Polish Magazine Fined After Publishing Personal Antiabortion Remarks Against Woman

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 28 Sep 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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A Polish court on Wednesday ordered the Roman Catholic magazine Gosc Niedzielny to pay a fine and apologize to a woman for calling her a killer for wanting an abortion and likening the procedure to Nazi war crimes, the AP/Miami Herald reports.

Judge Ewa Solecka said that Catholics are permitted to express their moral disapproval of abortion and even refer to it as "murder," but they must do so in a general way that does not vilify a specific individual. Solecka said the magazine's language was "particularly contemptuous" and ordered the publication to pay the woman, Alicja Tysiac, the equivalent of about $11,000 and issue her a written apology.

According to the AP/Herald, Tysiac became "a symbol for the abortion-rights movement" after she challenged the country's abortion restrictions with the European Court of Human Rights. Poland permits abortion until 12 weeks' gestation in cases of rape or incest, if the woman's life is in danger or if there is irreparable damage to the fetus. In 2007, the human rights court ordered Poland to pay Tysiac damages of about $37,000 after doctors refused to let her terminate her pregnancy, despite serious risks to her eyesight because of a medical condition. After giving birth, her eyesight deteriorated considerably because of a retinal hemorrhage.

Gosc Niedzielny called Wednesday's ruling an infringement on freedom of speech and said it plans to appeal (Gera, AP/Miami Herald, 9/23).

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