*

Event in English

Since the summer of 2021, many people from from Middle East and Africa seeking protection have been entering Poland and thus the European Union via Belarus. This new migration route leads through forests and swamps and finally a frontier that is highly equipped and shielded by border troops from Poland. A lot of people die on this way, yet it is still perceived by many as safe to reach Europe. Those caught by Polish border guards, however, face two scenarios: Being illegally pushed back to Belarus or being locked up in Polish refugee prisons.

The film „We were prisoners of the Polish state“ by Wojciech Szumowski and Rut Kurkiewicz tells the stories of refugees who came to Poland and, instead of receiving protection, were locked up for months or even years under very harsh conditions. They were subjected to violence, hunger, abuse, and racism, and received no medical or psychological help. In prison, they went on hunger strike to fight for basic human rights to respect and safety.

The film was produced for the TV channel TVN24 and caused heated debates in the country when it was aired.

Rut Kurkiewicz, Filmmaker
Maria Ksiazak, XENION – Psychosocial Help for Politically Persecuted e.V.
Nazar Ibrahim, made it across the Belarusian-Polish border to Berlin
YY, made it across the Belarusian-Polish border to Berlin