Poland's new firearms bill sparks human rights' concerns

The bill will allow troops to open fire on migrants crossing the border when soldiers feel under threat.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersPoland's firearm bill sparks human rights concernsReutersA soldier stands guard near the fence on the Belarusian-Polish borderPoland’s parliament has approved controversial proposals to decriminalise in certain circumstances the use of firearms by border guards in self-defence.

NGOs say the legal changes contravene human rights standards, but the government says they are needed to protect Poland’s border with Belarus from increasingly aggressive gangs of migrants.

Last month, a 21-year-old soldier died after he was stabbed trying to prevent migrants enter the country illegally.

Warsaw accuses Belarus of encouraging Asian and African migrants to enter Poland illegally to destabilise the European Union.

Poland’s new pro-EU government had promised a more humanitarian approach to the migrant crisis.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clly79jvy8do

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