Polish protests erupt over restrictive abortion laws after pregnant woman dies

Protests have erupted across Poland as thousands of citizens voice their disapproval for the nation’s highly restrictive abortion laws, following the sepsis-related death of a five-month pregnant woman. Demonstrators marched to the health ministry headquarters in Warsaw on Wednesday, chanting slogans such as “Stop killing us” and holding placards stating “Hell for women.” The death of the woman, Dorota Lalik, has been cited as evidence of the detrimental impact these strict regulations have on pregnant women.

Poland’s abortion legislation, recognised as some of the most stringent in Europe, has instigated numerous mass protests in recent years. As elections are scheduled for October or November, many liberal Poles are fuelled by anti-government sentiments. In 2021, the tightening of abortion laws was implemented by Mateusz Morawiecki’s nationalist government when they…