Polish author who partly blamed Jews for Holocaust deaths cancels talks in UK following calls for Home Office to block entry

A far-right hate speaker from Poland has cancelled a planned UK visit following a public outcry and pleas to the Home Office to get his entry blocked.

Rafał Ziemkiewicz, an author and journalist in his native Poland was due to give talks at events in Bristol, Cambridge and Slough, according to The Guardian but following concerns from MPs and campaigners about hate speech, the appearances have reportedly been cancelled.

Recently, Mr Ziemkiewicz expressed revolting views on Polish television following the Polish government’s controversial Holocaust bill. Whilst appearing as a guest on Polish channel TVP, the host and Mr Ziemkiewicz mocked critics of the Polish government’s Holocaust bill, joking that death camps should be referred to as “Jewish death camps” and Jews had a part to play in their own slaughter during the Holocaust. The TVP host later apologised for his comments, however Mr Ziemkiewicz said he didn’t regret using the term “Jewish death camps.”

Mr Ziemkiewicz has also been accused of describing Muslims as “invaders” and “barbarians” and saying that “gays should be fought against” in an article featured in the weekly Polish news magazine Newsweek Polska.

Campaign Against Antisemitism commends those whose work resulted in Mr Ziemkiewicz cancelling his speaking tour.

Image credit: Adrian Grycuk