Behemoth’s Nergal Cleared of Charges for ‘Offending Religious Feelings’ With Blasphemous Phallus

Adam “Nergal” Darski, the outspoken vocalist/guitarist of Polish blackened death metal giants Behemoth, has scored yet another legal win in his ongoing battles with religious authorities in his home country.

Over the years, Nergal has frequently found himself in the crosshairs of Polish courts due to blasphemy-related charges, stemming from incidents such as tearing up a Bible onstage in 2007 and more recent accusations tied to Behemoth’s merch designs. In recent years, he’s been acquitted multiple times, including cases concerning alleged insults to Poland’s coat of arms and ‘offending religious feelings’ after sharing a photo of his foot on a painting of the Virgin Mary in 2019.

His latest acquittal comes after a legal battle regarding a controversial artifact gifted to him by Tom Gabriel Warrior (Triptykon, Celtic Frost). The object in question—a phallic sculpture featuring a depiction of a crucified Jesus Christ—was showcased in videos and images posted by Nergal between 2016 and 2018, leading to blasphemy charges under Poland’s strict anti-blasphemy laws.

Last month, a Gdansk District Court ruled in his favor, dismissing two charges and conditionally dropping a third. The court deemed his actions “disrespectful” but ultimately “meaninglessly empty,” failing to meet the legal threshold for conviction.

Taking to social media, Nergal reflected on the ruling:

“In 2018, on this very day, I posted a silly video on Instagram, singing an old children’s song for Women’s Day while waving a certain artifact. Hardly high comedy, but was it blasphemous or shocking? I didn’t think so—but it was enough for a few clowns on the other side to take offense and run straight to court.

A certain conservative MEP loudly vowed I’d end up in prison, while the ever-litigious Ordo Iuris joined the choir of the outraged. After years in court and tens of thousands zlotis spent on legal defense, I was fully acquitted just days ago.

The verdict is a bittersweet victory tho. I’m glad justice prevailed, glad I put my opponents in their place. But I still consider it as an absurd that a mediocre joke in this country can spiral into a costly, nerve-wracking legal battle.

Nevertheless, to all the women out there… loooots of love.

PS. The artifact in question is a stunning sculpture by my friend and Black Metal legend, Tom Gabriel Fischer. Right now, my lawyers are working to have it returned to me, as it was a personal gift from him.”

Back in 2021, Nergal launched a crowdfunding campaign to aid not only his own legal battles but also others in Poland facing similar charges under the country’s blasphemy laws. With this latest victory, he continues to push back against what he sees as restrictive policies on artistic expression.

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