Tens of thousands of Poles demonstrate for the right to abortion

Demonstration in Warsaw for the right to abortion, October 20, 2020. REUTERS / Kacper Pempel

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Defying the restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic, tens of thousands of Poles demonstrated this Friday, October 30 in Warsaw and across the country, to protest against a court decision banning almost all abortions. 

Publicity

Read more

" We've had enough !

»,« My body, my choice!

Waving rainbow flags, chanting anti-government slogans, protesters in Warsaw carried overwhelmingly the symbol of their revolt - red lightning.

Despite some scuffles sparked by far-right counter-protesters, the rallies were mostly peaceful, on the ninth consecutive day of protests since the

.

According to the Warsaw city hall, the demonstration in the city center brought together "tens of thousands of people", while the police made "several arrests" in two incidents.

Women's rights activists, who are behind these rallies, face legal action because any gathering of more than five people on the public highway is currently prohibited.

Relatively smaller protest actions were held in dozens of other Polish cities, including Krakow, Lodz, Katowice and Wroclaw.

►

Mass protests began last week when the Constitutional Court, reformed by the ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, and complying with its wishes, outlawed voluntary termination of pregnancy in the event of a serious malformation of the fetus , ruling that it is “incompatible” with the Constitution.

Once published in the official journal, this decision will result in the ban on all abortions, except in cases of rape and incest or when the mother's life is in danger.

Against the influence of the Catholic Church

But in the processions of the demonstrations, the demands are now numerous, reports our correspondent in Warsaw,

.

In addition to the right to choose for abortion, the Poles demand the departure of the government, but also to put an end to the influence of the Catholic Church in the country.

A demand also supported by the movement La Grève des femmes.

Among other demands, he demands that the state stop funding the Church and that religion disappear from Polish schools.

Last Sunday, for the first time, activists in favor of the right to abortion burst into certain churches during mass.

Acts aimed at destroying the country denounced PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczyinski denounced acts aimed at destroying the country.

He did not hesitate to call on his supporters to defend the Churches.

The demonstrators saw it as an incitement to civil war.

Since last Sunday, groups of men have in any case formed to stand guard in front of some of these places of worship in the country, raising fears of tensions with the demonstrators.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Poland

• Womens rights