The French “France Culture” website posted a feature suggesting Poland’s responsibility for the war crimes of the Third Reich. The text was accompanied by photos of flags with swastikas. The Ordo Iuris Institute announced it would sue the website for infringing the reputation of the Republic of Poland.
The feature concerns “Poland’s alleged responsibility for the crimes of the Third Reich”. It is accompanied by a picture of pre-war Gdansk with Third Reich flags hanging along the Długi Targ Street. The caption underneath says “Gdansk, Poland, April 1939”, even though Gdansk was not part of Poland back then.
The Ordo Iuris Institute announced it would take legal steps against the website. Lawyers will file a suit pursuant to the Polish Act on the Institute of National Remembrance – Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation of 18 December 1998. Article 53o of the Act authorises non-government organisations to file suits in order to protect the reputation of the Republic of Poland or of the Polish Nation. Pursuant to Article 53q, the former provision is enforceable regardless of applicable law. It is the first case ever to make use of this particular provision.
