According to Reuters, Poland's Supreme Court has ruled that Adam "Nergal" Darski, frontman for Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH, committed a crime when when he called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during the band's September 2007 performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible, calling it "a book of lies."

A lower court will now decide if Darski is guilty of the crime, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail.

"[The decision] is negative and restricts the freedom of speech. The court decided that this is allowed in a democratic system," Jacek Potulski, a lawyer for Darski, told Reuters.

He added, "We are still arguing that we were dealing with art, which allows more critical and radical statements."

Ryszard Nowak, chairman of the privately run Nationwide Defence Committee Against Sects, told Polish television about today's court ruling, "The Supreme Court said clearly that there are limits for artists which cannot be crossed."

Back in August 2011, a Polish judge ruled that Darski's ripping up of a Bible during a show was a form of artistic expression consistent with the style of his band.

Judge Krzysztof Wieckowski said he considered Darski's actions "a form of art." He added that the court had no intention of limiting freedom of expression or the right to criticize religion.

The court said audience members who testified said their religious feelings had not been hurt despite the fact they were Christians.

Ryszard Nowak, chairman of the privately run Nationwide Defence Committee Against Sects, told Polish television about today's court ruling, "The Supreme Court said clearly that there are limits for artists which cannot be crossed."

Hopefully he'll get jailtime for his unnecessary and insolent attention seeking.

Hopefully he'll get jailtime for his unnecessary and insolent attention seeking.

At least he didn't come on stage with a giant swastika tattoo...

Oh wait. Taake already did that.

I really hope he doesn't go to jail for this, this whole thing just emphasizes what's wrong with organized religion and makes those of us non crazy Christians look bad.

You're an enemy of metal and maybe also a fascist.

Poland's Supreme Court has ruled that Adam "Nergal" Darski, frontman for Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH, committed a crime when when he called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during the band's September 2007 performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible, calling it "a book of lies."

A lower court will now decide if Darski is guilty of the crime

Freedom of speech ≠ freedom to insult anything

Insulting religion or an institution such as catholic church is a little different thing than insulting a person or a certain group of people but yeah I kind of understand why it is illegal.

This looks like a weird, faulty translation from Blabbermouth. If a court ruled he committed a crime, wouldn't it mean he is guilty? Doesn't make sense to me.

While I would tend to agree with you on this there is just one big problem with this whole thing, it was at a concert. I'm not defending
Behemoth here personally I don't care for them or their 'Christians to the lions' mentality but it isn't like Nergal was standing on the street corner it was at his show. If you go and see a band like Behemoth you know what you're getting yourself into, this would be like going and seeing a movie then deciding you didn't like the content and getting all up in arms over it. My point being while free speech gives you the right to say what ever the hell you want it does have limitations when you start infringing on others right not to hear what you have to say just not when you knowingly pay to hear said persons opinions.

Freedom of speech ≠ freedom to insult anything

Insulting religion or an institution such as catholic church is a little different thing than insulting a person or a certain group of people but yeah I kind of understand why it is illegal.

Insulting religion or an institution such as catholic church is a little different thing than insulting a person or a certain group of people but yeah I kind of understand why it is illegal.

Apparently, this poster also doesn't understand what the word "group" means.

If I ever visit Poland... I will take a Bible, preferably the exact kind of version Nergal tore up, and rip it to shreds and dump it on the front door of the Polish Supreme Court. I will then proceed to hold both of my middle fingers up and yell the F word at them. Then I'll probably awkwardly walk away as people stare at me and hop on the next train to Germany.

A Polish teenager who became pregnant after rape should have had unhindered access to an abortion, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.

The girl, who was then 14, was forced to have a clandestine abortion after harassment from pro-life groups led to her being turned away from hospitals.

The court ordered the Polish state to pay the teenager and her mother 61,000 euros (£49,000) in compensation.

Poland's abortion law is among the strictest in Europe.

Terminations are only permitted in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother or foetus is in danger.

I tried searching a Polish bill of rights on google, the most recent I found was something from 1573. This case is a good example of why every country should have a bill of rights that includes freedom of speech and expression.

Another crazy crazy country!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20143558