More Than One Thousand Negative Opinions Regarding Chechens
The Polish foundation, “Wiedza Lokalna” (Local Knowledge) monitored websites from the Podlaskie region for three years in order to conduct a project. Their report show that there are approximately 1,100 negative expressions regarding Chechens in the region.
The project was run from 2008 until 2010 by monitoring the websites of three regional newspapers and a local internet forum. They searched entries about Chechen refugees, mainly those living in the cities of Łomża and Białystok.
The study says that 1,100 entries can be classified as “hostile language” and “hate speech” with some “calling for actions against minorities”. The statements about Chechen asylum seekers were concerned with economic matters, the benefits received by refugees and their private lives. In these entries, Chechens were excessively called “Parasites”, “Cockroaches”, “Slatterns” or “Terrorists”.
The research clearly shows that asylum seekers are not just trying to survive in bad living conditions in Poland, but they are also facing a Polish society which has problems with refugees. The Polish government does not know how to solve the problem.
*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco
I’m from Poland. It’s true, that many people from here have negative attitude to refugees. It’s because they are jealous of social benefits etc. Unfortunately, a lot of people in my country are poor and they aren’t well-educated, especially in eastern regions such as Podlaskie.
But I can’t agree that Polish government doesn’t know how to solve the problem. Government spent a lot of money to support non-government organizations which are helping refugees. They are monitoring attitude of Poles, because it could help to change image of Chechen refugee, for instance by: education, integrating workshops, cultural and artistic events.
I know many people which are supporting refugees from Chechnya. Because you are our friends! And we are trying to explain true about Chechens and we don’t allow to offend you! We understand, that Poland and Chechnya have similar history, so nobody better than Poles understand difficulty of refugees situation.
I had (many times) argument on some websites, while I was trying to protect refugees. But when I read here, that you know about this bad things that my compatriots are writing, I feel ashamed of them!
And I want to say sorry in name of them.
Best wishes from your Polish friend!