Nationwide Anti-Immigrant Protests Erupt in Poland

Anti-immigrant rallies organized by the far-right Konfederacja group have sparked protests in numerous Polish cities, including a major turnout of about 3,000 in Katowice. Despite claims of escalating illegal immigration, official data reveals a decline in migrant figures this year.

Anti-immigration demonstrations swept across Poland, with protests occurring in various towns and cities on Saturday. Among these, the largest gathering took place in Katowice, where police estimated around 3,000 participants, primarily organized by the far-right political group Konfederacja alongside other nationalist organizations.

Politicians associated with Konfederacja and the opposition Law and Justice party have expressed concerns over what they describe as an impending flood of illegal migration. Yet, supporters of the ruling coalition point out that official statistics do not corroborate these fears. "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without starting deportation campaigns, without abandoning political correctness... security will gradually deteriorate," asserted Konfederacja co-chairman Krzysztof Bosak during a rally in Bialystok.

Some protests observed a moment of silence to honor a 24-year-old Polish woman who was murdered in Torun, highlighting the complex social issues tied to these demonstrations. In Poland's capital, rival protests unfolded in close proximity, yet reports suggested they occurred without violence. Following an incident related to the murder case, authorities arrested a Venezuelan suspect.

While immigration to Poland has seen an uptick over the last decade, current findings indicate that this year's migration rates actually fall below those of preceding years. Earlier in the month, Poland had implemented stricter border inspections with Germany and Lithuania, as Germany has also begun to tighten its own asylum policies. Moreover, Poland temporarily halted the right of migrants entering through Belarus to apply for asylum, accentuating the ongoing tension surrounding immigration policies in the region.