Poland's proposed hate speech law, penalizing offensive remarks against LGBT and others, ignites fierce debates over free speech and religious freedom.
Poland’s new left-leaning government is pioneering an unprecedented crackdown on so-called “hate speech.” Newly proposed legislation could result in three-year imprisonment sentences for individuals accused of delivering offensive remarks against members of the LGBT community. The fresh approach to law enforcement has been attributed to the left’s successful rise to power, fulfilling earlier calls for rigid speech control.
The Polish Ministry of Justice has put forth a draft amendment on hate speech for public viewing on the official Government Legislation Center website. This proposed legislation targets not only hate speech related to sexual orientation and gender identity, but expands its scope to include offenses against age, disability, and gender.
