The turning point in Joanna’s case – and it must be made clear that this is not one such case – was the statement of the police – said Anna Siewierska-Chmaj, habilitated doctor, on TVN24, who commented on the actions of the officers towards Joanna. She described the difference in the content of the two statements as “an absolute disgrace to the police”.
In recent days, there has been a discussion about the case of Joanna, who decided to take an abortion pill because the pregnancy was supposed to threaten her health. She felt bad both physically and mentally. She informed her doctor about it. In the Krakow hospital, she was interrogated and searched by the police. The officers took her laptop and phone. The case was presented by “Fakty” TVN.
The court, examining the complaint about taking the phone and ordering its return, reminded the policemen that Ms. Joanna was not a suspect, nor was she even considered to be charged.
SEE THE MATERIAL OF “FACTS” TVN: Joanna took the abortion pill. The police came to the hospital, took her laptop and phone
Joanna took the abortion pill. The police came to the hospital, took her laptop and phoneRenata Kijowska/Fakty TVN
Jarosław Szymczyk, the chief of the police, presented recordings at the conference on Thursday, which recorded a call to the emergency number by Joanna’s doctor and the receipt of a report in this case by the police. When asked by TVN24 about the actions taken by the police in the hospital, Szymczyk replied that “this is a normal procedure for people who we suspect want to take their own lives.”
The first recording that was presented at the police conference in the case of Joanna TVN24
“Absolute disgrace of the police”
Anna Siewierska-Chmaj, a political scientist and professor at the University of Rzeszów, spoke about the case on TVN24. She was asked whether, among other things, in the face of the case of Mrs. Joanna and the actions of the police against her, women can feel defenseless.
– I have been convinced for a long time that a citizen in a clash with the state and this system that the government of the United Right has created for us is on a losing position – she replied. She noted that it is not only about women, but also journalists and activists.
As Siewierska-Chmaj said, “the turning point in the case of Mrs. Joanna, and it must be made clear that this is not one such case, was the statement of the police.”
– Firstly, the first version of the statement, which gave very intimate details about the case of Mrs. Joanna, after which the change of this statement and the suggestion that Mrs. Joanna smelled of alcohol shows that the Polish police are starting to use methods typical of authoritarian countries – she noted. “And this is an absolute disgrace to the police,” she commented.
The political scientist also pointed out that “there is no such week that we do not observe another disgrace of the police”. – In the case of women, it must be said very clearly, this is the most oppressive and anti-women government in the history of Poland, certainly after 1989 – she assessed.
“These are actions that are clearly associated with the actions of prison guards against prisoners”
When asked whether the increase in police officers could have caused the word “abortion”, Siewierska-Chmaj replied that she was sure of it. – Because I do not remember any other case in which a person allegedly trying to commit suicide, even assuming that this was indeed the intention of the police, the police come with such actions – she explained.
– I wanted to remind you that Joanna was told to crouch and cough in this position. These are actions that are clearly associated with the actions of prison guards against prisoners who are suspected of storing various items – she reminded.
In her opinion, “the application of such actions to a broken, bleeding, crying woman, more like a prison than a hospital ward, shows that the police did not go there to save Joanna’s life, but went there for a specific purpose: to find evidence that Joanna had committed a crime.”
– Taking an abortifacient pill is not a crime, but aiding in this act is a crime, so I suppose that they tried to find some evidence in this way, although it is hard for me to imagine what kind of evidence the police could look for by ordering Joanna to cough in such a position. It is absolutely outrageous,” she admitted.
Siewierska-Chmaj noted that “this is not only about abortion.” – It is primarily about a certain language, a certain narrative adopted towards women in Poland by politicians of the United Right – she explained.
– This is a narrative that puts a woman in a very patriarchal role in a world ruled by men. Meanwhile, women have already worked through this role and know that they have equal rights. Even women who have moderate views, not necessarily very liberal or left-wing, but have internalized some assumptions of women’s empowerment, she commented. “Therefore, what the government of the United Right is doing is counterproductive,” she concluded.
Main photo source: PAP/Radek Pietruszka