Poland: Solidarity march with Muslims planned in Elk after xenophobic unrest continues

In the Polish town of Elk, anti-foreigner unrest has been continuing after the death on New Year's Eve of a young Polish man during a scuffle with the employees of a kebab restaurant there. Police have already arrested at least 24 local residents and charged most of them with disturbing the peace.
According to Czech Radio, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak rejects allegations that the unrest is racially motivated, but the information has been confirmed that there has been an attempt to commit arson against an apartment that one of the Muslim employees of the restaurant is renting. Four employees of the restarant have been arrested and two of them have since been released, but police are providing them with protection out of concern for their safety.
The unrest began on Monday after a 21-year-old identified by the Polish press only as "Daniel" died. The youth allegedly attempted to take two bottles away from the restaurant's bar without paying for them; it is not clear whether the bottles contained alcohol.
A scuffle ensued between an employee of the restaurant who is of Tunisian origin and Daniel, during which the Polish man was stabbed and died. Hundreds of people assembled outside the business the next day to protest.
Those assembled busted in the front window of the restaurant and threw firecrackers through it. Local Catholic Bishop Jerzy Mazur called for calm during Tuesday's requiem mass.
People have been expressing their support for the Muslim owners of the restaurant through online social networking sites. The Center for Monitoring Nationalism is planning a march to show solidarity with the Muslims on Friday evening.
Don't miss:
- Poland: Attempted robbery results in death, racist unrest
- Poland: Man who shouted "Kill him!" to attackers of Syrian immigrant sentenced to community service
- England: Arsonists attack Polish family in Plymouth
- UK: "No More Polish Vermin" - adherents of Brexit assault foreigners on the streets
Related articles:
- Poland: Ultra-right members arrested for planning terrorist attack days after ultra-right march in the capital
- Roma are most frequently targeted by hatred on the Czech Internet, experts say the law applies online too
- Poland: Trial begins of neo-Nazis who celebrated birthday of the mass murderer Adolf Hitler
- Russia: Mayor says 900 Romani residents relocated after fatal conflict - but were they forced to?
- Russia: Youth conflict sparks bloodshed, attempted pogrom against Roma has fatal outcome
- Polish prosecutor investigating anti-Jewish demonstration at the gates of Auschwitz
- USA: Neo-Nazi leader recently arrested upon returning from Mexico
- Survey shows people in the Czech Republic trust each other less and have less tolerance for minorities
- Austria: First newborn of the year has become a target of hateful commentary
- Czech broadcast authority: TV news misidentifying burkinis as regular clothes failed basic duty to viewers
- Objects from Auschwitz Museum featured in international travelling exhibition to warn against growing racism
- Czech-language, racist website asked people to "Snap an immigrant!", Roma and tourists were in the photos
Tags:
muslimové, nepokoje, Poland, SilvestrHEADLINE NEWS
