An appeals court in Poland is set to deliver its ruling next month in the case of a women's rights activist who was convicted in 2023 for providing abortion pills to another woman. The three-judge panel handling the case deemed it complex and decided to postpone the verdict until February 13.
The activist, who was sentenced to eight months of community service in March 2023, had sent pills to a woman seeking an abortion. It is important to note that assisting a woman in obtaining an abortion is illegal in Poland and can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years.
The activist appealed her sentence, citing concerns about the impartiality of one of the judges involved in the initial ruling. During the recent court session, she maintained her innocence, stating that neither she nor the woman who received the pills believed she had committed a crime.
The woman who sought the abortion, already a mother, was reportedly unable to travel abroad for the procedure due to restrictions imposed by her partner, who subsequently reported the matter to the authorities.
A group of around twelve supporters gathered outside the courthouse to show solidarity with the activist. Many activists view the forthcoming decision as a potential landmark ruling in a country with stringent anti-abortion laws.
Poland, a predominantly Catholic nation, permits abortion only in cases where the woman's life or health is at risk, or in instances of rape or incest.
