Moroccan Women Protest Against Arrival Of Dutch Sailboat Advocating Safe Abortions

Moroccan women protest the scheduled arrival of a Dutch ship advocating safe and legal abortions in Smir, Morocco Thursday oct 4 2012. Their signs read “no to abortion.” Moroccan authorities sealed a port where a Dutch abortion ship was set to arrive , while demonstrators protested against its arrival.

Women’s rights activists sail a small boat around a yacht harbor in Smir, northern Morocco on Thursday Oct 4 2012 to raise awareness about safe abortions, despite officials’ efforts to seal the port and anti-abortion protests on land. Organizers had initially said a large ship offering abortion information and services was on its way from the Netherlands on Thursday. In response, police sealed the port for what it called “military maneuvers” and denied journalists access. But in the afternoon, organizers admitted that they already had stationed a sailboat in the port several days ago, fearing that authorities would close the port. And that sailboat took off around the harbor bearing banners. Meanwhile, on land, about 200 protesters targeted the activists from “Women on Waves,” the Dutch organization behind the boat. <AP Photo/Paul Schemm>

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