Protests begin in Polish cities against abortion ruling

Thousands of protesters marched in cities across Poland to display their anger for the new abortion laws in the country. A court ruling on Thursday, banned almost all abortions- with exceptions only for cases of rape, incest, or where the mother’s health is at risk.

Protesters were carried out even in Poland’s biggest cities outside the capital, namely Krakow, Wroclaw, Szczecin and Katowice. Polish media estimates put the Warsaw protest at 15,000 people, despite restrictions that limit public gathering at 10 in the capital. 

The court’s decision was condemned by Polish opposition parties, the EU’s human rights commissioner as well as international human rights organizations describing it as a violation of women’s rights.