Police in the Polish capital Warsaw have detained 48 activists who were protesting the anti-LGBTQ+ regime of president Andrzej Duda who was re-elected last month, giving him another five years in office. The protestors attempted to stop the police from arresting three activists who were prosecuted for hanging rainbow flags off of multiple statues in Warsaw; one of these activists- Margot- has now been detained for two months in police facilities.
Dunja Mijatovic, the commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, has referred to the detention of the activists as a ‘very chilling signal’ for LGBTQ+ rights in Poland and has called for the release of Margot immediately. The ruling nationalist Law and Justice party has described LGBTQ+ equality is part of an ‘invasive foreign ideology that undermines traditional Polish values’, and president Duda has actively spoken out against the LGBTQ+ community.
Duda was sworn in as president on Thursday 6 August causing some queer Polish citizens to prepare to flee the country as they fear for their safety under Duda’s anti-LGBTQ+ regime. However Polish MPs retaliated at Duda’s swearing in by donning brightly coloured outfits and rainbow facemasks to demonstrate solidarity with Poland’s queer community.
