Eva Edl at 89: From WWII Death Camp Survivor to Facing Prison for Anti-Abortion Protests

At nearly 89 years old, Eva Edl faces a stark reality that echoes the horrors of her youth during World War II. Born in a death camp, she now confronts the possibility of dying in a U.S. prison.

Edl, charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, could receive up to 11 years in prison and $350,000 in fines for her role in anti-abortion protests.

Her experiences with the brutalities of communism in Yugoslavia have shaped her fearless stance against perceived oppression.

As a member of the ethnic German-speaking Danube Swabians, Edl and her family were victims of post-war persecution under Yugoslavia's communist regime, leading to harrowing experiences of starvation and disease in a concentration camp.

In the U.S., her encounter with the issue of abortion during an English class around 1968 galvanized her into action.

Shocked by the concept and the reality of abortion clinics, Edl dedicated herself to pro-life activism, participating in numerous protests and facing multiple arrests for attempting to prevent access to abortion clinics.

The recent enforcement of the FACE Act by the Biden administration, primarily targeting pro-life activists, has led to several charges against Edl, spotlighting the ongoing legal battles surrounding abortion rights and protest activities.

As she prepares for her trials and possible prison sentence, Edl remains committed to her belief in the sanctity of life, reflecting on her long journey from the horrors of a Yugoslav death camp to the heart of American judicial controversy.