The Warsaw city hall has made numerous attempts in the past to delegalise the event, but the Independence March association, the organizer, has successfully challenged court decisions. Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, an arch conservative, said the march was an opportunity to show "unity and strength" at a time when Poland's sovereignty was no given, alluding to his critical view of the European Union. Critics at home and abroad have accused the government of fomenting homophobia during election campaigns. Since it came to power in 2015, the government has sought to instil more conservative, traditional family values in public life, including the introduction of a near-total ban an abortion. The annual event has become a point of friction between far-right groups and supporters of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on one side, and liberal Poles on the other. "Poland will be independent only if everybody's rights to life are equal and abortion is fully banned," said one marcher, Malgorzata Kurzeja, 42, an anti-abortion activist. Marchers, including families with children as well as representatives of far-right groups, waved white and red Polish flags and chanted "God, Honour, Homeland" as they walked through central Warsaw amid a heavy police presence. WARSAW, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Thousands of people gathered in Warsaw on Friday for an annual march organised by Poland's far-right to mark Independence Day, with a handful carrying white supremacist or anti-gay banners and firing off red flares.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |