"The same communities which late utilized vulgar terms towards political opponents and defamed St.John Paul II, fought the Church and wounded the feelings of believers – present under the slogans of fighting the alleged hatred speech they want to close their mouths to their opponents" - emphasized activists of the underground Independent Association of Students of the University of Wrocław. erstwhile oppositionists appeal to president Andrzej Duda to veto the alleged “talk of hatred”.
[PUBLISHING FULL CONTENT OF APPEL]
Dear Mr President,
We, the undersigned activists of the underground Independent Student Association of the University of Wrocław, powerfully protest attempts to introduce censorship in our Homeland. After the systemic transformation, despite the restrictions on the dominance of liberal-left media, we regained the right to freedom of speech. The pluralism we fought for has prevailed. Poles could – write, read, listen, speak, display and evidence content – according to their beliefs.
Unfortunately, on March 6, 2025, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland passed the alleged so-called "Citizen's Coalition, Left and 3rd Way". A law against hatred speech, whose intention is to prosecute on an ex officio basis for offences caused by prejudice due to disability, age, sex and "sexual orientation". peculiar attention is paid in the passed law to the criterion of sex and "sexual orientation", which is simply a way to respond to the demands of LGBT communities and to favour this community. According to the provisions of the Act, “for incitement to hatred and public insults due to belonging to these groups” will be punishable from 3 months to 5 years in prison.
A well-known writer Paweł Lisicki raised the question, "Will prosecutors prosecute for quoting St Paul?". Will criticism of homosexual behavior, alleged transsexuality, LGBT ideology now mean "public insult"? The provisions of the passed law endanger to close the mouth of citizens who think otherwise, to violate freedom of religion (the Bible explicitly condemns homosexual acts), to restrict freedom of investigation and to suppress public debate. They hit the constitutional rule of freedom of expression – the Constitution in a11. 54.
The coalition of 13 December is allowed to violate laws, lies, manipulation and verbal aggression against political and ideological competitors. Now the threat of prison is threatening people with different beliefs. The same communities, which late utilized profane terms towards political opponents and defamed St.John Paul II, fought the Church and wounded the feelings of believers – present under the slogans of fighting against the alleged hatred speech they want to close their mouths to their opponents.
In the 1980s, at hazard of repression of the communist apparatus of violence, we participated in the fight for freedom of speech. We printed independent publications, sold flyers, painted anti-system slogans on walls. We are now seeing with large concern attempts to copy Western solutions limiting the freedom of public debate and breaking citizens' consciences.
The first Republic was celebrated for its tolerance and respect for individual freedom – it was referred to as “a state without stacks”. Enjoying this tradition and the past of the conflict for freedom in times of partitions, German occupation, russian business and in times of the Polish People's Republic – Poland should be a arrogant example for another countries and nations to safeguard freedom of speech. It is worth recalling the words of the outstanding Polish poet Jan Kochanowski, who wrote:
I am pleased with this rhythm: "Poland wise after injury":
But if the fact and it makes us sick,
A fresh parable a Pole will buy,
That's not bad, that's stupid.
We so call on the president to veto this highly harmful law if it were passed by Parliament.
Adamska Grażyna
Artur Adamski
Darius Boho
Robert Chmielarczyk
Indigenous carpenter
Eugeniusz Deduszko – Wierciński
Jan Franczak
Peter Galik
Tomasz Głowiński
Alicja Grzyrnalska
Roman Kowalczyk
Bernadette Kruk-Manasterska Piotr Krukowski
Halina Krukowska
Visitor Malinowski
Andrzej Manasterski
Dariusz Shrine
Magdalena Wargin
Krzysztof Zychla
Marek Hackerner
Janina Pieńkowska
Robert Pieńkowski
Robert Juszczyk
“The speech of hatred” and “the integrity of information”. Tusk tools for defending democracy
