Protecting abstract symbols goes beyond the restrictions on freedom of expression permitted under international human rights and freedom of expression standards. The proposed amendment is intended as a partial response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Rabczewska v. Poland of 15 September 2022. Above all, however, the criminalisation of offending religious feelings is incompatible with international standards on freedom of expression. For this reason, our organisations consistently maintain that Article 196 of the Criminal Code should be repealed in its entirety. Our organisations also emphasise that decriminalisation of offending religious feelings does not mean removing protection against religiously motivated crimes.