Polish metal singer Nergal accused of blasphemy asks for legal defence funds

‘For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system,’ Behemoth frontman says

Frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski of Behemoth performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on 4 August, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

A Polish heavy metal singer has launched a legal defence fund after he was convicted for blasphemy in Poland.

Adam Darski, known as Nergal, is appealing against a conviction of offending religious sentiment after he posted an image on social media showing him stamping on a picture of the Virgin Mary.

"For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system," the Behemoth frontman tweeted. “The time for capitulation is over.”

Mr Darski was ordered to pay a fine of 15,000 zloty (£2,800) earlier this month, Polish media reported.

If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Mr Darski’s fundraising campaign has raised over £20,000 so far, with 1,112 donations.

On the page, he said Polish artists have been “ dragged into court rooms, at our own significant costs, to defend ourselves against nonsensical blasphemy laws made by tenuous politicans”.

“The time has come for Polish artists to fight back.”

He added: “Your donation will help fund a sustainable legal challenge to squash the existing and incoming bogus prosecutions.

“Help us reach the target so we can distribute to other artists facing their own legal challenges.”

Mr Darski posted the image of his foot stamping on a picture of the Virgin Mary in September.

An ultraconservative legal group, Ordo luris, then notified prosecutors and said he had “offended the religious feelings of four people,” state broadcaster TVP Info reported.