Norway grants asylum to man claiming persecution by Polish government

Rafa Gawe's prison sentence for fraud was retaliation by rightwing regime, Norway says

Norway has granted asylum to a Polish man who was facing prison for fraud and forging of documents, saying the sentence was a form of political persecution under Poland's rightwing government.

Observers say that Rafa Gawe's case is the first time political asylum has been granted to a Pole in more than 30 years since the fall of communism in Poland. They see it as another sign that international trust in Poland's justice system has been undermined by the government, which is putting it under political control.