The new Lustration Law concerning journalists, enacted last month, is ‘divisive’ says the International Press Institute (IPI).

The law, which came into force on March 15, requires all journalists born before 1 August 1972, working in either public or private media companies, to submit so-called "Lustration statements" to the authorities regarding their relationship with the Polish security services during the period of communist rule.

The legislation is part of the ruling Law and Justice government’s attempt, in their words; to ‘cleanse’ public life of what they believe is a lingering post-communist influence.

Commenting on the Lustration Act, today, however, IPI Director, Johann P. Fritz said, ‘While I recognize the importance of Poland’s desire to reconcile with its past, the new law is extremely divisive and risks opening up fresh divisions within Polish society.’

‘I also doubt that the Lustration Act meets the standard set by the European Court of Human Rights that it is necessary in a democratic society.’

The law requires journalists to submit personal information confirming that they were not collaborating with the communist secret services.

The Lustration Law was enacted after accusations that Milan Subotic of the private TVN television station and Zygmunt Solorz of Polsat, and other print journalists, had in the past been agents of the communists.

Some journalists in private companies in Poland have declared that they will not be taking part in the lustration process as it violates press freedom.