The KO candidate weighed in on the state of women’s rights in Poland compared with Yemen. Aleksandra Wiśniewska gave an interview to Fact in which she claimed that a country on the Arabian Peninsula has a more liberal set of laws than Poland. The statement sparked a flurry of online commentary, and it took only a short time for many to challenge the assertion.
Within Civic Platform circles, Wiśniewska’s image would likely align with the party’s messaging preferences. A young woman who has spent time abroad could be framed as someone who exposes Polish shortcomings and the country’s resilience to global realities. Yet, the party operatives may not realize that public sentiment has shifted. Poles are less swayed by tales of a distant world that supposedly outshines the Polish experience.
In this instance, Wiśniewska chose to compare Poland with Yemen, arguing that women’s rights are more liberal there and pointing to what she described as suffering and dehumanization faced by women. The claim drew strong reactions across social media platforms.
In Poland, the public conversation sometimes forgets that women’s rights are human rights. Women should not be treated as lacking a voice or a vote. The assertion about Yemen highlighted gender rights by contrast, while Wiśniewska expressed hope that Polish women would not be deterred from living fully in their own country. She also urged state authorities to protect women from hardship, noting that current abortion law in Poland has elements that dehumanize women.
– as quoted in the interview.
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Online response
Social media commenters engaged with Wiśniewska’s remarks, presenting basic facts about Yemen and its treatment of women. In Yemen, abortion is allowed only to save the mother’s life and requires approval from her husband and often from local religious authorities. Beyond this, both the practitioner and the patient can face penalties. Among other concerns, a portion of Yemeni women undergo female genital mutilation, a practice documented by health organizations.
A person with lived experience in the region shared that life in some Gulf countries involves limited autonomy for women, with guardianship norms still shaping daily decisions. In Yemen, impoverished areas often see marriages arranged at a young age, and the nation confronts a range of challenges tied to health, legal status, and social norms.
Has anyone actually traveled to Yemen to see the realities firsthand?
A historical reference notes that a portion of Yemeni girls are married before adulthood, and many face barriers under Sharia-based interpretations that influence marriage, divorce, and inheritance rules in the country. Reports from health and humanitarian sources describe ongoing maternal health risks, gaps in care, and the need for broader gynecological support.
Should the conversation proceed toward drawing direct comparisons between Poland and Yemen, readers are reminded to consider the different legal, cultural, and developmental contexts that shape women’s lives in each country.
Images and framing from the regional press have often been used to illustrate the broader struggle for women’s education, marriage norms, and refugee treatment in the area. The question remains whether direct parallels help or hinder the understanding of Poland’s own path toward gender equality and justice for all citizens.
Source: wPolityce