Authorities in Poland kick off the trial of three human rights' activists for defiling religious symbols and insulting religious sentiments as they printed out posters of the Virgin Mary with the LGBT flag on her head.
During the trial the female-activists, Elżbieta, Anna and Joanna, revealed they edited the original pictures of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa carrying baby Jesus back in 2019. They currently face a two-year sentence.
In #Poland female activist was today arrested for making this picture! @jbrudzinski, minister of the interior says that it offence Black Madonna of Częstochowa.
— coup-de-suck (@TMalenkowicz) May 6, 2019
Lets share and spread this image! And show that #Rainbowisnotoffence #TeczaNieObraza pic.twitter.com/Rxa6Y1PvAd
According to Article 196 of the Polish Criminal Code offending any religious sentiments is prohibited. The Polish Catholic Church and ruling nationalists also oppose any gay rights, which are symbolized by the rainbow flag.
Users across the social media spectrum shared different opinions on this with some referring to it as shameful, while others supporting the women and their rights of expression.
The person suspected of making posters with rainbows added to the halos of the Virgin Mary and Jesus has been arrested.
— Notes from Poland ?? (@notesfrompoland) May 6, 2019
'Freedom and "tolerance" don't give the right to offend the feelings of the faithful [a crime in Poland],' says the interior minister https://t.co/6PBcvcYS1v
The case originally dates back to 2019 with the posters found in a garbage and toilet boxes beside a church in Płock, Poland.
