A European democratic country, in a post-communist era. Recently in Poland, a high court decision to virtually ban all forms of abortion has left the country with bitter discontent, and fuelled with a distinct tangible anger. Which has led to one of the largest protests in Poland since the solidarity movement in the 1980s, leading to the collapse of the communist government.
The polish people feel a sense of helplessness; amidst a global pandemic, that already secures an unprecedented future. Do they ignore the threat of prosecution or the potential surge of virus cases, and fight for their rights at a time where they could be unethically condemned? Currently, and for the foreseeable future, women will have to sit with the dreadful, haunting prospect that if clinically predicted to give birth to a stillborn; instead of buying prams, mothers will be paving the way with a coffin, for their dead fetus. The ban stands as a broader erosion of individual freedoms, that some believe comes with being part of the European Union.
Poland is a deeply religious country, where 33 million of the 38 million are registered as Roman Catholic, however contrary to this fact, much of the anger from protesters is directed to the clergy, and feel segregated from the institution that is in a dire need of reform. Thus, the abortion ban is an accurate representation of politicians bowing to the power of the Catholic Church, in order to gain and uphold support from the church, by allying themselves through the set of policies they instill as well as beliefs.
Being half-polish myself, I cannot help but feel disgusted by the contempt and indignation perpetrated by the Polish government towards the female population of Poland, in condemning and stripping them from their fundamental rights, going against ethics and justice in our modern society.
