Warsaw City Hall has relaxed its controversial ban on religious symbols in response to public petitions, allowing employees to display symbols at their desks while maintaining restrictions in public meeting spaces.
City Hall Adjusts Religious Symbol Policy
In response to public outcry and petitions, including one from the conservative Institute Ordo Iuris, Warsaw City Hall has softened its stance on displaying religious symbols in the workplace. Originally, the May 2024 directive from Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski prohibited religious symbols on desks and walls in city offices, limiting them only to personal wear like medallions or tattoos. The recent clarification now permits employees to display such symbols on their desks, aligning with their personal beliefs.
Remaining Restrictions and Controversies
Despite this concession, the ban on religious symbols remains in force in spaces designated for official public functions, such as courtrooms and meeting halls. Ordo Iuris, while acknowledging the policy change as a significant shift, pointed out inaccuracies in the city’s response to petitions. These include a mischaracterization of the cross as exclusively Catholic and references to terms from a 2010 equal treatment law that are not present in the legislation.