U.S. voices concern about Poland's proposed Holocaust law

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday urged Poland to reconsider a draft law that would make it illegal to suggest Poland bore any responsibility for crimes against humanity committed by Nazi Germany on its soil during the Second World War.

Bill that restricts speech related to crimes committed by Nazi Germany on Polish soil is not yet law

CBC News Posted: Jan 31, 2018 8:14 PM EST | Last Updated: February 1, 2018

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Poland's President Andrzej Duda at the Belvedere Palace in Warsaw, Poland, last Friday. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

The U.S. State Department onWednesdayurged Poland to reconsidera draft law that wouldmake it illegal to suggest Poland bore any responsibility forcrimes against humanity committed by Nazi Germany on its soilduring the Second World War.

The United States is concerned about the repercussions onPoland's relations with the United States and Israel if thedraft becomes law, State Department spokespersonHeather Nauertsaid in a statement.

The Polish government has said the legislation aims to stopthe Polish people or state being blamed for Nazi crimes.

Thebill, passed by the lower house of parliamenton Friday, wouldmake the use of phrases such as "Polish death camps" punishableby up to three years in prison.

Poland's Deputy Justice Minister Patryk Jaki, who authoredthe bill, said last week it was not directed against Israel.

"Important Israeli politicians and media are attacking us forthe bill On top of that they claim that Poles are "co-responsible"for the Holocaust," he said, adding that "thisis proof how necessary this bill is."

Before the Second World War, Poland was home to some 3.2 million Jews, Europe's largest Jewish community. Germany attacked andoccupied Poland in 1939 and later built death camps, includingAuschwitz and Treblinka, on Polish soil.

Most of the Jews wholived in Poland were killed by the Nazi occupiers.

Polish politicians Wojciech Kolarski, left, Mateusz Morawiecki, centre, and Beata Szydlo place candles at the Monument to the Victims at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau last Saturday during ceremonies marking the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of the camp near Oswiecim, Poland. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

According to figures from the U.S. Holocaust MemorialMuseum, it's estimated the Germans also killed at least 1.9 million non-JewishPolish civilians during the Second World War.

The United States is concerned about the repercussions onPoland's relations with the United States and Israel if thedraft becomes law, Nauertsaid in thestatement.

"We encourage Poland to re-evaluate the legislation in lightof its potential impact on the principle of free speech and onour ability to be effective partners," she said.

The Israeli Foreign Ministryon Sundaysummoned Poland'scharge d'affaires to object to the bill. To become law, the billmust be approved by the Senate and Polish President AndrzejDuda.

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U.S. voices concern about Poland's proposed Holocaust law

Bill that restricts speech related to crimes committed by Nazi Germany on Polish soil is not yet law

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