced penalties, including a salary reduction and loss of parliamentary expenses. Holownia emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism. Braun’s actions were widely condemned, and Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich stated they were not representative of Poland, expressing embarrassment. Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Poland’s Catholic Church also apologized to the Jewish community and condemned Braun’s actions. The incident fueled concerns about rising antisemitism in the country. Source thedailycourierng news
