abortion laws protest poland
Demonstrators in a cathedral in Lodz, Poland wore long red robes and white bonnets, invoking "The Handmaid's Tale."
Marcin Stepien/Agencja Gazeta/Reuters
  • Protestors disrupted churches in Poland on Sunday during the fourth day of protests after a court decision tightened the country’s already-strict abortion laws, the Associated Press reported.
  • The court’s ruling banned abortion in the case of fetal defects, meaning abortion is only legal in Poland in cases of incest, rape, and life-threatening danger to the mother.
  • Activists staged protests at churches across Poland, defying precedent in the predominantly Catholic country.
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Protestors disrupted church services in Poland on Sunday during the fourth day of protests after a court decision tightened the country’s already-strict abortion laws, the Associated Press reported.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings, thousands took to the streets after a court ruling on Thursday determined abortions in the case of fetal defects are unconstitutional.

Poland’s abortion laws were already some of the most restrictive in Europe. About 100,000 Polish women are estimated to travel abroad each year in order to seek out the procedure, according to the BBC.

In the wake of the court’s ruling, abortions in the country will only be legal in cases of incest, rape, or life-threatening danger to the mother, instances which made up just 2% of legal abortions, the Guardian reported.

Some reproductive rights advocates said the decision would result in a near-total prohibition on abortion. The Council of Europe’s commissioner of human rights said the decision amounted to a ban and violates human rights, calling it a “sad day.”

protests poland abortion laws
Members of a far-right group helped police remove women who were protesting in a church in Warsaw, Poland.
Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images

The court's decision came after officials from the ruling, right-wing Law and Justice party challenged the existing law last year. Catholic leaders and organizations had encouraged the party to seek heightened restrictions on abortion, according to the BBC.

During protests on Sunday, activists spray-painted slogans, entered churches, confronted priests, and chanted during mass, defying precedent in a the predominantly Catholic country, AP reported. Activists expressed frustration about the Catholic Church's heavy influence over the country.

One video shared on Twitter showed a group standing at an alter, holding protests signs and chanting, while interrupting a church service.

Other images taken by Reuters showed women dressed in long red robes like that of the characters in "The Handmaid's Tale," a book and television series about a dystopian society where women are kept in captivity and used for reproduction purposes against their will.

Police also clashed with protestors, some of whom were seen carrying posters with images of crucified pregnant women.

Disruptions at church services happened throughout the country, including Warsaw, the capital. In one city, Katowice, police said they were attacked and used tear gas against a crowd of 7,000 that was protesting in front of a cathedral, Reuters reported.

Reactions in the country have been mixed, according to AP, which reported one right-wing news outlet's headline read: "Devastated churches, disrupted masses. Scandalous protests by feminists." While one liberal news outlet's headline read: "Aggressive reactions of policemen all over Poland.... Scenes like those from Belarus on the streets."

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