Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Polish metal singer Nergal accused of blasphemy asks for legal defence funds

‘For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system,’ Behemoth frontman says

Samuel Osborne
Friday 26 February 2021 01:39 GMT
Comments
Frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski of Behemoth performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on 4 August, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski of Behemoth performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on 4 August, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

A Polish heavy metal singer has launched a legal defence fund after he was convicted for blasphemy in Poland.

Adam Darski, known as Nergal, is appealing against a conviction of offending religious sentiment after he posted an image on social media showing him stamping on a picture of the Virgin Mary.

"For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system," the Behemoth frontman tweeted. “The time for capitulation is over.”

Mr Darski was ordered to pay a fine of 15,000 zloty (£2,800) earlier this month, Polish media reported.

If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Mr Darski’s fundraising campaign has raised over £20,000 so far, with 1,112 donations.

On the page, he said Polish artists have been “ dragged into court rooms, at our own significant costs, to defend ourselves against nonsensical blasphemy laws made by tenuous politicans”.

“The time has come for Polish artists to fight back.”

He added: “Your donation will help fund a sustainable legal challenge to squash the existing and incoming bogus prosecutions.

“Help us reach the target so we can distribute to other artists facing their own legal challenges.”

Mr Darski posted the image of his foot stamping on a picture of the Virgin Mary in September.

An ultraconservative legal group, Ordo luris, then notified prosecutors and said he had “offended the religious feelings of four people,” state broadcaster TVP Info reported.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in