Image: Behemoth - Official press photo
Behemoth, the titans of Polish black metal, have achieved a remarkable victory in a prolonged legal battle against the Polish government. Learn more about this case here:
Behemoth, the heavyweights of Polish black metal, have secured an impressive success in an enduring legal dispute. The band was at the center of a legal conflict with the Polish government over allegations of desecrating the national emblem on one of their T-shirts. The court has now ruled that the depiction of the emblem on the merchandise is to be considered artistic expression, thereby acquitting Behemoth. This victory marks a significant moment for artistic freedom in the music world.
What Happened?
In 2017, Behemoth frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski, their merch designer Rafal Wechterowicz, and webmaster Maciej G. were targeted by the Polish government. The accusation: they had desecrated the national emblem of Poland on a band T-shirt. However, the charges, which have been dropped twice since then, did not deter the band.
Court Decision: A Strike for Freedom
A recent decision by the court determined that the controversial graphic on the T-shirt does not violate the official Polish emblem, but should be viewed as an artistic creation. This clears the way for Behemoth to reintroduce the design in their merch store – a true victory over the "superstitious tyrants," as Nergal put it.
Band’s Reaction
On Instagram, Nergal shared the news and thanked the metal community for their unwavering support: “ANOTHER VICTORY FOR ORDO BLASFEMIA! Thanks to your immense support, we have finally ended this nonsense after 8 years.” Nergal also emphasized their pride in honoring their Polish heritage and criticized the accusations as "spawned from pure Christian malice."
The Echo from the Polish Government
The official statement from the government confirms that the contentious graphic in no way represents the official emblem and thus provides no grounds for prosecution. This decision underscores the importance of artistic freedom and highlights that the creative representation of symbols is not necessarily an insult.
"Article 28, section 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland states that the emblem of the Republic of Poland is the image of a white eagle with a crown in a red field . The above provision is further specified in the Act of 31 January 1980 in Article 2, section 1, where it is stated that the emblem of the Republic of Poland is 'the image of a white eagle with a golden crown on its head turned to the right, with spread wings, a golden beak and talons, placed in a red field of the shield'. Referring the above, very precise definition of the emblem to the disputed graphic, the Prosecutor found that the disputed graphic is an artistic creation, but is not the emblem of the Republic of Poland.
"Thus, in this case, there is no subject matter that could be affected by the accused's alleged causative act. In other words, the accused could not have insulted the coat of arms of the Republic of Poland, because the graphic in question was not the coat of arms. It should also be emphasized that the analysis of the creative process of the disputed artistic installation has shown beyond any doubt that the discussed product was not created as a result of transforming the coat of arms of the Republic of Poland, and at most refers to the coat of arms."
A Victory for Behemoth and Metal Fans Worldwide
This court victory is not only a triumph for Behemoth but also a powerful statement against the censorship of art and music. In times when artistic expression is increasingly under pressure, this case demonstrates the strength and influence of the metal community, which refuses to be subdued. So, raise your fists, crack open a beer, and celebrate this historic win – for Behemoth, for metal, and for the freedom of art. Hail Satan! Hail Freedom!
