(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/121004-dutchabortion-hmed-420p.photoblog600.jpg)Paul Schemm / APMoroccan 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.By NBC News staff and wire servicesMorocco barred Dutch abortion rights activists Thursday from docking their campaign ship to spread awareness about safe abortion methods in a Muslim country that bans the practice.
Follow @NBCNewsWorld (http://twitter.com/NBCNewsWorld) Women on Waves announced last week its intention to send their ship into the Moroccan port of Smir after visits to traditionally Roman Catholic countries Spain, Portugal and Ireland at the invitation of local women's groups. Such visits began 11 years ago, the BBC reported (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19829889).
The group says it intends to raise awareness about the use of pills for medical abortions and that it would carry out terminations of pregnancies aboard its own ship on international waters.
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