Artists, researchers exempt from penalties: new Polish anti-defamation law
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
29.01.2018 16:50
A controversial draft law approved by Poland’s MPs could mean a jail term for anyone who accuses the country of being complicit in Nazi crimes during World War II, but artists and researchers would be exempt, according to the wording of the bill.
The lower house of Poland's parliament in session on Friday. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kamiński
If enacted, the new regulations would carry penalties for anyone who publicly ascribes blame to the Polish nation or state for crimes committed by Nazi Germany.
The bill, which passed the lower house of Poland's parliament on Friday, has yet to be approved by the Senate, the upper house, and signed into law by the president.
Article 55a, clause 1, of the draft law states that “whoever accuses, publicly and against the facts, the Polish nation, or the Polish state, of being responsible or complicit in the Nazi crimes committed by the Third German Reich … or other crimes against peace and humanity, or war crimes, or otherwise grossly diminishes the actual perpetrators thereof, shall be subject to a fine or a penalty of imprisonment of up to three years.”
Clause 2 of the law says that those who “act unintentionally” would also be liable to punishment.
Clause 3 reads that “the perpetrator of the offence referred to in clauses 1 and 2 is not committing a crime if he or she commits such an act as part of artistic or scientific activities.”
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(gs/pk)
Source: Polish Radio