WARSAW, Poland (JTA) – Facebook users in Poland slammed a teenager living there for an offensive post directed toward a memorial at Majdanek.
The post by the 17-year-old from Ukraine, identified as Wladyslaw, showed him holding up his middle finger in the direction of the Monument to Struggle and Martyrdom at the site of the former Nazi concentration camp.
“I took this picture, because I just do not like the Jews,” he wrote in his post.
Following the angry responses in response, Wladyslaw apologized on Facebook earlier this week to Poles who felt offended.
The Lublin prosecutor’s office is investigating the case. The teen could be charged with incitement to hatred for national, ethnic and racial reasons.
“The Struggle and Martyrdom monument is dedicated to the memory of nearly 80,000 people of different nationalities and faiths who lost their lives at Majdanek,” Agnieszka Kowalczyk-Nowak, a spokeswoman for the Museum at Majdanek, told the Polish daily Gazeta. “Making an offensive gesture there is an expression of lack of respect for all those who suffered in the camp.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
