Rallies in Poland seek to defend, extend legal abortion

AP/Alik Keplicz

Thousands rallied in Warsaw, above, and across Poland April 3, opposing a proposed law banning all abortions. Poland already has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, allowing the procedure only in case of rape, threat to a woman’s health, or irreversible damage of the fetus.

A few days later, Prime Minster Beata Szydlo backed away from her initial support for the ban, which is promoted by the Catholic hierarchy. Thousands rallied again across the country April 9 for the right to choose, waving coat hangers as a symbol of deadly illegal abortions. “It’s not only a protest against the new draft law, it’s a protest against existing law,” said Krystyna Kacpura, executive director of the Federation for Women and Family Planning.

— BRIAN WILLIAMS