Poland: CFWIJ Is Monitoring The Investigation Against Journalist Aleksandra Klich-Siewiorek

Location: Colombia
Date: June 28, 2021

Prominent journalist and editor-in-chief of women’s magazine Wysokie Obcasy, Aleksandra Klich-Siewiorek, is under investigation in the public prosecutor’s office. The journalist is accused of violating religious sentiments in one of her published articles. The magazine is under fire for publishing a cartoon of the Virgin Mary wearing a lightning bolt face mask as a symbol of resistance and empowerment against the restrictions on reproductive rights in Poland. CFWIJ is observing the situation as it unfolds. We urge the authorities at the public prosecutor’s office in Poland to end the Aleksandra unjustifiably.

The symbol of the Virgin Mary published in the magazine became popular following the constitutional tribunal judgment of October 2020. In its October 22 judgment, the tribunal effectively ruled abortion illegal except for the pregnancies that result from prohibited acts and the ones that pose threats to the mother’s life.

On May 27, 2020, Police authorities interrogated Aleksandra for publishing the symbol of Mary in her women’s magazine. As a part of the investigation, the police also questioned the graphic designer and author of the cartoon, Marta Frej, on June 14, 2021.

Another notable case CFWIJ recorded was the termination of Dorota Nygren. The director of Information Agency Radio dismissed the journalist for not revealing sensitive information regarding the subject of her story. Dorota said she did not feel that identity and nationality were key factors in assessing why the subject committed a crime, so she omitted those references.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has documented several cases of violations against press freedom in Poland. As we monitor the investigation against Aleksandra, we urge the public prosecutor’s office not to target the journalist on baseless charges. Aleksandra is a voice of reason and believes women should be in charge of their bodies and the decisions related to them. We must not punish journalists for holding opinions that diverge from the government narrative.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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