Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Far-right Polish priest detained at Stansted airport
Source: The Guardian
Far-right Polish priest detained at Stansted airport
Jacek Miedlar held by UK authorities hours before he was
supposed to address Britain First rally in Shropshire
Mark Townsend and Rajeev Syal
Saturday 25 February 2017 16.11 GMT
A notorious Polish priest accused of spreading antisemitism and Islamophobia has been detained by UK authorities hours before he was due to address a far-right rally in Shropshire.
Jacek Miedlar, a leading figure for rightwing extremists in Poland, was held by UK border officials after landing at Stansted airport, Essex, to prevent him attending the controversial event in Telford.
The rally was organised by far-right group Britain First. Anti-racism campaigners described Miedlar’s scheduled appearance as further proof of the growing links between British extremists and nationalists abroad.
Branded a “fanatical hate preacher” by anti-racism campaigners in Poland, the 28-year-old attacks his critics as “leftists” opposed to “Polish patriotism”.
Telford was reportedly chosen for the anti-Islam march because of a 2016 Daily Mail report that insinuated the market town was “the new Rotherham” owing to alleged child sexual exploitation in the area. The deputy leader of Britain First, Jayda Fransen, last week tweeted: “Come and stand with us against Muslim grooming gangs!”
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Jacek Miedlar held by UK authorities hours before he was
supposed to address Britain First rally in Shropshire
Mark Townsend and Rajeev Syal
Saturday 25 February 2017 16.11 GMT
A notorious Polish priest accused of spreading antisemitism and Islamophobia has been detained by UK authorities hours before he was due to address a far-right rally in Shropshire.
Jacek Miedlar, a leading figure for rightwing extremists in Poland, was held by UK border officials after landing at Stansted airport, Essex, to prevent him attending the controversial event in Telford.
The rally was organised by far-right group Britain First. Anti-racism campaigners described Miedlar’s scheduled appearance as further proof of the growing links between British extremists and nationalists abroad.
Branded a “fanatical hate preacher” by anti-racism campaigners in Poland, the 28-year-old attacks his critics as “leftists” opposed to “Polish patriotism”.
Telford was reportedly chosen for the anti-Islam march because of a 2016 Daily Mail report that insinuated the market town was “the new Rotherham” owing to alleged child sexual exploitation in the area. The deputy leader of Britain First, Jayda Fransen, last week tweeted: “Come and stand with us against Muslim grooming gangs!”
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/25/far-right-polish-priest-jacek-miedlar-detained-at-stansted-airport