The Cabinet has decreed severe measures against members of the outlawed fascist anti-Semitic organizations, Ratnitzi and National Legion, in connection with anti-Jewish excesses here during the week of Yom Kippur, Jewish Day of Atonement.
At the end of a five-hour session, the Cabinet announced that persons continuing to participate in activities of the dissolved groups would be considered as conducting illegal political activities. Specific penalties were set for violation of the decree.
Student members of the outlawed organizations will be expelled from schools and universities. Officials will be dismissed from State and Municipal positions. Employes of public and private enterprises will be discharged from their jobs. All private persons openly or secretly helping the two organizations will be interned in labor camps. Application of the law will be particularly severe in the case of all those participating in riots or committing acts of violence.
More than 100 participants in the Yom Kippur riots were interned in concentration camps. The excesses broke out Sept. 20 following spread of a rumor, later officially denied by the police, that Jews had attacked and wounded a Bulgarian officer. After arresting the riot leaders, the police issued the following communique:
“We announce that following demonstrations in the capital against Jewish stores, conducted by certain, several groups of young men have been arrested and will, after investigation, be interned or sentenced to compulsory labor. The police wish the entire population to know that should similar demonstrations be repeated, drastic action will be taken to secure order and calm. Those caught participating in the riots will be treated as enemies of social order and will be interned. The rumor, spread maliciously that Jews have attacked and wounded an officer is completely false and we deny it categorically. No officer has been offended. It is clear that the rumor was spread by persons who wish to provoke and upset our normal life.”
The organ of the Reserve Officers, Otechestvo, published an editorial condemning anti-Semitic provocations as disturbing to the country.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
