Justice Minister and Attorney General Zbigniew Ziobro addressed recent comments by Reporters Without Borders, challenging their portrayal of the attack on a pro-life van driver and the perceived lack of coverage by TVN regarding the incident.
Ziobro criticized the organization for what he called hypocrisy, arguing that those who defend democracy and freedom of expression should not overlook the harm done to a battered man or the absence of objective reporting by a major news outlet. He stated on the Ministry of Justice website that protecting victims takes precedence over political narratives and that media accountability is essential to upholding journalistic integrity.
The minister asserted that the Prosecutor General in Poland would always side with those harmed, citing the case of the attacked pro-life van driver as an example of steadfast defense of victims.
Controversy Surrounding the Organization
Ziobro posed a question to Reporters Without Borders about consistency in defending individuals from various communities. He asked whether the organization would remain silent if an LGBT representative were assaulted and the courts showed impunity for the attackers, or if a member of a national minority faced a similar situation. He invited viewers to consider what a truly principled reporter would do in such scenarios.
In his closing remarks, Ziobro urged the organization to reflect on its stance and emphasized the need for accountability in reporting across different social groups.
The discussion highlighted differences in how media coverage and legal responses are perceived when attacks affect campaign advocates and public figures alike.
Details of the Van Attack Incident
At the end of July, the head of the Ministry of Justice held a press briefing to announce a court decision regarding the case involving the driver of the Pro-Prawo do Życia Foundation van. The Warsaw court reportedly upheld a ruling to discontinue the proceedings in that case, an outcome Ziobro described as marked by political influence rather than legal reasoning. The minister characterized the decision as a serious deviation from the principle of applying the law impartially.
The incident in question occurred on January 26, 2022, in the Wilanów district of Warsaw. Surveillance footage circulated online shows an individual throwing a hard object at the door of a van awaiting a green light. The attacker then opened the van door, grabbed the driver, and attempted to seize a mobile phone from the driver’s possession. The assailant also struck the activist with the vehicle door.
The case progressed to the public prosecutor’s office, which filed charges against the assailant. According to prosecutors, the act involved the use of force to compel the cessation of the information campaign. In April of a recent year, the District Court in Warsaw discontinued the proceedings, noting the social harm caused by the decision as negligible. The public prosecutor’s office appealed, and on July 28, the District Court upheld the decision to drop the case, according to Ziobro.
The matter remains a focal point in discussions about the balance between legal action and political considerations within the Polish judicial system.