Insult-to-Religion Prosecution Rejected in Poland

(Eugene Volokh)

I blogged about the case when it was filed, but I'm pleased to report that a judge has thrown it out. From The Guardian (London):

[Judge Krzysztof Wieckowski] has found [death metal singer Adam Darski, of the band Behemoth,] not guilty of offending religious feeling ... [by] ripping up a Bible during a show [in Poland] ....

He had been cleared by a court last year but prosecutors appealed that verdict.... According to the Polish news agency PAP, [Darksi] also called the Bible "a deceitful book" and the church a "criminal sect" ....

[The judge's ruling] said it considered Darski's actions "a form of art" consistent with the style of his band [and] that the court had no intention of limiting freedom of expression or the right to criticise religion.

Thanks to Prof. Howard Friedman (Religion Clause) for the pointer.