Behemoth’s Nergal acquitted of “offending religious feelings” due to penis crucifix
Nergal, aka Adam Darski from death metal band Behemoth, has been acquitted of charges of “offending religious feelings” in Poland.
A social media post made by the Polish musician was found where he was displaying a penis crucifix sex-toy sculpture, causing controversy among religious communities. However, Darski subsequently Nergal won an appeal for violating the Polish anti-blasphemy laws.
The laws state: “Whoever offends religious feelings of other people by publicly insulting an object of religious cult or a place for public holding of religious ceremonies, is subject to a fine, restriction of liberty or loss of liberty for up to 2 years.”
Of the three charges he faces, two ended in acquittal and the third was conditionally dropped. The charges Darksi faced stemmed from a post he published on International Women’s Day in 2018, where he waved around the penis crucifix while singing a children’s song.
Darski has since responded to his acquittal by posting a statement on social media, during this year’s International Women’s Day, which read: “In 2018, on this very day, I posted a silly video on Instagram, singing an old children’s song for Women’s Day while waving a certain artifact. Hardly high comedy, but was it blasphemous or shocking? I didn’t think so—but it was enough for a few clowns on the other side to take offense and run straight to court.”
The musician added: “A certain conservative MEP loudly vowed I’d end up in prison, while the ever-litigious Ordo Iuris joined the choir of the outraged. After years in court and tens of thousands zlotis spent on legal defense, I was fully acquitted just days ago.”
“The verdict is a bittersweet victory tho. I’m glad justice prevailed, glad I put my opponents in their place. But I still consider it as an absurd that a mediocre joke in this country can spiral into a costly, nerve-wracking legal battle. Nevertheless, to all the women out there… loooots of love,” he continued.
Darski concluded: “PS. The artifact in question is a stunning sculpture by my friend and Black Metal legend, Tom Gabriel Fischer. Right now, my lawyers are working to have it returned to me, as it was a personal gift from him.”
This isn’t the first time Darski has been embroiled in religious controversy. In 2007, he ripped up a Bible on stage and also shared a photo of his foot on a painting of the Virgin Mary. Elsewhere, he has faced charges for allegedly insulting the Polish coat of arms via Behemoth merch designs.
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