Women's rights group told to turn back from port
Friday 05 October 2012
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EmailAnti-abortion Moroccans scuffled with police on Thursday as a ship promoting safe abortions was due to dock in the port of Smir.
Dutch abortion rights activist Rebecca Gomperts had been due in the port to welcome the ship but protesters shouted "terrorist" and "assassin" as police pushed them back and Ms Gomperts was escorted away.
The Women on Waves organisation's ship had been due to dock as part of a tour promoting access to abortion, which is illegal in most cases in Morocco.
It is also forbidden to give out information about it.
But just before the ship's arrival Moroccan authorities closed the port for "military manoeuvres."
Morocco would have been the first Muslim country visited by the Women on Waves ship. It had been invited by a local women's rights group but the government denied it permission to berth.
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