euro|topics - Marek Edelman

09/01/2009

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Edelman, Marek

4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

Trybuna - Poland | 05/09/2006

Polish National Radio hires controversial journalist

Polish journalist Stanislaw Michalkiewicz provoked a scandal at the end of March with an anti-Semitic comment on Radio Maryja, a right-wing religious station close to the government. The criminal case opened against him for slander and disparagement was subsequently dropped. The public broadcasting station Polskie Radio is now hiring Michalkiewicz as a commentator. Marek Edelman, the last surviving leader of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto Uprising in 1943, protests sharply to the newspaper. "With its decision to hire a man like Mr Michalkiewicz as a commentator on the arts, Polish radio is showing its true colours. It's a scandal that the case against him was dropped because it was considered 'not seriously harmful to society.' Unfortunately this is not the first time. Courts and public prosecutors repeatedly drop cases that involve anti-Semitic views. In my opinion, they are biased: they side with reactionary forces - and not with ordinary people."

Gazeta Wyborcza - Poland | 29/05/2006

Benedict XVI in Poland

Marek Edelman, the last living leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943, says the Pope failed to address the present in his speech. "The Pope paid tribute to the victims, but didn't talk about what's happening in the world now, or about the future. He asked a question that all Christians must ask: 'Where was God back then? Why did he remain silent?'. Perhaps I would ask a different question: 'Where were the people back then? Why were people so indifferent to the crimes they were witnessing? Is it any different today? Has mankind learned its lesson from those times when God was silent?'. Please don't think I want to criticise the Pope. I ask myself what one could possibly say at a place like Auschwitz to rouse mankind from its slumber."

Libération - France | 15/05/2006

Edelman on the threat to Polish democracy

Marek Edelman, the last surviving commander of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, shares his concerns with interviewer Maja Zoltowska about Poland's new governing coalition, comprised of populists and ultra-nationalists. "I am surprised and even very disappointed by the absence of any reaction from the EU. The Union should react more forcefully. Poland is a much larger country than Austria [which was sanctioned by the EU in 2000 after populist Jorg Haider was invited to join the governing coalition]. It is important that Poland remain a state where democratic values are respected. Has the EU forgotten its calling as a 'guardian of democracy'? Historically in Europe, dictatorships have come to power by a democratic path. And dictatorships know how to last. They even become stronger by the day as they consolidate control of the power structure."

Rzeczpospolita - Poland | 06/04/2006

Radio Maryja's anti-Semitism

Poland's ultra-Catholic, pro-government radio station Radio Maryja has come under attack owing to the anti-Semitic remarks made by one of its commentators, Stanislaw Michalkiewicz. In an open letter published by the Rzeczpospolita and the Gazeta Wyborcza, Marek Edelman, the last surviving leader of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto resistance movement, calls on the Polish government and parliament to either take decisive action against the radio station or have it closed down. "For 16 years now, 'Radio Maryja' has been disseminating its xenophobic, chauvinistic and anti-Semitist views in Poland. Some of its programmes are no better than the Nazi's 'Sturmer' programme. You, Mr. President, and other ministers and MPs, make appearances on this radio station, increasing its influence and credibility and giving the impression that the State identifies with Radio Maryja's political views."

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