POLAND: COMBATING EXTREMISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 003469

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR, DEPT FOR P, DEPT FOR R

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015
TAGS: PREL KDEM KPAO EAID PHUM KMPI PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: COMBATING EXTREMISM

REF: STATE 159129

Classified By: DCM Kenneth Hillas, for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (U) Summary: Muslim extremism is not perceived to be an
issue of concern in Poland; the Muslim community is very
small and the population is 96 percent Roman Catholic.
However, the Embassy and ConGen Krakow closely monitor the
media for any indications of rising extremist threats. Given
the country's relative religious and ethnic homogeneity,
episodes of intolerance, especially acts that are
anti-Semitic and anti-homosexual, do occasionally occur in
Poland. Thus, our Mission proactively combats this brand of
ultra-conservative extremism via active engagement with civil
society and public affairs programming promoting tolerance
and diversity throughout the country. End Summary.


2. (C) In response to reftel, we provide a sample of the
types of USG-funded and organized public affairs programs
which promote tolerance in Poland.

Bridges of Tolerance: long-term (currently over two years in
operation, ongoing) workshop program targeted at press,
public officials, academics and youth which addresses the
causes and consequences of intolerance. Funding comes both
from State PD grants as well as local and international NGOs.
Speakers have included Church officials, international
experts and academics, and high-ranking government officials.
Workshops foster open dialogue on religion, diversity, and
tolerance. Program has been highly effective and post
recommends its continued funding and support.

Warsaw Jewish Film Festival: long-term (involvement began in
2004, ongoing) support to First Jewish Film Festival in May

2005. Promotes both Polish film industry and Jewish history,
culture, and remembrance. Initial program was successful and
post hopes to continue involvement in future years.

Teacher training on Holocaust: long-term (program started in
2002, ongoing) effort to send teachers identified as having
great potential to impact youth education in Poland on
Holocaust issues. Several Polish teachers are sent each year
to US educational institutions for a seminar on how to
address the Holocaust in primary and high school classroom
settings. Teachers are also funded for a trip to the
Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. Program has been
successful and post hopes to continue its funding.


3. (C) The following responses are keyed to areas of interest
in reftel.

--How post is monitoring and/or countering incitement and
hate speech occurring within your host country and region.

Post vigilantly monitors the press for incidents of
extremism. Embassy officers are also actively engaged with a
diverse array of influential civil society members who alert
us to any radical statements or activities. While rare, the
majority of such manifestations of intolerance involve the
desecration of Jewish cemeteries, statements targeting ethnic
minorities, and anti-homosexual rhetoric.

--What post is doing or plans to do to work with local
communities to spread a message of tolerance and non-violence.

In addition to the types of ongoing programs mentioned above,
Embassy officers maintain strong relationships with Catholic
and Jewish leaders, who are among the most vocal advocates of
tolerance in Poland. Post also sponsors activities to bring
together American NGOs such as the Anti-Defamation League and
the American Jewish Committee and Polish NGOs such as Villa
Decius with local leaders to discuss and promote tolerance.

--Identify individuals and groups who embody and promote
tolerance and have broad influence among Muslim youth.

Post has begun developing a Muslim outreach program to better
understand the small muslim community in Poland. We plan to
report more detailed information on key Muslim players in
subsequent combating extremism reports.

Government of Poland's efforts to:

--Create spaces for open intellectual debate through media
and internet.

Poland is an open society with a wide array of spaces for
intellectual debate; the GOP does not have to actively
address this issue.

--Identify individuals or groups engaged in incitement of
violence.

The GOP has been slow to react to individuals engaged in
intolerant behavior. However, former President Lech Walesa
and other political leaders have openly criticized the
extremist stances of the Catholic nationalist "All Polish
Youth League" which promotes ultra-conservative intolerant
views and publicly bashes foreigners and homosexuals. The
upper echelons of the Catholic hierarchy are outspoken
proponents of tolerance and understanding; however, some
lower level priests have been unabashedly anti-Semitic.

--Amplify voices of moderation, tolerance, and freedom.

The GOPs efforts in this arena include a true commitment to
remembrance of the horrors of WWII and the Holocaust. A
recent example of this was the GOP-coordinated ceremony
marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
in January 2005, an event which attracted survivors of the
concentration camp as well as international heads of state.
The event prompted public discussion of the threat of
extremism, the value of tolerance, and related themes.
--Ensure readily accessible public education, particularly
for women and girls.

Public education is readily accessible for all Polish
citizens regardless of gender.

--Encourage modern education that accepts pluralism and open
intellectual exchange.

Polish higher education is on par with Western European
standards; open intellectual exchange is valued and fostered.
Higher education is almost fully subsidized by the GOP.

--Identify, promote, and work with non-governmental partners
and the press who advocate religious tolerance and moderation.

The GOP's Ombudsman for Human Rights is charged with
cultivating NGO contacts who promote tolerance and freedom
among other human rights duties. While active, his work
receives limited GOP resources and limited public attention.
Ashe