Dozens of protesters tried Friday to stop the arrest by Polish police of an LGBT rights activist in Warsaw, after a court ordered her to jail her for two months in preventive detention. The activist, who identifies as a woman, by the name of Margo, was however brought under her male identity in court.
Read also: Poland: three people indicted for draping Christ with a rainbow flag
She is accused of causing damage to a van with homophobic inscriptions in Warsaw in June, and of intentionally pushing an anti-abortion foundation volunteer to own the van. “During the activist's arrest, the crowd hampered police action. Interventions are underway against the most aggressive people. There will be no tolerance for breaking the law, ” Warsaw police wrote on Twitter after dozens of protesters momentarily blocked the police car taking Margo away.
Pre-trial detention, usually used to prevent a new crime from being committed, is a “repressive” measure, according to the activist quoted by the PAP news agency before her arrest. "I would like to see dangerous criminals pursued as fiercely as activists," said Hanna-Gil Piatek, a left-wing elected official present at the demonstration. Margo is part of an activist group called "Stop the Absurdity" , suspected of decorating several monuments in Warsaw including a statue of Jesus Christ with LGBT flags and anarchist symbols last week.
Prosecutors have launched proceedings against three people in the case for desecrating monuments and offending religious sentiments. The van of the anti-abortion association “Foundation pro-right to life” circulates frequently in the center of Warsaw, covered with posters linking homosexuality and pedophilia, and uttering homophobic slogans.