The Ministry of Justice of Poland has introduced a draft bill that proposes harsh penalties for “homophobic statements based on hate.”
If the bill is passed, any criticism of the LGBT+ community in the country could lead to criminal prosecution. Under the new proposal, strict sanctions will be imposed for hate crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. The bill has already been discussed by the government and will soon be reviewed by the Sejm (Polish parliament).
This proposal comes amid incidents such as the one in Berlin, where a bus passenger recorded a conversation on her smartphone that included homophobic remarks. After one of the women noticed she was being filmed, she began to insult the other passenger and was later detained by the police on suspicion of inciting hatred.
With the introduction of these new laws in Poland, criticism of the LGBT+ community could become a criminal offense, sparking lively debates about citizens rights and freedoms.
