Poland: Photojournalist Agata Grzybowska Detained At Protest Site Despite Showing Her Press Card

Location: Poland, Warsaw
Date: November 25, 2020

Available in:  🇵🇱  Polska

PHOTO CREDIT: POLISH ASSOCIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Agata Grzybowska, a photojournalist for RATS agency, was detained while covering a recent protest in the capital city. The demonstration was in protest of the restrictive abortion law, calling for the resignation of Minister of Education, Przemysław Czarnek. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) observes with great concern an evident surge in police violence used against the participants and the press in Poland. Agata Grzybowska was detained, forced into a police van and taken to a police station, despite showing her press card to the officers. CFWIJ is alarmed by the disrespectful and aggressive behavior towards the journalist and urges the authorities to ensure that press freedom in Poland is respected.

The aforementioned protest took place on Monday, November 24 in front of the Ministry of National Education. The outcry was prompted by the recent statements made by Minister of Education Przemysław Czarnek, who announced the establishment of consequences for teachers and students who openly support the Women's Strike in Poland. This could lead to the limitation of freedom of expression and introducing a rule of marginalizing (or even punishing) certain opinions. Schools should be a place to share different views and encourage independent thinking. The participants who gathered in front of the Ministry of National Education demanded the resignation of the minister. The people used this occasion to reiterate their objection towards banning abortion in Poland and demanded access to unbiased and professional sex education for students, free from religious ideals.

Agata Grzybowska, an experienced photojournalist for RATS agency, was confronted by a police officer while taking pictures of the demonstration outside the Ministry of Education. The police officer claimed that the lamp on her camera was dangerous. She was then detained and taken to a police station. Although she was ultimately released, “another border has been crossed” she says.

Agata described the whole situation in a Facebook post: “While I was doing my job, photographing a protest in front of the Ministry of Education, I was attacked by a police officer because when I was taking the photo, I flashed the lamp in his face. Then, despite showing my press ID, I was brutally thrown into a police van where they were trying to tell me that I was the aggressor. I was then taken to the police station at Wilcza, where I was accused of assaulting a policeman. They tried to convince me to plead guilty.” she wrote emphasizing that she did not admit to the charges against her.

The photo of Agata showing her press card shortly before being captured has been circulated over the news and social media. In the video released by RATS Agency, we can hear people in the crowd screaming: “she is a journalist, don’t touch her!”. The fact that proving her journalistic identity didn't prevent police officers from detaining her is especially worrisome. This incident sets a dangerous precedent for behaviours that will be tolerated with impunity.

The police have a different view of the situation. The Chief Commandant’s police spokesman, Mariusz Ciarka, stated that “the press card or any other document does not absolve us from responsibility for suspecting a crime”. He stressed that at the time of the arrest, the policemen did not know that Agata was a photojournalist.

In her statement, Agata thanked everybody who stood in solidarity with her during the unexpected detention by gathering at the police station at Wilcza. “There is no consent to the violence that has been commonly used by the police in recent weeks! We will not be intimidated!” she remarked.

The working conditions for journalists in Poland have been consistently deteriorating. This unsettling trend is particularly apparent during the ongoing protests spurred by the introduction of a total abortion ban in the country. On November 11, journalist of the Polish edition of Newsweek, Renata Kim, was attacked by police officers while covering a march commemorating Polish Independence in Warsaw. On October 31, Gazeta Wyborcza reporters Magda Kozioł and Joanna Urbańska-Jaworska were assaulted by masked men at the women’s rally in Worcław. The reporters were taken to the hospital after suffering minor injuries.

In response to the detention of Agata Grzybowska, an investigative journalist for media outlet OKO.press, Bianka Mikołajewska launched a petition which is now being signed by several Polish journalists. Polish reporters joined forces to condemn the recently intensified attacks on their colleagues, calling on police officers to respect press freedom and refrain from violent behavior towards journalists.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is indignant at the recent disturbing developments in Poland where journalists have become a target, especially while reporting on sensitive and controversial issues. We call upon the government and the city’s administration to strongly condemn any kind of violence towards reporters, to respect press freedom and ensure perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.

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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.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org

The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.

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