Exclusive: Tomasz Greniuch & the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) in Poland

The recent resignation of Tomasz Greniuch raises fundamental questions about how one of the most critically important institutions in Poland, the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), carries out its due diligence of potential staff and why it did not intervene sooner, as Greniuch’s links to the far-right are no secret.

As our investigation reveals, Greniuch’s links to the far-right, ultranationalist National Radical Camp (ONR) run as late as 2018.

Jewish and anti-racist groups raised their concerns, with some calling for his sacking. Now, two weeks later, his tenure ends not by firing but resignation.  What due diligence did the IPN carry out? We stress that none of Greniuch’s activities was a secret, found openly on various blogs, social media, and newspapers, including information he openly shared.

Greniuch offered a public apology, published in English on the IPN website.

Faith Matters details its original investigation below, having updated the story to reflect the above.

The appointment of a former far-right activist to a local branch of the IPN has caused shock across Poland, with one major anti-racism organisation calling for his resignation.

The appointment of Tomasz Greniuch, published in a press release on February 9, was combative, insisting that Greniuch had ‘apologised’ for his ‘past mistakes’ made in his ‘youth’.

Faith Matters, however, can reveal the links to the far-right are more recent, as three speaking events in 2018 had the sponsorship of, or included Mr Greniuch speaking in front of the flags of the ultranationalist, neo-fascist National Radical Camp (ONR), having founded a local branch in Opole.

On March 16, 2018, Civitas Christiania listed Greniuch as their keynote speaker in an event sponsored by the ONR (their logo appears on the official promotional poster).

     

Mr Greniuch promoted the Facebook event (the text of which referenced the ONR) on a promotional page for his book Śmiertelni – Historia oparta na faktach.

The second speaking event, uploaded to YouTube on May 21, 2018, features an introduction given by a woman wearing the ONR armband, and throughout the discussion, the ONR flags appear on either side of Greniuch.

The third event, dated (per the upload on YouTube), as of September 22, 2018, featured Greniuch and was co-sponsored by a local ONR chapter (their banners and flags appear in the background throughout).

Promotional materials for another speaking event from Greniuch in February 2018 included sponsorship from the nationalist clothing brand ProPatriae. The owner of this clothing brand, Jakub Sadowski, had links to the ONR leadership, according to Oko Press.

In 2016, ProPatriae publicly thanked Greniuch for wearing their clothing on Facebook.

Other sponsors included the website Kierunki (which has retweeted ONR accounts and Twitter and gives a platform for their propaganda).

The final sponsor is Marsz Niepodległości – which organises the Independence Day marches. Its founder, Robert Bąkiewicz, was described as being an ‘important’ member of the ONR.

Away from far-right-sponsored events and indeed activities within Poland, as in late 2017, Greniuch spoke at the now-infamous Slough book fare event, profiled by BBC Newsnight a year later, following revelations that funds from the Polish Embassy went towards the event.

The full Newsnight investigation includes quotes from Greniuch (but does not name him). One such quote includes reference to “ethnic transformation” being “a real biological time bomb.”

Credit: BBC Newsnight

Other photos of Greniuch at the Slough event appeared on subsequent social media posts.

Various reports about Greniuch and the ONR have appeared over the years in the Polish-language media.

Nor has he escaped the attention of the English-language media either. In November 2019, the Jewish Telegraph Agency reported his appointment within the Opole branch of the IPN.

Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress and Chairman of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation, discussed Greniuch’s appointment in a broader article which began: “I am deeply concerned for Poland. Something is changing, and I’m afraid a country I care about deeply is moving in a very dangerous direction.”

Both Notes from Poland and Polish News report that Greniuch is “mentioned as one of the originators of the first nationalist demonstration on the occasion of Independence Day in Warsaw in 2006.”

The vice-president of Wroclaw, Sebastian Lorenc, condemned the appointment on Facebook. The anger in Wroclaw has not gone away either, with protests and even a resignation occurring.

Other politicians called for his resignation.

On Twitter, the Israeli Embassy spoke of their ‘surprise’ at the appointment, urging Greniuch to visit the Auschwitz museum.

The anti-racism organisation Never Again said: “The Institute of National Memory is one of the most important and powerful institutions in Poland. The nomination of Tomasz Greniuch to one of its key positions is shocking and disgusting. It illustrates the current breakdown of democratic values in Polish society and the strength of far-right historical revisionism and Holocaust distortion. It spits on the graves of the victims of fascism. We call for his immediate dismissal.”

Faith Matters investigation of Greniuch’s historic ONR agitations in Opole included a notorious public eulogy of the convicted Holocaust denier Dariusz Ratajczaj in 2012.


Read more: Neo Fascist ONR, Oboz Naradowo-Radykalny, Offshoot in Manchester

The post Exclusive: Tomasz Greniuch & the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) in Poland appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Anti-Racist groups, Institute of National Remembrance, IPN, National Radical Camp, ONR, Opinions, Opole, Tomasz Greniuch

Muslim woman subjected to sustained assault, hijab pulled by a woman when out driving

The Metropolitan Police are investigating an assault on a black Muslim woman who was punched, spat at, and had her hijab pulled by a woman who had shouted racist abuse at them, as another vehicle had attempted to run them off of the road.

The anti-Muslim and Islamophobic attack occurred last week on February 16.

After speaking with Tell MAMA’s casework team, the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, described how she “could not get her head around” what had happened. To further protect their identity, we are not disclosing precise location information.

She described how she had been on a driving lesson with her father in north-west London, noting that the targeting from the first vehicle started for several minutes (including flashing lights and the tossing of objects towards their car) in a 20-mph zone. She stayed, however, in the same lane until another vehicle, containing the perpetrator and her male partner, had overtaken them and forced them to stop after almost running them off the road.

After observing the female perpetrator exiting the passenger-side door and shouting obscenities and abuse, the Muslim woman did not anticipate the violence that would follow as the white woman had forced open the driver’s door, punching her repeatedly, spitting at her, and grabbing her hijab.

A child from the perpetrator’s vehicle had witnessed the attack and was standing in the road the entire time.

It left the Muslim woman with a scratch on her face, a swollen eye, and a broken necklace – reflecting the force the perpetrator had exerted when pulling at her hijab.

She told our casework team how she ‘never expected’ this to happen to her.

A family member contacted the police, who, having collected the dashcam footage, continue their investigation.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

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Categories: Hijab, London, Metropolitan Police, News, road rage

Member of banned Islamist group jailed for breaching terror prevention order

A terror suspect who cut off his electronic tag before taking a taxi to London has been jailed for more than three years.

The man, who can only be identified as LF, is a senior leader of the banned extremist group Al-Muhajiroun (ALM).

He was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday after pleading guilty last week to six counts of breaching a Tpim (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures) order.

Tpim notices allow the authorities to monitor suspected terrorists who are not subject to criminal charges.

LF was first made subject to a two-year Tpim in October 2016 and was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, in May 2019 after he was convicted of breaching the conditions.

Home Secretary Priti Patel imposed a second Tpim in November 2019 because he had continued to engage in terrorism-related activity, including acting for the benefit of ALM, possessing Islamist extremist material and encouraging terrorism.

“LF met with other ALM members in London and elsewhere,” said prosecutor Kate Wilkinson. “LF twice hosted ALM meetings in his own home.”

The court heard that LF obtained an unauthorised “burner” mobile phone and £90 in cash to pay for a taxi to London in the early hours of September 15 last year after removing his electronic tag.

When police forced entry to his flat, it smelled strongly of smoke and it appeared that items, including paper, had been burnt.

LF was arrested on the morning of September 16 outside a supermarket in south-east London after calling his solicitors, who told police where to find him.

The court heard that checks at UK ports to make sure he did not flee the country caused nine-hour tailbacks for travellers.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC jailed LF for three years and two months, including concurrent sentences of two years and four months for the Tpim breaches and a 10-month prison term for breaching his suspended sentence.

“The Secretary of State was right to decide you were a senior leader in ALM, having a leading role in communications, including encouraging others to travel to Islamic State-controlled territory, and logistics,” he said.

“You are not suspected of personally carrying out terrorist attacks in this country.”

The judge said LF’s fear of his suspended sentence being activated after a probation officer upgraded his risk from “serious” to “very serious” had acted as the “catalyst” to him absconding.

“Fortunately, you came to your senses and probably your best mitigation is that you arranged to give yourself up on September 16,” he told LF, who was appearing by video-link from Frankland Prison in Durham.

Catherine Oborne, defending, said an assessment by the Home Secretary found the breach did not pose a risk to national security.

“The intention was not to engage in terrorist activity or criminal activity,” she said.

“He recognises what he did was a mistake and that he intends to have a better attitude to the order going forward.”

The post Member of banned Islamist group jailed for breaching terror prevention order appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Al-Muhajiroun, News, terrorism, TPIM

Raab calls for UN to respond to ‘appalling’ human rights violations in China

The Foreign Secretary has placed diplomatic pressure on the United Nations to respond to China’s “appalling treatment” of the Uighur Muslims and people in Hong Kong.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, Dominic Raab said “no-one can ignore the evidence any more” of a deteriorating human rights situation in China and called for international action.

It comes amid heightened tensions between Britain and China after Beijing banned BBC World News in retaliation after broadcast regulator Ofcom stripped state TV channel China Global Television Network of its UK broadcasting licence.

The UK last year also banned technology giant Huawei from being used in the country’s 5G communications network out of fears it could be used by the Chinese government to spy on Britain.

In his online speech, Mr Raab said people’s rights in Hong Kong are being “systematically violated” and that the national security law is a “clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration” that is having a “chilling effect on personal freedoms”.

“Free and fair legislative elections must take place, with a range of opposition voices allowed to take part,” he urged.

The Cabinet minister criticised the continued restricted access to Tibet before turning his attention to the “systematic” human rights violations in Xinjiang.

He told council members the treatment of Uighur Muslims and other minorities in the region was “beyond the pale”.

The tone of Mr Raab’s speech was in stark contrast to remarks allegedly made by the Prime Minister earlier this month.

Boris Johnson, according to The Guardian, is said to have told a Downing Street roundtable with Chinese businesses that he was “fervently Sinophile” and determined to improve ties “whatever the occasional political difficulties”.

But Number 10 looked to stamp out talk of a rift between the Conservative Party leader and the Foreign Secretary on Chinese relations, with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman telling reporters Mr Johnson had been “outspoken in his condemnation” of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

During his UN speech, the Foreign Secretary said: “We see almost daily reports now that shine a new light on China’s systematic human rights violations perpetrated against Uighur Muslims and other minorities in Xinjiang.

“The situation in Xinjiang is beyond the pale.

“The reported abuses – which include torture, forced labour and forced sterilisation of women – are extreme and they are extensive. They are taking place on an industrial scale.”

Mr Raab used his eight-minute address to call for a UN motion to be passed to allow investigators into Xinjiang.

He said the Government had already taken action domestically by putting in place measures that ensure no company profiting from forced labour in Xinjiang can do business in the UK.

“It must be our collective duty to ensure this does not go unanswered – UN mechanisms must respond,” he continued.

“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, or another independent fact-finding expert, must – and I repeat, must – be given urgent and unfettered access to Xinjiang.

“If members of this Human Rights Council are to live up to our responsibilities, there must be a resolution which secures this access.”

China has defended the presence of “re-education” camps in Xinjiang, saying they aim only to promote economic and social development in the region and to stamp out radicalism.

Mr Raab also voiced concerns about the military coup in Myanmar and the treatment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Russia.


Read More: Foreign Secretary Urges To Let Human Rights Commissioner Visit Xinjiang

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Categories: Dominic Raab, human rights, News, Uighur Muslims, United Nations

JAILED: Man threatened to kill Muslims, burn a mosque, and bomb council property during 999 call

A man who threatened to murder Muslims, burn down a mosque, and bomb local council buildings in Ebbw Vale, Wales, has been given a six-month prison sentence.

45-year-old Robert Armstrong had made the threats during a 999 call he made on November 24 last year, according to the South Wales Argus.

He was remanded in custody last year.

Additional charges under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 related to threats to burn down a mosque and bombing Blaenau Gwent council buildings.

He appeared in Newport Crown Court on December 23.

Given his conviction, extracts from his 999 call have been made public, and reveal that he had told the police call handler that his issues were with “the government, the police, and the NHS”.

The tone became more menacing and threatening as he said: “I am going to f*** up as many lives as I can. By the time I am finished the Muslim community in Wales will be p***** off because I will murder them.”

He also threatened to kill any police officer who responded to his threatening phone call.

When officers from Gwent Police did attend the scene, however, they arrested Armstrong after discharging a taser.

In mitigation, Stuart John cited Armstrong’s mental health issues, including trouble accessing his prescription.

When sentencing Armstrong, Judge Christopher Vosper, could not say what triggered the threats and how the call handler could not ignore the threats, despite “unsure whether to take the threats seriously.”

Judge Vosper added that Armstrong had threatened to stab council workers in the neck, and: “You also made threats against the Muslim community, particularly those of Pakistani origin. You threatened to kill them and destroy a mosque.”

He added that whilst the council workers and local Muslims had not heard the threats, he sentenced Armstrong to 26-weeks in prison.

The post JAILED: Man threatened to kill Muslims, burn a mosque, and bomb council property during 999 call appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: mosque, News, South Wales

JAILED: Man threatened to kill Muslims, burn a mosque, and bomb council property during 999 call

A man who threatened to murder Muslims, burn down a mosque, and bomb local council buildings in Ebbw Vale, Wales, has been given a six-month prison sentence.

45-year-old Robert Armstrong had made the threats during a 999 call he made on November 24 last year, according to the South Wales Argus.

He was remanded in custody last year.

Additional charges under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 related to threats to burn down a mosque and bombing Blaenau Gwent council buildings.

He appeared in Newport Crown Court on December 23.

Given his conviction, extracts from his 999 call have been made public, and reveal that he had told the police call handler that his issues were with “the government, the police, and the NHS”.

The tone became more menacing and threatening as he said: “I am going to f*** up as many lives as I can. By the time I am finished the Muslim community in Wales will be p***** off because I will murder them.”

He also threatened to kill any police officer who responded to his threatening phone call.

When officers from Gwent Police did attend the scene, however, they arrested Armstrong after discharging a taser.

In mitigation, Stuart John cited Armstrong’s mental health issues, including trouble accessing his prescription.

When sentencing Armstrong, Judge Christopher Vosper, could not say what triggered the threats and how the call handler could not ignore the threats, despite “unsure whether to take the threats seriously.”

Judge Vosper added that Armstrong had threatened to stab council workers in the neck, and: “You also made threats against the Muslim community, particularly those of Pakistani origin. You threatened to kill them and destroy a mosque.”

He added that whilst the council workers and local Muslims had not heard the threats, he sentenced Armstrong to 26-weeks in prison.

The post JAILED: Man threatened to kill Muslims, burn a mosque, and bomb council property during 999 call appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: mosque, News, South Wales

Two Christians sought by police in Pakistan on ‘blasphemy’ charges

Pakistan’s police said they were seeking arrest of two Christian men in the eastern city of Lahore on charges they allegedly used insulting remarks against Islam’s holy book and its Prophet Mohammed.

The case against the two men was registered last Saturday on the complaint of a Muslim local resident Haroon Ahmed, said Muratab Ali, a police investigator, who said the accused persons had yet to be arrested.

He provided no further details and only said they were still investigating to determine whether the two minority Christians made derogatory remarks about the Koran and Islam’s Prophet during a discussion on religion.

Under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam or other religious figures can be sentenced to death if found guilty.

While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, just the accusation of blasphemy can cause riots in Pakistan.

According to domestic and international human rights groups, blasphemy allegations in Pakistan have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and to settle personal scores.

A Punjab governor was killed by his own guard in 2011 after he defended a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, who was accused of blasphemy.

She was acquitted after spending eight years on death row and left Pakistan for Canada to join her family after receiving threats.

The post Two Christians sought by police in Pakistan on ‘blasphemy’ charges appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Blasphemy, Christian men, News, Pakistan, Prophet Muhammad

Suspected Arena bomber groomer refuses disclosure of psychiatric reports

A jailed Islamist terrorist has invoked his human rights in a bid to block the disclosure of his psychiatric reports to the public inquiry into the Manchester Arena attack.

Abdalraouf Abdallah, 27, is refusing to co-operate with the inquiry, amid denials that he “groomed” the suicide bomber Salman Abedi.

Lawyers for the families of the 22 victims murdered and counsel to the public inquiry want Abdallah to give evidence about his links to Abedi, particularly about how Abedi came to be radicalised.

Abdallah’s lawyer told the inquiry he denies grooming Abedi or having any prior knowledge of the bomb plot and should not be treated as a “sacrificial lamb”.

Last summer before the inquiry began Abdallah gave a “no comment” interview to inquiry lawyers, using his legal privilege not to incriminate himself.

The inquiry instructed a forensic psychiatrist Dr John Kent to interview Abdallah in prison but he refused and instead was interviewed by a psychiatrist suggested by his legal team, Dr Richard Latham, with his report then reviewed by Dr Kent.

Dr Latham’s report concluded Abdallah was unfit to give evidence and making him do so could risk self-harm and suicide.

Abdallah wants only a “gist” of both reports to be disclosed and his lawyers on Tuesday applied for the full report to be withheld.

Abedi twice visited Abdallah in prison, they had discussed martyrdom and were in contact via a mobile phone smuggled into jail in the months leading up to the Manchester bombing on May 22 2017, the inquiry has heard.

He was released from jail in November on licence, before being recalled in January. Abdallah, a paraplegic after being injured in fighting in Libya was described as a man “wholly committed to terrorist purposes” as he was jailed for terror offences in 2016.

But he had “no faith” that he would be treated “fairly and properly” were he to co-operate with the inquiry, his lawyer Rajiv Menon QC, told the inquiry.

And as Abdallah has been declared unfit to give evidence Mr Menon said it would be wrong and unlawful to compel a “vulnerable” witness to appear before the inquiry, which could increase the risk of self-harm or suicide and interfere with his rights under article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the right to a private life.

Mr Menon added: “He did not groom or radicalise Salman Abedi. He had no knowledge whatsoever of the planning and preparation of the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena.

“He heard about the attack for the very first time in prison after it had been reported in the press. He is unfit to give evidence.

“Mr Abdallah has been legally advised in the strongest possible terms that he should exercise his right to silence.”

Peter Weatherby QC, speaking for the bereaved families, said Abdallah was an “important” witness who should be called to give evidence and the medical reports were “central” to whether he should be excused from going into the witness box.

He added: “This is evidence (that) goes to the heart of some key matters – radicalisation has been referred to and whether the plot went further than the Abedi brothers themselves.”

Sir John Saunders, chairman of the inquiry, will rule on Abdallah’s application at a later date.

Abedi, 22, detonated a home-made shrapnel packed bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert at the arena on May 22 2017, killing 22 bystanders and injuring hundreds more.

His brother Hashem, was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 55 years before parole for his part in the bomb plot. The inquiry was adjourned until next Monday.


Read more: Arena Bomber’s Friend was ‘wholly committed to terrorist purposes’ court told

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Categories: Abdalraouf Abdallah, Arena Bomber, Jailed Islamist terrorist, Manchester, News, Salman Abedi

German soldier in alleged far-right plot faces trial

A German court has said that a military officer indicted on allegations that he plotted to kill prominent politicians and blame the attack on refugees will go on trial in May.

The case of the officer, identified only as 1st Lt Franco A in line with German privacy rules, raised concerns about extremism in the country’s military.

The Frankfurt state court said he will go on trial on May 18.

The 32-year-old suspect, who is currently free pending trial, is accused of planning a serious act of violence among other offences.

Prosecutors allege the suspect, whom they have described as a “right-wing nationalist”, managed to pose as a Syrian asylum seeker and planned to carry out his attack under that identity so that refugees would be blamed.

His alleged targets included then-justice minister Heiko Maas and he had stockpiled four firearms including an assault rifle, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 50 explosive devices, some stolen from military stores, prosecutors said.

The suspect came to the attention of authorities after he was arrested in February 2017 while going to retrieve a pistol he had stashed in a Vienna airport bathroom.

He was freed, but Austrian authorities informed Germany.

When the soldier’s fingerprint matched the one he had given when he registered as a refugee, it triggered the investigation.

The post German soldier in alleged far-right plot faces trial appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Germany, News, refugees, Right wing nationalist

Volunteers targeted in racist arson attack overwhelmed by crowdfunding response

Volunteers at a food bank targeted in a racist arson attack have said they were overwhelmed after being handed a cheque for more than £70,000 raised in a crowdfunding appeal.

The Belfast Multicultural Association centre in Belfast was badly damaged in last month’s blaze, with large sections of the roof of the historic listed building destroyed.

Police are treating the attack on the property in Donegall Pass in the south of the city as a hate crime.

In the wake of the fire, an online funding page was set up to help the association continue its work distributing food and clothes packages to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its initial £10,000 target was smashed within hours as donations flooded in from across Belfast, Northern Ireland and beyond.

A series of subsequent goals were also surpassed, with the total having reached almost £72,000 four weeks on from the fire.

Volunteers gathered outside the charred wreckage of their centre on Friday as the man who set up the JustGiving page – Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan – handed over a big cheque.

Association trustee Muhammad Atif said the fire had left everyone associated with the centre “heartbroken”.

But he said the resultant “outpouring of love” had reassured them that the city was behind them.

“It’s really overwhelming, it’s heartwarming,” he said.

“We know the people are with us. We know the communities are with us. There are only a handful of people who probably didn’t want us here. But I hope they will see the positive side of the whole charity and food bank and all the other services we have to offer.”

Volunteers have been continuing with charity work from home since the attack.

Mr Atif said they were determined to rebuild and move back into the centre.

“We are determined to come back stronger than ever to help the communities with whom we work,” he said.

“It will take us at least a year, probably more than a year. It’s a big building, a listed building and we want to do justice with the building, with this great and beautiful building.”

Mr Corrigan said the response showed that the people of Belfast would not tolerate racism.

“In response to the awful arson attack on the multicultural centre, I think that the people of Belfast and far beyond have just responded magnificently with huge, huge generosity really to get the centre back on its feet and back to their charity work running food banks and clothes banks for people who really need it in the city,” he said.

“I think it’s a sign that people won’t stand for racism, because that seems to be at the heart of this arson attack, and that people want to take a stand against that.

“And I think as well they want the authorities to hold to account those who are responsible for these attacks.”

No-one has been charged with the arson.

Mr Corrigan said racially motivated hate crimes reported to the PSNI in Northern Ireland had outstripped those with a sectarian motivation since 2016.

He said there had been more than 6,500 race hate crimes reported in the last decade.

Mr Corrigan expressed concern that only 6% of racially motivated cases of criminal damage resulted in any sort of policing outcome, such as charges or summons.


Read more: Multicultural centre fire being treated as hate crime in Belfast

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Categories: Belfast Multicultural Association, Muhammad Atif, News, Northern Ireland, Racist Arson Attack