Tuesday. 10.12.2024

Several activists arrested for placing the rainbow flag of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement on public monuments in Warsaw last week are out of police custody, authorities said on Wednesday.

Two women and one man were released, a spokesperson of the Warsaw police said.

The activists were accused of offending religious sentiments and profaning monuments, the police said, adding that further arrests remained possible.

Rainbow flags, anarchist symbols and written manifestos were placed on several monuments in the Polish capital last week, including the sculpture of Jesus in front of the Holy Cross Church in central Warsaw.

LGBT organizations had at first reported the arrest of only two activists. A third activist was arrested on Wednesday.

The activist organizations and representatives of the opposition alliance Citizen Coalition (KO) said the authorities' approach was an attempt at intimidation.

Presidential campaign

The topic of LGBT rights returned to prominence in Poland during the presidential campaign, when President Andrzej Duda lashed out at such groups several times.

"They try to tell us they are people. But it is just an ideology," Duda said with regard to LGBT individuals.

He was re-elected to a second term on July 12 in a tight race with liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.

Polish police free activists arrested for rainbow flag displays