Morocco’s government has decided that it is not going to allow the Women on Waves “abortion ship” to dock when it arrives at Moroccan shores today.

Authorities yesterday decided that the relevant powers that handle these sorts of matters would need to do their job to ensure the ship doesn’t dock.

The Dutch “abortion boat,” would have been the first of its kind to make such a trip to a Muslim country.

Women on Waves, the Dutch group organising the trip, have facilities on board the ship that are equipped to provide women with the medication needed for “safe legal medical abortions” up to six and a half weeks into pregnancy.

But Moroccan law prohibits abortion, except when the life of the mother is in danger.

The ship was meant to land at Smir, on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, about 40 kilometres east of Tangier.

The ministry of health… has never been informed of this event and has not authorised any non-resident party or doctor in Morocco to carry out this medical intervention. The ministry calls on the relevant authorities to do what it is necessary to ensure that the law is applied.

Reports indicated that “ordinary Moroccans” agreed with the government’s stance against the visit that the local youth group, the Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties (Mali), helped to organise.

Abdelmalik Zaza, a lawyer, was quoted as saying in Al-Tajdid, the newspaper of ruling Islamist party the PJD:

Moroccan law forbids abortion. Moroccan religious identity say it is forbidden and so does Islam. So the government cannot allow this ship to come to Morocco.

Speaking to the same publication, and incidentally a member of a Moroccan pro-life group, Hannan Idrissi said abortion figures that had been quoted were incorrect, and disputed the motives of the MALI youth group. Idrissi added:

The Mali movement that invited the ship is known for its disrespect for ethics and the dignity of Moroccan society.

[Source: TimesLive]