Polish anti-gay ‘fascist’ prevented from attending event at Aberystwyth University
A Polish far-right leader accused of homophobia and anti-Semitism had his invitation to hold a talk at Aberystwyth University withdrawn last week following protests by campaigners.
Around 50 LGBT activists staged a protest last Friday evening to demonstrate against the visit by Robert Winnicki.
University worker Ruth Fowler said: “From what I have read and heard about Robert Winnicki, he is a fascist who compares his treatment of gay people to the way Hitler treated the Jewish community. I am not used to hearing these kind of extremist views and I find it very upsetting and distressing. These kind of extremist views are exactly what I’m fighting against.”
Cambrian News reports Mr Winnicki ended up holding a private event in front of around 10 people in someone’s home.
Aberystwyth University said the talk was arranged by a society which is not recognised either by the university or the students’ union.
“The university has a strong equality and diversity ethos and cannot condone any event which is perceived as a breach of such practices”, a university spokesperson added.
According to campaign group Hope Not Hate, Mr Winnicki is the honorary president of Młodzież Wszechpolska (MW) which translates as The All Polish Youth Movement, an organisation that has been widely condemned as homophobic by various organisations including Amnesty International and the United Nations.
In recent years members of MW have been accused of attacking LGBT activists in Pride marches throughout Poland.
