Prof. Zbigniew Gaciong, the rector of the Warsaw Medical University (WUM), suspended a student who carried an anti-Semitic banner during a march in Warsaw. The university authorities published a letter, referring to accusations of inaction over an anti-Semitic slogan on a banner carried by a student.

“The incident took place outside the university, on Saturday, which was a day off from classes. Just a few hours later, the police were informed by the University about the possibility that a crime had been committed. On the first working day after the incident, the Norwegian student was summoned to the dean’s office for an explanation. Based on the findings in this regard, I immediately took the decision to refer the case to the Disciplinary Ombudsman and subsequently also to suspend the student”, wrote the WUM Rector in the letter. An investigation will also be launched against four students who were alleged to have posted “legally questionable content” on social media.

The events described by the rector took place during a pro-Palestinian demonstration. It was attended by a fifth-year WUM student who had prepared a banner that showed an Israeli flag thrown into a bin and the inscription “Let’s make the world clean”.

Prof. Gaciong emphasised his regret that people who treat patients and provide help on a daily basis are accused of anti-Semitism, promoting Nazism, fascism or inciting hate speech. The Rector pointed out that the university’s students are future medical personnel who have a duty to put the health and life of every human being above everything else, and that forms of hate speech or violence cannot be tolerated at the university.

“The University’s guiding values include preventing suffering and preventing disease, helping the sick without any differences such as race, religion, nationality, political views, wealth and others, with the sole aim of their welfare and respect”, wrote Professor Gaciong.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński