Teenager Destroyed Church Crucifix

Case information
Incident date
Country
Poland
Place
Pińczyce
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Desecration
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Public Christian Symbol
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Censorship or Removal of Public Christian Symbols
Place of Incident
  • Public Christian Symbol (outside place of worship)
Bias Indicators
  • Lack of Other Motive
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: M.niedziela.pl

Adam K., a 17-year-old was charged with destroying a statue of Christ in the Mikołów district during July. He unscrewed the metal cross, which he then used to smash the statue with, and then threw the shards into the field. Despite his claims that he did it because of alcohol intoxication rather than hate for religion, he has been charged with "insulting religious feelings by publicly defacing an object of religious reverence by destroying it."

During an investigation, the plastic head of the Christ figure was found in his living quarters. He could face up to two years in prison.

Source: M.niedziela.pl