Category: Poland
-
Poland’s Virgin Mary case: our barbaric blasphemy laws need revoking
CN: this article contains discussion of sexual abuse and homophobia OPINION On the 2 March 2021 a Polish court acquitted activists Joanna Gzyra-Iskandar, Anna Prus and Elżbieta Podleśna. They had been put on trial for ‘offending religious feelings‘, after using the image of the Virgin Mary whose halo displayed the colours of the LGBTQ+ pride rainbow flag,…
-
Examining the oppression of Polish socialism offers answers to Poland’s socio-economic woes
OPINION Socialism and the struggle for self-determination in Poland always went hand in hand. However, every time the country regained its autonomy it ended up rejecting democratic and egalitarian ideals. This was the case after Poland gained its independence in 1918, following over a century of foreign rule. In the nineteenth century socialist activists, including Józef…
-
PiS’ proposed ‘free speech’ law: state hypocrisy and a radical right-wing agenda
OPINION Following the storming of the Capitol building in Washington, Twitter, followed by other social media outlets, took the decision to suspend Donald Trump’s accounts, sparking an international debate regarding freedom of speech. The Polish government gave its contribution to this debate in the form of its proposed social media ‘free speech’ law. The law…
-
Interview: Polish feminist movement vows to enter Parliament and bring down far-right, Catholic government
VIDEO As Poland’s near total abortion ban now comes into effect, Politika News speaks with Wiktoria Sakowicz, a loyal activist of the rising feminist movement, Gals4Gals. Sakowicz explains why Polish women have never been more vulnerable and how the movement, responsible for the largest protests in the city of Lodz since 1981, is planning to…
-
Young Polish progressives dismiss an EU incapable of punishing corruption
OPINION Why are young progressives in Poland growing disillusioned with the European Union? In December of last year, the Union was plunged into yet another crisis when Poland and Hungary vetoed the EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund. This was done in response to a proposed mechanism which sought to make access to EU funds…
-
An interview with Polish abortion rights protesters: ‘the Church and politicians will kill women in Poland’
INTERVIEW As Poland’s right-wing PiS (Law and Justice) government puts on hold the implementation of a new court ruling that would outlaw almost all abortions, Politika News talks to Polish women who have been protesting over the last week. They try to put into words their anger and fatigue, as well as what life for…
-
In the midst of the Belarus protests, Poland’s Ostpolitik requires rethinking
OPINION The hesitation of Polish diplomats during 2020 Belarusian protests exposes a deeper crisis in the Polish approach towards its Eastern neighbours. Meanwhile, Lithuanian diplomacy has proved to be surprisingly active and effective. What is the source of this difference and what are the main motives behind Poland’s Eastern policy? Only two weeks ago Zbigniew…
the scroll 