Polish official Marcin Przydacz has criticized the United Kingdom for the detention of Confederation leader Sławomir Mentzen at a London airport during his recent visit to the country.
Detention at London Airport
On Friday, May 8, Sławomir Mentzen arrived in the United Kingdom with his wife and children for a weekend trip. During passport control, he was detained for questioning and spent over three hours at a London airport.
Mentzen reported that following his detention, he was left without information in a room with arrivals from the Middle East. He described the situation as “grotesque” when an official informed him they were unsure why he was being held.
Allegations of Political Targeting
An official reportedly told Mentzen that he had been “flagged by an organization,” leading to questions regarding his travel purpose, accommodation, and whether he intended to speak at any political events. Mentzen characterized the United Kingdom as a “totalitarian state,” suggesting the detention was a preventative measure to stop him from making public statements.
He added that the state has no problem with being colonized by Indians and Arabs, but was specifically concerned that he might want to speak to people at a political meeting he had no intention of attending.
Official Response and Political Support
Marcin Przydacz stated that individuals should not be treated this way solely due to their political views. He indicated he would inform the British side of the inadequacy of such measures and their negative impact on the image of their ally in the eyes of Poles.
Mentzen expressed gratitude to Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Consul Agnieszka Fabryczewska, and ministers Marcin Przydacz and Adam Andruszkiewicz for their interest and the promise of appropriate actions from the Presidential Office.
