Reykjavik protest in support of Poland’s pro-abortion striking women
People attending an anti-government, pro-abortion demonstration in front of Polish Pariament in Warsaw, Poland on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Hundreds are expected to gather in Reykjavik this afternoon in solidarity with women in Poland who are striking today against controversial new government plans for a full ban on abortion.
A protest, dubbed a ‘Black Protest’, has been organised for 5:30pm today on Austurvöllur, Reykjavik, in front of the Iceland Parliament, in support of the women striking in Poland.
“The Polish right-wing government has just rejected a project proposing the legalisation of abortion until the twelfth week of pregnancy, followed by facilitating access to contraceptives and a good programme of sexual education,” organiser Marta Magdalena Niebieszczanska tells Iceland Monitor .
From the Facebook event of the protest.
“Instead, Parliament has decided to discuss a law banning abortion in almost every case of endangered pregnancy. What is even more horrifying is that the new law will penalise miscarriage, as every such case will have to be reported to the police – with a possible five-year jail sentence for the mother.”
Protestors will be dressed in black and sport black ribbons, and will be bringing black flags and banners, “in mourning for women’s lost rights”.
At the time of writing, almost 600 people have confirmed on social media that they will be attending. See the Facebook event for the protest here .
