In the Sejm, there is a bill that, among other things, bans “insulting or ridiculing” churches, their dogmas and rites. Since no one apart from the prosecutor or judge handling a given case knows exactly what will be considered “insulting or ridiculing,” in practice every criticism and every joke about the Church and religion could be deemed such if the prosecutor or judge so decides.
The bill that right-wing parliamentarians want to pass has faced criticism from a number of social organizations, commentators and lawyers. The Supreme Court also expressed a negative opinion of the bill.
In the video below, Karol Fiałkowski, who deals with matters concerning religion on a daily basis, explains what it is about and what proposal he has on the matter in today’s political reality.
The petition’s authors propose adding the following to the planned provision of the Criminal Code:
Anyone who publicly insults or ridicules a church or another religious association with a regulated legal status, its dogmas or rites shall be subject to a fine, a restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
add a paragraph:
The expression of a conviction, assessment or critical opinion concerning a church or another religious association with a regulated legal status, its dogmas or rites, accompanied by at least one substantive argument in support of that conviction, assessment or opinion, may not be considered an insult or ridicule.
The petition defending freedom of speech on matters concerning the Church and religion in Poland can be signed at: petycjeonline.com – Defending freedom of speech on matters concerning the Church and religion in Poland.