Days after the country witnessed massive protests over a controversial proposal to criminalize abortions, the Polish parliament has voted overwhelmingly to reject the move. On Thursday the MPs voted to reject the bill by 352 votes to 58. The bill, which was proposed by an anti-abortion citizens' initiative, and was backed by the ruling conservative party, the Law and Justice party (PiS). It had proposed to to tighten the country's already restrictive abortion rules, including banning the procedure even in cases of rape, with prison terms for women ending a pregnancy.

However, the bill kicked-up a massive storm in the country, with thousands, mostly women wearing black hitting over 60 cities across the country.

The mostly Catholic nation already has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, with abortion only allowed in rare cases; rape or incest, when the mother's life is in danger or the foetus is badly damaged.