I do not agree with totalitarianism in universities funded from the state budget – Education and Science Minister Przemysław Czarnek said on Wednesday when asked about the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Warsaw University Disciplinary Committee against Oskar Szafarowicz.
On Tuesday, the Interia.pl portal reported that the Warsaw University Disciplinary Commission was launching disciplinary proceedings against Oskar Szafarowicz, a young PiS activist. His harsh language on social media was supposed to alarm the university.
During the press conference, Czarnek was asked about his Twitter message, in which he wrote, among other things, that the university’s disciplinary committee should not interfere politically on any side.
I intend to stand up for freedom of speech in Poland. Poland is a democratic, law-abiding country with free media that can come to the conference and ask what people want from the government. This is not the case in Germany or France, where some facts are hidden, for example about rape of women, about incidents involving migrants. You shouldn’t criticize this, this multiculturalism, because you can be punished for it
said the minister.
He added that “Poland is a country of law and freedom of expression.” According to Czarnek, “if at the University of Warsaw a student, who is not a student at the time, but just on his Twitter, speaks out on current affairs and the disciplinary committee deals with it, this is totalitarian action.”
I do not agree with totalitarianism in universities funded from the state budget
– emphasized the head of the Ministry of State and National Education.
“No to totalitarian action”
Czarnek announced that in a “very sharp speech to the rector” he would write: “no to totalitarian action and political action by left-wing disciplinary committees.” According to the minister, even if “this is a left-wing action by a small part of the community of the University of Warsaw”, there is no permission for it.
The academic freedom package introduces the space of academic freedom
– added.
According to the head of the Ministry of State and National Education, “If Mr. Szafarowicz has offended or harmed anyone, that’s what the court is for, to put him there and claim his rights if necessary.”
That is not what the disciplinary committee of the university is for, because that is how we put an end to freedom of expression, freedom of religion, the right to express your philosophical beliefs in public space. The purpose of the university is not to destroy our freedom, but to expand it
Black emphasized.
On Tuesday, the Interia.pl portal reported that the Warsaw University Disciplinary Commission was launching disciplinary proceedings against Oskar Szafarowicz, a young PiS activist. When informing and conducting proceedings, Interia referred to Szafarowicz’s entry on social media.
On August 9, 2023, it was decided to start the proceedings of the Warsaw University Disciplinary Committee with the prospect of punishing me with the most severe expulsion from the University, including
— mentions a submission by Szafarowicz from Interia.pl.
Referring to this information, the Minister of Education and Science invited the activist to a meeting where the Minister’s speech to the Rector of Warsaw University on this matter will be discussed.
READ ALSO: Minister Czarnek defends Szafarowicz: The disciplinary committee of the university should not engage in politics
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Source: wPolityce