Racist incidents in Warsaw

Recent Incidents

The Association for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Poland has been shocked and saddened by a recent surge in hate crimes in Poland.

The first attack in recent months took place in the centre of town in a busy KFC restaurant. Emmanuel Bianda was waiting to order his food when an unprovoked stranger attacked him. As the security guards stood watching, the Cameroonian was hit around his head and face, which resulting in a hospital visit and continued medical attention. Only when a group of Africans intervened were the Police and ambulance called. The association is currently in discussions with KFC for compensation for the victim, but as yet the only offer has been, rather patronisingly, for free food.

This attack was followed by a violent deportation at the Siekierki refugee centre in which a Russian mother and son were brutally woken, the son hit over the head, and told they had ten minutes to collect their possessions before being taken away, reportedly for deportation to Latvia.

Also of deep concern was a break-in to the same centre in which a man was stabbed and during which the police failed to respond to calls for assistance. Only when the Association’s president Emmanuel Zuu intervened did the police arrive and investigate the incident.

Then members of the Association were shocked to read an article in the June edition of Wiedza i życie entitled ‘A black woman in Africa is not a human being.’ This inflammatory article was written with little regard for journalistic rules and was based on arbitrary ‘proof’. One reaction to such provocation, in which we hope to have a constructive impact and start to change some prejudices, is our upcoming debate.

In the past couple of weeks another attack occurred at the Pizza Hut located next to the KFC in which the other attack took place. This time, a group of African footballers were attacked with chairs while leaving the restaurant. They also ended up in hospital, this time with dislocated and fractured arms.

These incidents are constant reminders of the problems facing refugees and asylum seekers in their everyday life in Poland. It is to be hoped that activities run by the Association will help to counter this worrying social trend and confront prejudice and intolerance wherever it shows its face.

posted by Becca @ 4:25 pm