Poland / I instance: Regional Court in Bialystok / Ref. no. VII K 285/14 / II instance: District Court in Bialystok / Ref. no. VIII Ka 157/16

Country

Poland

Title

Poland / I instance: Regional Court in Bialystok / Ref. no. VII K 285/14 / II instance: District Court in Bialystok / Ref. no. VIII Ka 157/16

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Year

2016

Decision/ruling/judgment date

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Incident(s) concerned/related

Incitement to violence or hatred

Related Bias motivation

Religion

Groups affected

Muslims

Court/Body type

National Court

Court/Body

I instance: Regional Court in Bialystok, II instance: District Court in Bialystok

Key facts of the case

In the period of 2009-2011, the accused was posting offensive statements on various Internet websites, inciting hatred towards Chechens and insulting them due to their religion, nationality and migration status (refugees and asylum-seekers).

Main reasoning/argumentation

The Regional Court established that comments of the accused posted on the Internet directly concerned Chechens and that words used by the accused in the public discourse were clearly pejorative and abusive within the meaning of Article 257 of the Criminal Code. The accused aimed at discrediting the Chechen minority as a nation and to demonstrate the superiority of the Polish nation over them. The accused lodged an appeal. However, the District Court upheld the judgement of the I instance court.

Is the case related to the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, the Racial Equality Directive?

Key issues (concepts, interpretations) clarified by the case

The right to freedom of expression is not unlimited.

Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case

The accused was sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment. The sentence was suspended for the probation period of 2 years.

Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details

"Nie jest absolutnie intencją Sądu Odwoławczego w niniejszej sprawie kwestionowanie bądź odbieranie oskarżonemu (...) prawa do krytyki oraz do wolności wyrażania i głoszenia poglądów (art. 54 Konstytucji RP), tym nie mniej jednak wyrok niniejszy winien być czytelnym i jasnym sygnałem, iż owo fundamentalne prawo obywatela, nie może być uznawane za prawo w żaden sposób i niczym nieograniczone."

"It is not an intention of the Court to deprive the accused of (…) the right to criticism and the freedom of expression (Article 54 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland). However, this verdict must be a clear signal that this fundamental right of a citizen cannot be considered as unrestricted".

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