Acts Against Chechen Refugees in Lomza
According to a news which was published at PolskaLokalna.pl‘s “Podlaskie” region, two local Polish youngs were arrested because they give out distributing stickers against Chechen asylum seekers in Łomża city of Poland.
“We don’t want you here!”, “Get out of Our City!”- says the Russian writing on a small leaflet and also there was city’s coat of arms, and a crossed Chechen flag in the background of the leaflet. A large number of offensive leaflets were distributed all over the city. These offensive leaflets can be found everywhere in the city. Someone leaves them in shops, buses, one of them was even found at the entrance to the local hospital.
The Chechen teenagers from the Junior Secondary School number 3 in Łomża saw it at bus, put it in their pocket and take it to the refugee centre in Wesoła Street to show it to their parents. “Our schoolmates laugh at us constantly and call us slob” – they say.
“Each and every day people (refugees) come to us to complain. Some of us are really afraid, some are just furious about it”– says Larisa Suleymanova, a Chechen from the information office for the refugees in Łomża, who seems to be very upset about the whole situation.
The leaflets are probably printed and distributed by the supporters of the idea of closing down the refugee centre in Łomża.
Let’s remind you, in September 2009, the idea of closing down the refugee centre was proposed by a PiS MP from Łomża – Lech Kołakowski. The petition was signed by 800 inhabitants of the city . The city inhabitants write in the petition about the feeling of endangerment and increasing crime. They also accuse the refugees of taking away jobs from the locals and selling drugs. A couple of days after the media wrote about the MP’s idea and two Chechen women were beaten up in the city.
“Of course it happens that some of the Chechens commit some minor offences, but in comparison to the crimes of some of local inhabitants, they don’t really pose much threat” – reassures Sławomir Dąbrowski, from the local police in Łomża.
Thomas Wilk, head of District Prosecutor’s Office in Lomza, said they have detained two local Polish youngs, both 19 years old. Two detaniees pleaded their guilty. They may face up to 3 years prison due to their act.