Open Republic Association against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia expresses deep concern and protest regarding the trial against professors Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski, editors and co-authors of the work NIGHT without an END. Fate of Jews in selected counties of occupied Poland.

The defendants are recognized scholars, who in their works give a close view to the multi-plot and complicated history of the Holocaust of Jews in the territory of occupied Poland – both, heinous and heroic events, e.g. activities of the Righteous. The claimant is a relative of one of the persons, whose actions from the war time – based on the sources researched by the scholars – were described in the book. It was not a clear-cut activity: on the one hand it was help granted to a Jewish woman in her escape from death threatening her from the Nazis, and on the other – suspicions formulated by a witness about handing over to the Germans several dozen Jews hiding in the forest. The authors of the publications are charged with infringement of personal rights of the claimant, violation of the right to memory cult of the dead person and offence against the right to pride and national identity.

The Open Republic Association reminds that the Constitutional Act of the Republic of Poland  guarantees freedom of scientific research. In a democratic state the court cannot be the place of sorting out disputes related to the results of research and interpretation thereof. Scientific publications being the effect of many-year-long work and archival queries may be a starting point for discussions and polemics, but not the subject of court dispute.

The Open Republic Association expresses its respect and appreciation of the work of professors Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski.

On behalf of Open Republic Association against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia

Paula Sawicka – Chairwoman of the Programme Board

 Marek Gumkowski – President of the Board