Country Poland
Year 2020
Affected group/minority German minority
Perpetrator Unknown
Type of case Hate speech
Type of act Written
Media: Online platforms and/or communication channels
Reactions: Investigation opened but suspended no information
Brief description:
The case of 27.07.2020 concerns the consequences of discussing the bilingual naming of localities during the municipal legislative body's deliberations.
The comments posted by users of the social network repeatedly exceeded the limits of permitted freedom of expression and took the form of hatred based on differences in nationality, and were as follows:
"I wonder if they collaborated with the SS during the 2nd war and helped with the murders";
"They should be packed into cattle cars and deported to Germany if they want German Nazis so much";
"These are village dogs and not Germans with dual citizenship, neither Poles nor Germans;
"I'm going to tell the lady something she'll understand. Fuck yourself. And if she doesn't understand it, then it's all the worse for her. This is Poland".
These are some of the many comments that have been published online. On 18.09.2020, an investigation was opened into the commission of a criminal offence against a member of the municipal council of Himmelwitz (Jemielnica). Unfortunately, in December 2020, the public prosecutor's office closed the investigation. In August 2022, the suspended investigations were resumed, and an expert in linguistics was commissioned to prepare an expert opinion.
On 7.10.2024, the proceedings were discontinued again because the act was found not to constitute a criminal offence. The NGO has asked the Civil Rights Commissioner to oversee the proceedings, but no response has been received.
More information on the case can be obtained from:
Social-Cultural Society of Germans in Opole, Silesia
sekretariat@skgd.pl
Photo: A. Pospiszyl
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