Blog 6: Abortion Rights Yacht Sails Around Moroccan Port

Founded in 1999, the Dutch group Women on Waves aims to spread information about safe medical abortions induced by medication. The boat they use was invited to Morocco by a local women’s rights organization seeking the legalization of abortion in the North African kingdom. The trip the Mediterranean coastal town of Smir was the abortion rights group’s first event in the harbor of a Muslim country. They sailed around the Moroccan harbor with banners advertising an information hotline about abortion, which is illegal in most cases in this North African country. The hotline contained a recorded message explaining which easily available medication in Morocco could be used to perform an abortion. The people on the ship itself actually could provide ‘‘safe, legal, medical abortions’’ up until 6.5 weeks of pregnancy. Since abortion are illegal though, Moroccan officials had said that the boat would not be allowed in the harbor, but the activist had already stationed a sailboat in the harbors several days in advanced. Unfortunately, the activists were not exactly welcomed with open arms. Some 200 protesters in Smir targeted the activists outside the marina. The carried pictures of bloody embryos and shouted ‘‘Terrorist!’’ and ‘‘Assassin!’’ at the activists. ‘‘We are here because we cannot accept these values, the values of massacre,’’ said protester Abdessamad Zilali, 23. ‘‘It is not part of our tradition to kill the unborn.’’ The Moroccan police ended up escorting the yacht from its waters when the shouting protesters tried getting closer to the activists. No one was charged.

I was actually a little surprised when I came across this particular article. I was born in Morocco, but unfortunately, I am not very education on Moroccan politics and law. The topic of abortion has never been brought up before in my household, and I can see now it’s because of abortion being seen as taboo. It also surprised me to read what one of the male protestors said about it not being part of Moroccan tradition to kill the unborn. In the Qur'an, abortion is acceptable as long as it is before the fetus reaches seven weeks, yet the culture is still clearly “pro-life.” Despite my being a Muslim, I advocate pro-choice for women. Every woman should have a voice, and should be able to do what she pleases with her body. I really like the idea of women activists sailing around the world, getting the word out to women who are willing to listen. People don’t have to like the idea of abortion, but should at least be educated about the topic.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/abortion-yacht-sails-closed-moroccan-port-17397014#.UG8Q1lFXI3w