Poland’s government is fast-tracking an amendment to the Penal Code that critics argue could curtail free speech and enable ideological censorship. Jerzy Kwaśniewski, President of the Ordo Iuris Institute, warns the bill mirrors restrictive laws in Germany and the UK, where individuals have faced legal action for expressing views on Christian ethics or controversial topics.
Pushed through parliament amidst holiday distractions, the proposed law aims to combat hate speech and crimes linked to homophobia and transphobia. Deputy Justice Minister Krzysztof Śmiszek has called these measures a “priority.” Critics, however, see them as a direct threat to fundamental freedoms, including the right to criticize political movements, gender ideology, or migration policies.
Kwaśniewski highlights that the bill could criminalize expressions such as banners opposing immigration or gender ideology. “What is a promise to LGBT activists is a threat to all of us—our freedom of speech, our freedom to proclaim and teach our faith, our freedom to speak the truth,” he asserts.
The Ordo Iuris Institute has mounted a strong opposition, producing analyses, writing opinions, and preparing arguments to defend free speech. A memorandum outlining their objections has been sent to every member of the Sejm, urging rejection of the bill.
Under the new law, police, prosecutors, judges, and educators would undergo training led by LGBT activists, emphasizing that dissent against “progressive” ideas equates to hate speech. Schools would also adopt programs to instill these values in children. Kwaśniewski likens this to a dystopian scenario where monitoring and punishment of “inappropriate” statements create an Orwellian society.
Critics contend the bill sacrifices constitutionally protected free speech to advance the interests of the LGBT lobby, destabilizing traditional concepts of gender. Dissent against policies like allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports or use women’s spaces could now be labeled as hate speech.
Kwaśniewski concludes with a stark warning: “Freedom of speech is the foundation of all civil rights. If we lose it, we’ll wake up in a totalitarian nightmare with no escape. We cannot allow this.”
The debate underscores the clash between combating discrimination and preserving the right to express diverse opinions.
