WARSAW, Poland (JTA) — Polish President Andrzej Duda has withheld his signature on the paperwork needed to name Jewish scholar Michal Bilewicz a professor at the University of Warsaw.
Under Polish law, the president of the country must ultimately sign off on awarding professorships.
Bilewicz, who has been heavily involved in combating anti-Semitism, racism and hate speech, and studies anti-Semitic attitudes in Polish society, is the head of the Center for Research on Prejudice at the University of Warsaw. In 2018, the Central Commission for Degrees and Titles approved Bilewicz to receive the title of professor. In November 2018, the documents were sent to the Chancellery of the Polish President. However, they have not yet been accepted or signed.
A few days ago, while trying to set a date for consideration of the application, Bilewicz received a letter from the office of the president saying that “the regulations do not specify the date on which the President of the Republic of Poland is obliged to issue a decision on granting the academic title of professor.” He posted parts of the letter on social media.
Bilewicz deals with the study of modern anti-Semitism and has been criticized by some Polish right-wing politicians. Polish nationalists slammed Bilewicz for saying at a 2018 conference at the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews that some politicians are gaining popularity among voters because of anti-Semitism. He provided examples of contemporary anti-Semitism among Polish media, well-known celebrities and politicians.
The conference was organized on the 50th anniversary of the anti-Semitic campaign in March 1968.
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