Moroccan protesters targeting a Dutch abortion-rights activist on October 4 scuffled with police in a port where a ship promoting safe abortion had been due to land. The protesters carried pictures of bloody embryos and shouted “terrorist” and “assassin” at Rebecca Gomperts in the Atlantic coast town of Smir.
As they tried to get closer to the activist, shouting and waving their arms, police pushed back the protesters and Gomperts was escorted away for her own protection. She was in Smir to greet a Dutch ship promoting access to and awareness about abortions. Soon before its scheduled arrival, Moroccan authorities closed the port.
A government official at the port said it was sealed for “military manoeuvres,” but did not elaborate. He refused to identify himself. A naval vessel and an inflatable motor boat could be seen patrolling the harbor, which was filled with recreational yachts. The “Women on Waves” boat was aiming for its first landfall in a Muslim country. It was invited to Morocco by a local women’s rights organisation seeking the legalisation of abortion in this North African kingdom.
The Moroccan government says the boat did not have permission to come. Abortion is illegal in most cases in Morocco and it also is forbidden to give out information about such procedures.