Morocco blocks Dutch 'abortion' ship

[NewsCaster]

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 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.

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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