A court in the north-western city of Szczecin has ruled that offending homosexuals by calling them “fags” should be punished, setting a precedent.

Fourty-four year old Anna S., who called a 25-year-old Ryszard G. a “fag,” will have to formally apologize to him and pay a 15,000 zloty (3,650 euro) fine.

“Everyone has a right to defend their dignity and privacy,” said the judge Urszula Chmielewska, explaining the ruling. “Everyone has a right for a normal life in a society regardless of their sexual orientation. The word “fag” is offensive and it was used to hurt Ryszard G.”

Last year, Anna S., while shopping at a grocery store in the western Polish island of Wolin, said “a fag has gotten himself another fag” referring to her neighbour Ryszard G. and added: “I saw the fags going to a park to f**k one another.”

The court has forbidden the woman to call her neighbour a “fag” and to publicly comment on his private life and sexual orientation. The courts also ordered the payment of a 15,000 zloty (3,650 euro) fine and to cover the cost of the trial - 4,000 zloty (974 euro). “The defendant has to be punished so that she would change her behaviour and make up for the wrong she did,” said the judge.

The woman claimed that she was innocent, all witnesses lied and it was actually her who had been offended by Ryszard G. “He threw tools at me from the window. I’m depressed because of him,” said Anna Sz. “15,000 zloty (3,650 euro) is a lot of money for an unemployed person.”

Ryszard G. has not decided yet what he will do with the allotted damages as he wants to take a decision together with his family (he lives with his mother, siblings and his partner).

The trial carries no legal weight and Anna S.’s attorney will lodge an appeal. (mg/mmj)