Poland: Photojournalist Agata Grzybowska Acquitted on Appeal after Controversial Conviction of Assaulting Police
The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the acquittal but believes the journalist should have never been arrested
Location: Poland, Warsaw
Date: October 31, 2023
In a significant reversal, Agata Grzybowska, an award-winning Polish photojournalist previously convicted of assaulting a police officer during the 2020 abortion protests, has been acquitted on appeal. The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the court’s decision and urges authorities to take note: journalism is not a crime.
The conviction of a photojournalist, previously charged with assaulting a police officer during coverage of abortion protests in Poland, has been successfully overturned upon appeal. The journalist's initial arrest three years ago sparked widespread condemnation from colleagues and press freedom organizations, including the Coalition For Women In Journalism.
Agata Grzybowska, a renowned photojournalist with the RATS agency, was detained in October 2020 during a demonstration against Poland's restrictive abortion law. Grzybowska was in the midst of covering the protest when she was forcibly taken into custody despite presenting her press card to law enforcement.
Grzybowska's encounter with the police was sparked by an officer alleging that the flash from her camera posed a threat. Following her detainment, the journalist took to Facebook, detailing her traumatic experience: "Despite showing my press ID, I was brutally thrown into a police van... They tried to convince me to plead guilty,” she wrote.
A photo of Grzybowska pressing her credentials against the police vehicle's window moments before her detainment went viral. RATS Agency's subsequent video release captures onlookers decrying her arrest, with shouts of “she is a journalist, don’t touch her!” echoing amidst the chaos.
The ordeal garnered widespread attention. Over 600 journalists condemned the police's actions. Media entities and opposition figures alike critiqued their approach.
The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party's spokesperson, Radosław Fogiel, was quick to assert that Grzybowska had physically attacked an officer. The district court in Warsaw also initially sided with the police. Grzybowska was slapped with a $500 fine and ordered to compensate the officer and cover the trial expenses.
Jacek Dubois, Grzybowska's attorney, lambasted the ruling as one that endorsed "violence against women."
In a subsequent appeal, justice prevailed, with Grzybowska's conviction being reversed. Dubois, in comments to Gazeta Wyborcza, criticized the police's tactics, emphasizing their lack of legality and respect for citizens.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism applauds the court's verdict and emphasizes to the authorities that journalism is not a criminal act. The latest court ruling offers a glimmer of hope for press freedom, but it also underscores the challenges journalists face in an increasingly polarized political climate.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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