by tskzWe would like to draw your attention to the statement issued by the Minority Representatives of the Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities (on which the Jewish minority is represented by Mr Artur Hofman, President of the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland), issued in response to the growing wave of xenophobia in the public domain and the increasingly open denial of the civil rights of representatives of national and ethnic minorities.
The full text of this statement has been set out below.
The Minority Representatives of the Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities would like to express their concern about the recent growth of the wave of xenophobia in the public domain, and the open denial of civil rights of representatives of various national and ethnic minorities.
The opinions expressed by certain politicians and journalists who question the right to exercise public roles by members of national or ethnic minorities, or who insist that national affinities of public official should be verified, and that ethnic criteria need be applied to Polish citizens, have far-reaching social consequences. Indeed, they have already fuelled a wave of hate and hate speech directed at national and ethnic minorities. The fundamental rights of members of such minorities are being questioned, including their right to preserve their traditions, culture, language, identity and historical memory.
Such developments pose a threat to the very foundations of a democratic state, based on the principle that all citizens are created equal and entitled to the full exercise of their civil rights. It is worth recalling Article 60 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, which provides that: “Polish citizens enjoying full public rights shall have the right of access to the public service on equal terms.” Similarly, provisions of Article 32 of the Polish Constitution which stipulate that: “All persons shall be equal before the law. All persons shall have the right to equal treatment by public authorities” and „No one shall be discriminated against in political, social or economic life for any reason whatsoever” have taken on renewed significance.
Due to the constantly growing scale of the hate speech, the visible change in attitudes is now posing a real threat to representatives of national and ethnic minorities, and has already affected their ability to enjoy their constitutional rights. This situation has caused growing concern and anxiety among many Polish citizens representing various national and ethnic minorities. It is becoming increasingly uncertain whether persons belonging to these minorities can continue to engage freely in public activities aimed at preserving their identity, culture, language and traditions.
As the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, aptly observed, this wave “is beginning to pose a threat to the very essence of the Republic of Poland.” One can only agree with his further observation that “the words uttered by individuals who are supposedly respectable will now embolden larger groups of their compatriots to spread xenophobia, contempt for those who think differently, or whose origin does not adhere to the notion of ‘pure Polishness’, a ‘pure race’, etc. We all know where this may lead.
Therefore, the Minority Representatives of the Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities call for measures to be taken to prevent discrimination against members of national and ethnic minorities in political, social, economic, educational and cultural life, and to ensure that they feel safe when exercising their constitutional rights to preserve their identity, language and culture. State authorities are urged to take decisive action against all manifestations of hate speech and any calls to restrict the civil rights of national and ethnic minorities. We also consider it essential that educational initiatives be undertaken to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity as a value rather than a threat, so that members of national and ethnic minorities are not met with hostility or stigmatization for preserving their language, culture and identity, which differ from those of the majority population.
Grzegorz Kuprianowicz
Co-Chair of the Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities, representing the minorities
Warsaw, 15 June 2026
