NGOs call for legal action against Polish guest house banning Jews

Published: NOVEMBER 26, 2017 19:51

Updated: NOVEMBER 26, 2017 19:56

Protesters light flares and carry Polish flags during a rally, organised by far-right, nationalist groups, to mark the anniversary of Polish independence in Warsaw, Poland, November 11, 2016. (photo credit: REUTERS) — Protesters light flares and carry Polish flags during a rally, organised by far-right, nationalist groups, to mark the anniversary of Polish independence in Warsaw, Poland, November 11, 2016.

(photo credit: REUTERS)

The hotel property calls for "Jews, Commies, and all thieves and traitors of Poland" to stay away.

Jews are not welcome at the Dom Polski guest house in Cesarzowice, Poland. The hotel property seems proud of that fact, declaring it in a giant banner out front in the Polish national colors, red and white.

"Entry forbidden to Jews, Commies, and all thieves and traitors of Poland," the banner reads.

Польский хостел Dom Polski в Нижнесилезском воеводстве запретил вход евреям и приравнял их к ворам и предателям #евреи #польша #кавказцентр pic.twitter.com/IO6K4Cqb1P
— Kavkaz Center (@newkc14) November 25, 2017

A press release from the World Jewish Congress on Sunday stated that its CEO, Robert Singer, said the sign "conjures up memories of ghetto benches and other chilling manifestations of antisemitism in Poland in the late 1930s. Given Poland's history, we would have expected authorities to act forcefully and swiftly to put a stop to such activity, which is illegal and utterly contravenes the democratic norms Warsaw is committed to upholding."

Polish media reports stated that the guest house belongs to Piotr Ryback, who is currently in prison for burning a Jew in effigy in a major square in the nearby city of Wroclaw during an anti-immigration rally in 2015.

Nationalists march through Warsaw on Poland"s Independence Day (REUTERS)

“What happened last night in Wroclaw is outrageous and concerning. We cannot help but to remember how Jews were burnt in effigy in the 1930’s and today by Hamas,” Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich told The Jerusalem Post at the time.

The Anti-Defamation League, which also called for Polish authorities to act against the guest house, noted on Friday that the remainder of Rybak's sentence was reduced last month to three months of partial house arrest with required good behavior.