A dramatic scene unfolded in the European Parliament when Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun disrupted a moment of silence held in memory of Holocaust victims. His actions sparked outrage, leading to his removal from the parliamentary chamber. Reactions to the incident have been overwhelmingly critical, with fellow politicians condemning his behavior as inappropriate and senseless.
Disrupting a Solemn Tribute
On Wednesday, the European Parliament marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a solemn session. MEPs observed a minute of silence to honor the victims. However, the atmosphere of respect was abruptly interrupted when Braun began shouting, breaking the moment of reflection. Security was ultimately forced to escort him out of the chamber, and footage of the event quickly spread online.
. @GrzegorzBraun_ został dziś wykluczony z obrad Eurokołchozu po tym gdy minutę ciszy dla ofiar Holokaustu uzupełnił o wezwanie do modlitwy za ofiary żydowskiego ludobójstwa w Gazie. pic.twitter.com/HtFmlIKFGX
— Tony.Chin (@tonychtonych) January 29, 2025
Grzegorz Braun został usunięty że specjalnej sesji plenarnej z okazji dnia pamięci Ofoar Holokaustu.
— BuckarooBanzai (@Buckarobanza) January 29, 2025
"Nie zakłóciłem, uzupełniłem – wezwaniem do modlitwy za ofiary żydowskiego ludobójstwa w Gazie" skomentował Braunpic.twitter.com/sWYbOLtC5M
Backlash and Justification
The incident provoked a wave of criticism across social media, with many condemning Braun’s actions as disrespectful and disruptive. In response, Braun defended himself, arguing that he had not “disrupted” the tribute but rather “supplemented it” by calling for prayers for victims of what he described as “Jewish genocide in Gaza.” He also accused the European Parliament of selectively recognizing victims, stating, “Apparently, all victims are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
His explanation did little to quell the backlash. Tobiasz Bocheński, an MEP from Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, dismissed Braun’s conduct as “simply foolish.”
“He certainly didn’t help the cause of civilian victims in Gaza. He merely added a few more points to his scale of crude notoriety. The only outcome is a sense of distaste,” Bocheński remarked.